Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in gun control – Bondi has exposed a far more complex truth.

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

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many residents.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now in excess of four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

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

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also contradicts the popular notion that guns are mostly possessed by rural residents.

Guns are prevalent in urban centres, with a significant portion located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

Understanding Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Gun control laws in Australia are varied across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, young people in some states can have access to 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 voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "home security" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

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

A national gun buyback scheme was announced, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

A Complicated Debate

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than changing laws for the vast majority of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that gun laws must evolve with changing times.

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

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the challenge of firearms circulating illegally – through poor storage – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate stated, "It is regrettable that it requires such a devastating event to focus attention and listen."