Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has revealed a far more complex situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a single attacker using rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a distant memory for many Australians.

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 study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

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 common view that guns are primarily held by those in the countryside.

Firearms are common in urban centres, with a significant portion located in population centres.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the registered individual possessing over four firearms.

Examining Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules across states and territories.

Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas can have use of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Certain types of firearms were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "self-defence" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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

A weapons collection initiative was announced, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during background check processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

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

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that policies must be updated with technological advances.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "keep up-to-date" and prevent future tragedies.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the challenge of firearms circulating illegally – through theft – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it requires such a devastating event to get people to wake up and listen."