Australia was widely regarded as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a much murkier reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a lone gunman using rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can feel like a different era for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Weapons Holdings at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year 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 means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also contradicts the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Weapons are common in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are varied across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules across states and territories.

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

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

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, young people in some jurisdictions 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 voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

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

A national gun buyback scheme was proposed, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Ending "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during background check processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that limiting gun numbers would not have prevented an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that resources would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must be updated with technological advances.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "address deficiencies" and prevent future tragedies.

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of firearms circulating illegally – through poor storage – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it requires such a devastating event to focus attention and listen."