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

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a solitary shooter armed with semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly thirty years ago, which ushered in some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can seem like a different era for many Australians.

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

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

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

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, 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 challenges the popular notion that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Firearms are prevalent in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Firearm regulations in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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

Certain types of firearms were banned, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

Renewed Demands for Regulatory Tightening

In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to tighten gun laws.

A national gun buyback scheme was proposed, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

There are also calls for regular reviews 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 maintain that imposing caps would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must keep pace with changing times.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "address deficiencies" 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 black markets – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate noted, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a loss of life to focus attention and pay heed."