Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a far more complex truth.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a solitary shooter wielding rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the most stringent firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a different era for many Australians.

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

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

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 greatest density of weapons.

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

Firearms are common in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the average licence holder possessing over four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and collecting.

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

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were prohibited, and background checks alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "personal protection" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were forceful about the need to bolster gun laws.

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a condition for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These swift actions have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that restricting ownership would not have averted an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, 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 policies must be updated with new threats.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "address deficiencies" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through theft – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it needs such a devastating event to prompt action and listen."