The nation of Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a much murkier truth.

On a spring day in April 1996, a single attacker armed with semi-automatic rifles took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can seem 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 Tasmanian tragedy.

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than 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 the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and 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 people in regional areas.

Guns are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the average licence holder possessing over four firearms.

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Generally, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and collecting.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have use of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must keep pace with new threats.

They argue that reform is needed to "remain effective" and prevent future tragedies.

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

As one advocate stated, "It is regrettable that it requires such a devastating event to prompt action and listen."