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

On a spring day in April 1996, a lone gunman wielding powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

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

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from about 20 years ago.

This translates to 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 Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also challenges the popular notion that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Guns are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the average licence holder possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain occupational requirements, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were outlawed, and security screenings alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "self-defence" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

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

A weapons collection initiative was unveiled, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency 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 "people's circumstances can change" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that restricting ownership would not have averted an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number of licensed individuals.

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

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must keep pace with changing times.

They argue that reform is needed to "keep up-to-date" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the challenge of firearms circulating illegally – through poor storage – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it requires such a devastating event to get people to wake up and take notice."