Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in gun control – Bondi has revealed a more complicated truth.

On a weekend day in the year 1996, a solitary shooter using semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which led to some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a different era for many Australians.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has rekindled memories of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership 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 almost double the amount from the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are primarily held by rural residents.

Weapons are widespread in urban centres, with a significant portion located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing over four firearms.

Examining Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

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 "valid purpose" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

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

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.

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

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

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

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

There are also calls for periodic reassessments 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 restricting ownership would not have averted an attack driven by extremist ideology.

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

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must keep pace with new threats.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.

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