Australia was widely regarded as a global exemplar in gun control – Bondi has laid bare a more complicated reality.

On a weekend day in 1996, a solitary shooter armed with rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many residents.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now over 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 highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also challenges the popular notion that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Weapons are common in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

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

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Firearm regulations in Australia are varied across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

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

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some areas can have use 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 voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were banned, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off 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 forceful about the need to tighten gun laws.

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during background check processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must be updated with new threats.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "remain effective" and protect public safety.

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

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