Australia was long seen as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a far more complex reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a solitary shooter armed with semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which ushered in some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can seem like a distant memory for many residents.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from two decades prior.

This translates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

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

The data also challenges the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Firearms are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

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

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

Rapid-fire weapons were banned, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "personal protection" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were forceful about the need to bolster gun laws.

A country-wide firearm surrender program was proposed, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for regular reviews of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that restricting ownership would not have prevented an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

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

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must evolve with new threats.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate reflected, "It is unfortunate that it takes such a devastating event to prompt action and pay heed."