Australia was long seen as a world leader in firearm regulation – Bondi has revealed a far more complex truth.

On a spring day in 1996, a single attacker armed with rapid-fire weapons killed 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many residents.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year 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 the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also contradicts the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by rural residents.

Weapons are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in urban hubs.

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

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, young people in some states can have supervision of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform 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 background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for regular reviews of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent improving intelligence rather than changing laws for the vast majority of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

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

They argue that strengthening 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 legacy of guns in the wrong hands – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate reflected, "It's sad that it takes such a tragedy to focus attention and take notice."