Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a much murkier situation.

On a spring day in April 1996, a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can appear as a different era for many Australians.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level

A recent report revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands 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 the state of Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by rural residents.

Guns are common in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the average licence holder possessing several firearms.

Understanding Australia's Current Gun Laws?

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

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

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, young people in some jurisdictions can have supervision of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were banned, and vetting procedures alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Regulatory Tightening

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was unveiled, 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 "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that restricting ownership would not have prevented an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the vast majority of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must keep pace with new threats.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "keep up-to-date" and prevent future tragedies.

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

As one advocate reflected, "It is unfortunate that it takes such a tragedy to focus attention and pay heed."