Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a much murkier situation.

On a weekend day in the year 1996, a lone gunman armed with powerful firearms killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can seem like a different era for many residents.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from two decades prior.

This means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are primarily held by rural residents.

Firearms are common in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the registered individual possessing over four firearms.

Examining Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are varied across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules in various regions.

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, minors in some areas can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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

Certain types of firearms were prohibited, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "home security" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were forceful about the need to strengthen gun laws.

A weapons collection initiative was unveiled, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that restricting ownership would not have averted an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that policies must evolve with technological advances.

They argue that reform is needed to "remain effective" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the ongoing issue of guns in the wrong hands – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate stated, "It is unfortunate that it takes such a tragedy to focus attention and listen."