Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – Bondi has laid bare a far more complex situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a lone gunman wielding powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can feel like a different era for many Australians.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now over 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 New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also dispels the common view that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Firearms are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the average licence holder possessing over four firearms.

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Firearm regulations in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Generally, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 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 large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were banned, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination 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 clear about the need to tighten gun laws.

A country-wide firearm surrender program was proposed, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during background check processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent addressing root causes rather than changing laws for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must be updated with technological advances.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "remain effective" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.

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