Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a more complicated reality.

On a spring day in 1996, a lone gunman wielding powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly a generation ago, which ushered in some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a distant memory for many citizens.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also contradicts the common view that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Weapons are prevalent in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the typical gun owner possessing over four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules across states and territories.

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some states can have supervision of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "self-defence" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to strengthen gun laws.

A weapons collection initiative was proposed, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for regular reviews of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must be updated with technological advances.

They argue that reform is needed to "address deficiencies" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of firearms circulating illegally – through theft – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate stated, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a tragedy to focus attention and take notice."