Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in gun control – Bondi has revealed a much murkier truth.

On a weekend day in the year 1996, a single attacker armed with semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can feel like a distant memory for many citizens.

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

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

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

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is the island state and the NT 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.

Firearms are prevalent in urban centres, 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.

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas can have supervision of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were banned, and background checks alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Regulatory Tightening

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program 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 "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These swift actions have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that limiting gun numbers would not have averted 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 licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must keep pace with changing times.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "remain effective" and prevent future tragedies.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the legacy of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate stated, "It is unfortunate that it requires such a loss of life to prompt action and listen."