Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a far more complex reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in 1996, a single attacker using semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the toughest gun laws in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many residents.

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

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

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

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also challenges the widespread belief that guns are primarily held by people in regional areas.

Weapons are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in major cities.

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

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Broadly speaking, to obtain 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 sport shooting or animal management, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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

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

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

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

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

A national gun buyback scheme was proposed, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Ending "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing 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.

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that imposing caps would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent improving intelligence rather than changing laws for the great bulk of responsible owners.

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

A Catalyst for Change

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must evolve with changing times.

They argue that reform is needed to "keep up-to-date" and protect public safety.

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

As one advocate noted, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a tragedy to focus attention and listen."