Australia was widely regarded as a global exemplar in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a more complicated reality.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a single attacker wielding rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many citizens.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from the late 1990s.

This means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.

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

Weapons are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in major cities.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are varied across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

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

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were prohibited, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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 most significant such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a condition for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the vast majority of licensed individuals.

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

A Catalyst for Change

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must be updated with changing times.

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

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of guns in the wrong hands – through poor storage – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it requires such a loss of life to prompt action and listen."