Australia was long seen as a world leader in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a far more complex situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a solitary shooter using rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which ushered in some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a different era for many citizens.

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

Weapons Holdings at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

This translates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

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

The data also contradicts the popular notion that guns are primarily held by rural residents.

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 average licence holder possessing several firearms.

Understanding Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Gun control laws in Australia are varied across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have use of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

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

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were banned, and security screenings alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "home security" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Regulatory Tightening

In the immediate aftermath the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to strengthen gun laws.

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Ending "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during licence application 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 proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the vast majority of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

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

They argue that reform is needed to "address deficiencies" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the challenge of firearms circulating illegally – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it requires such a tragedy to get people to wake up and take notice."