Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a much murkier situation.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a lone gunman using powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many residents.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from the late 1990s.

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

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

The data also contradicts the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by rural residents.

Weapons are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a significant portion located in population centres.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the average licence holder possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

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

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some areas can have use of 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was unveiled, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

There are also calls for regular reviews of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These proposed changes have met with opposition from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the vast majority 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 key project.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must be updated with technological advances.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "remain effective" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it takes such a tragedy to get people to wake up and listen."