The nation of Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a far more complex situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a single attacker wielding powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the most stringent firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a different era for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

This translates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by 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 mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Guns are common in urban centres, with a large share located in major cities.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are varied across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Broadly speaking, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a safety program, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some areas can have supervision 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.

Certain types of firearms were outlawed, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to strengthen gun laws.

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

A Complicated Debate

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that policies must evolve with new threats.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "remain effective" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it needs such a tragedy to get people to wake up and pay heed."