Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in weapons legislation – Bondi has laid bare a much murkier reality.

On a spring day in 1996, a lone gunman armed with powerful firearms killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which ushered in some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many citizens.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

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 widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Weapons are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a significant portion located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the registered individual possessing over four firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

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

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and collecting.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions can have access to 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 prohibited, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

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

A national gun buyback scheme was announced, marking the most significant 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.
• Improving 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.

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have met with opposition from some quarters.

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

They suggest that resources would be better spent improving intelligence rather than tightening regulations for the vast majority of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must evolve with new threats.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "address deficiencies" and prevent future tragedies.

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

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it needs such a devastating event to focus attention and pay heed."