Australia was long seen as a world leader in gun control – Bondi has laid bare a more complicated reality.

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

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can feel like a different era for many residents.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now over four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from two decades prior.

This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also challenges the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Firearms are widespread 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.

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Gun control laws in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules in various regions.

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas can have use of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were banned, and vetting procedures alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

New Push for Regulatory Tightening

In the immediate aftermath the Bondi shooting, political leaders were forceful about the need to bolster 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 legally own.
• Ending "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a condition for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during background check 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 swift actions have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that limiting gun numbers would not have averted an attack driven by extremist ideology.

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

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

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that gun laws must be updated with new threats.

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

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

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it requires such a devastating event to get people to wake up and take notice."