Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in gun control – Bondi has revealed a much murkier truth.

On a spring day in April 1996, a single attacker armed with rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which ushered in some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

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

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

Weapons are prevalent in urban centres, with a large share located in major cities.

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

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain occupational requirements, and collecting.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 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 prohibited, and security screenings alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

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

A weapons collection initiative was announced, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

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

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that imposing caps would not have averted 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 law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must keep pace with changing times.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "address deficiencies" and prevent future tragedies.

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

As one advocate reflected, "It's sad that it takes such a devastating event to get people to wake up and listen."