Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a more complicated situation.

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

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a bygone age for many residents.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has revived the ghosts of the Port Arthur massacre.

Weapons Holdings at a Record High

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

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

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

The data also challenges the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by rural residents.

Firearms are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in major cities.

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

Understanding Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and collecting.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some jurisdictions can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a sweeping overhaul 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 rejection of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "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 "situations evolve" over time.

A Complicated Debate

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must be updated with new threats.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "keep up-to-date" and safeguard communities.

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 danger.

As one advocate stated, "It is unfortunate that it takes such a loss of life to prompt action and pay heed."