Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a more complicated reality.

On a spring day in April 1996, a solitary shooter wielding rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can seem like a bygone age for many citizens.

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

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Guns are widespread in urban centres, with a large share located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the registered individual possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

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

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "self-defence" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that imposing caps would not have stopped an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Catalyst for Change

For long-time advocates, 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 infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the legacy of firearms circulating illegally – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate noted, "It is unfortunate that it requires such a loss of life to focus attention and take notice."