Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a much murkier situation.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a solitary shooter armed with powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can feel like a different era for many residents.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This translates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

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

Weapons are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in urban hubs.

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

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

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

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, young people in some areas can have use 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.

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

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

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing 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.

A Complicated Debate

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that imposing caps would not have prevented an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that regulations must evolve with changing times.

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

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

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it needs such a tragedy to prompt action and take notice."