Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in weapons legislation – Bondi has laid bare a much murkier truth.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a single attacker wielding semi-automatic rifles took the lives of 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which ushered in some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a different era for many Australians.

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

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates to 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 highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also contradicts the common view that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Guns are prevalent in urban centres, with a large share located in major cities.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the registered individual possessing over four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include hunting or culling, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, young people in some states can have access to a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a sweeping overhaul of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were banned, and security screenings alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Renewed Demands for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk of responsible owners.

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

A Catalyst for Change

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must keep pace with technological advances.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it takes such a devastating event to get people to wake up and listen."