Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a much murkier reality.

On a spring day in April 1996, a solitary shooter using semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which led to 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 left 15 dead, has rekindled memories of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also contradicts the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by people in regional areas.

Firearms are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in urban hubs.

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

Examining Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules across states and territories.

Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and collecting.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions 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.

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

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "home security" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

New Push for Gun Law Reform

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

A weapons collection initiative was announced, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a condition for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations 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 contend that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that resources would be better spent improving intelligence rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of law-abiding citizens.

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

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that regulations must be updated with changing times.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "keep up-to-date" and prevent future tragedies.

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

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it needs such a tragedy to prompt action and pay heed."