Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a far more complex truth.

On a spring day in 1996, a single attacker wielding powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many Australians.

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

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from two decades prior.

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

While the state of Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the popular notion that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Guns are common in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in population centres.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some areas can have access to a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Certain types of firearms were banned, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening 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.

A Nuanced Discussion

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that limiting gun numbers would not have prevented an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of licensed individuals.

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 reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must keep pace with changing times.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate noted, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a tragedy to prompt action and pay heed."