The nation of Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has exposed a more complicated reality.

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

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can seem like a bygone age for many residents.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also dispels the common view that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Guns are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in population centres.

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

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Firearm regulations in Australia are varied across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, 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 allowable purposes include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were banned, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to strengthen gun laws.

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

A Complicated Debate

These proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have prevented an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than changing laws for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – 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 policies must evolve with changing times.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "address deficiencies" and protect public safety.

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

As one advocate noted, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a devastating event to get people to wake up and take notice."