The nation of Australia was long seen as a world leader in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a much murkier reality.

On a weekend day in the year 1996, a lone gunman wielding powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the most stringent firearm regulations in the world, can feel like a distant memory for many Australians.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has revived the ghosts of the Port Arthur massacre.

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from the late 1990s.

This translates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also contradicts the popular notion that guns are mostly possessed by rural residents.

Guns are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

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

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Weapons legislation in Australia are varied across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules in various regions.

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

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

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas can have access to 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 large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were banned, and security screenings alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

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

A national gun buyback scheme was announced, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian 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 "situations evolve" over time.

A Complicated Debate

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must keep pace with technological advances.

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

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through poor storage – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it takes such a tragedy to get people to wake up and pay heed."