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

On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a lone gunman wielding powerful firearms killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can seem like a different era for many residents.

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

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from two decades prior.

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

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Guns are widespread 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 typical gun owner possessing over four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain professional duties, and collecting.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas can have access to a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were forceful about the need to bolster gun laws.

A national gun buyback scheme 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.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during background check 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 maintain that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must evolve with changing times.

They argue that reform is needed to "remain effective" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the ongoing issue of guns in the wrong hands – through poor storage – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it needs such a devastating event to focus attention and take notice."