Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a more complicated situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a solitary shooter using powerful firearms killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can appear as a different era for many Australians.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the Port Arthur massacre.

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of 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 greatest density of weapons.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Weapons are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

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

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some states 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 prohibited, and security screenings alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Regulatory Tightening

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was announced, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency 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.

An Ongoing Controversy

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 violent beliefs.

They suggest that resources would be better spent improving intelligence rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must be updated with technological advances.

They argue that reform is needed to "address deficiencies" and prevent future tragedies.

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

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