Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a more complicated situation.

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

That national tragedy nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many residents.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.

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

Weapons are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a significant portion located in major cities.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the average licence holder possessing more than four firearms.

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have use of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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 background checks 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.

New Push for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite 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 proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must keep pace with technological advances.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "keep up-to-date" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the legacy of guns in the wrong hands – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

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