Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in gun control – Bondi has exposed a much murkier reality.

On a weekend day in the year 1996, a lone gunman wielding rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many residents.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Weapons Holdings at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.

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

Weapons are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the typical gun owner possessing over four firearms.

Examining Australia's Current Gun Laws?

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

Broadly speaking, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", 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 shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some areas can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a large-scale surrender scheme 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 removal of "self-defence" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to bolster gun laws.

A country-wide firearm surrender program was announced, 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 permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

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

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

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 reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that gun laws must be updated with changing times.

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

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

As one advocate reflected, "It's sad that it requires such a tragedy to prompt action and listen."