Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has exposed a far more complex truth.

On a weekend day in 1996, a solitary shooter armed with rapid-fire weapons killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly a generation ago, which led to some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many Australians.

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

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from two decades prior.

This means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, 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 challenges the common view that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Firearms are prevalent in urban centres, with a large share located in urban hubs.

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

Understanding Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

Broadly speaking, 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 "valid purpose" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and collecting.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback 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 justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Regulatory Tightening

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

A national gun buyback scheme was announced, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations 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 maintain that restricting ownership would not have averted an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must evolve with new threats.

They argue that reform is needed to "keep up-to-date" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate noted, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a loss of life to get people to wake up and pay heed."