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

On a spring day in 1996, a solitary shooter using semi-automatic rifles took the lives of 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which ushered in some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can seem like a different era for many Australians.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A analysis revealed that there are now more than four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

This equates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Guns are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in major cities.

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

Understanding Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Firearm regulations in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules in various regions.

Broadly speaking, to secure 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 permitted justifications include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and background checks alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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

A national gun buyback scheme was unveiled, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Ending "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing 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 sparked debate from some quarters.

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

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than changing laws for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Catalyst for Change

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must be updated with changing times.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "keep up-to-date" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the legacy of firearms circulating illegally – through poor storage – continues to pose a danger.

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