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

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a lone gunman wielding powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which led to some of the most stringent gun laws in the world, can seem like a different era for many residents.

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

Weapons Holdings at a Record High

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is roughly two times 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 New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are primarily held by those in the countryside.

Firearms are common in urban centres, with a significant portion located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the average licence holder possessing more than four firearms.

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

Typically, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas can have supervision of 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 voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were outlawed, and security screenings alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "personal protection" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was announced, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent improving intelligence rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

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

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

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

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it requires such a loss of life to prompt action and pay heed."