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

On a spring day in the year 1996, a solitary shooter using powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the most stringent gun laws in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many citizens.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from two decades prior.

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

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also contradicts the common view that guns are mainly owned by rural residents.

Guns are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

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

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules in various regions.

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain occupational requirements, and collecting.

However, significant shortcomings 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 major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

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

A weapons collection initiative was proposed, marking the first 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 Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during background check processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number of licensed individuals.

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

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must keep pace with technological advances.

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

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate reflected, "It's sad that it needs such a tragedy to prompt action and pay heed."