Australia was long seen as a world leader in gun control – Bondi has exposed a more complicated truth.

On a weekend day in 1996, a lone gunman wielding semi-automatic rifles took the lives of 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which ushered in some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many citizens.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

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

This means 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 most guns per person.

The data also challenges the common view that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Guns are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules across states and territories.

Generally, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and collecting.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have use of 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.

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

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "home security" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls 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 announced, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.

A Complicated Debate

These swift actions have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that limiting gun numbers would not have prevented an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that resources would be better spent improving intelligence rather than tightening regulations for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

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

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

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate reflected, "It is unfortunate that it takes such a devastating event to prompt action and pay heed."