Australia was widely regarded as a world leader in gun control – Bondi has revealed a much murkier reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a solitary shooter using rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can feel like a distant memory for many residents.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from the late 1990s.

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

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

The data also challenges the popular notion that guns are primarily held by people in regional areas.

Guns are common in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules across states and territories.

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

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

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, and security screenings alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "personal protection" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

In the immediate aftermath the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to bolster gun laws.

A national gun buyback scheme was unveiled, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These proposed changes have met with opposition from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of law-abiding citizens.

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

A Catalyst for Change

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

They argue that reform is needed to "address deficiencies" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it needs such a tragedy to prompt action and take notice."