Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in gun control – the Bondi attack has exposed a far more complex truth.

On a spring day in the year 1996, a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has brought back painful recollections of the Port Arthur massacre.

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A analysis revealed that there are now more than four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

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

While the state of Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also challenges the popular notion that guns are mainly owned by rural residents.

Guns are prevalent in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Certain types of firearms were prohibited, and security screenings alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "personal protection" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

New Push for Gun Law Reform

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 largest such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening 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 Complicated Debate

These proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than changing laws for the overwhelming number of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must keep pace with new threats.

They argue that reform is needed to "keep up-to-date" and prevent future tragedies.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it requires such a loss of life to get people to wake up and take notice."