Australia had long been viewed as a international standard-bearer in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a much murkier truth.

On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can seem like a bygone age for many citizens.

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

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A recent report revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from two decades prior.

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

While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also challenges the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Guns are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in urban hubs.

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 patchwork implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a safety program, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include sport shooting or animal management, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, young people in some jurisdictions can have supervision of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Regulatory Tightening

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

A weapons collection initiative was proposed, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

A Complicated Debate

These swift actions have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

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

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

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that gun laws must be updated with technological advances.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "remain effective" and prevent future tragedies.

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

As one advocate reflected, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a loss of life to focus attention and listen."