Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has revealed a much murkier situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a single attacker using rapid-fire weapons killed 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can seem like a different era for many Australians.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Port Arthur massacre.

Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from the late 1990s.

This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also contradicts the common view that guns are primarily held by those in the countryside.

Weapons are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in population centres.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Broadly speaking, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some states can have access to a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a sweeping overhaul of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were banned, and security screenings alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "home security" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Addressing "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

A Complicated Debate

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than changing laws for the great bulk 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 reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that gun laws must evolve with changing times.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "remain effective" and protect public safety.

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

As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it needs such a devastating event to get people to wake up and take notice."