Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in gun control – the Bondi attack has revealed a more complicated truth.

On a weekend day in the year 1996, a lone gunman wielding rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a different era for many citizens.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, 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 weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

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

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also contradicts the common view that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

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

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the registered individual possessing over four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Generally, to secure 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 permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, young people in some states can have supervision of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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 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.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other planned reforms 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.
• Improving intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.

A Complicated Debate

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must evolve with technological advances.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "keep up-to-date" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the legacy of guns in the wrong hands – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate noted, "It is unfortunate that it requires such a devastating event to get people to wake up and pay heed."