Australia was widely regarded as a world leader in gun control – Bondi has laid bare a more complicated truth.

On a spring day in the year 1996, a lone gunman using semi-automatic rifles killed 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 seem like a bygone age for many citizens.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has rekindled memories of the Port Arthur massacre.

Firearm Possession at a Unprecedented Level

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now in excess of four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

This means approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, 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 challenges the popular notion that guns are mainly owned by people in regional areas.

Guns are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in major cities.

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

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules in various regions.

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a competency test, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some states 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were banned, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Regulatory Tightening

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was announced, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

A Complicated Debate

These proposed changes have met with opposition from some quarters.

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

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk of licensed individuals.

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 long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must evolve with technological advances.

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

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

As one advocate noted, "It is unfortunate that it takes such a loss of life to get people to wake up and listen."