Australia was long seen as a world leader in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a far more complex reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in 1996, a lone gunman wielding semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many residents.

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

Firearm Possession at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from two decades prior.

This equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.

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

Firearms are common in cities and their outskirts, 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.

Understanding Australia's Current Gun Laws?

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

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, target or sport shooting, certain job-related needs, and collecting.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions can have supervision of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were banned, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Renewed Demands for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – 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 policies must be updated with technological advances.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "address deficiencies" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the challenge of firearms circulating illegally – through black markets – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate reflected, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a loss of life to focus attention and listen."