Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a more complicated reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in 1996, a single attacker armed with rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can appear as a different era for many Australians.

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

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from the late 1990s.

This means approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also challenges the popular notion that guns are primarily held by those in the countryside.

Weapons are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in urban hubs.

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

Examining 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.

Broadly speaking, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain occupational requirements, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, young people in some areas can have supervision of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were prohibited, and background checks alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Gun Law Reform

In the wake 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 proposals now under consideration include:

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

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than changing laws for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must keep pace with technological advances.

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

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate reflected, "It's sad that it requires such a loss of life to prompt action and pay heed."