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

On a weekend day in April 1996, a single attacker wielding semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which ushered in some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can feel like a distant memory for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has revived the ghosts of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A analysis revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates to 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 highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also dispels the common view that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Guns are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a large share 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 not uniform across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include hunting or culling, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, young people in some states 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, 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 Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening 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 Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have sparked debate from some quarters.

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

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

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

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must keep pace with technological advances.

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

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

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