Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a far more complex reality.

On a spring day in April 1996, a solitary shooter using rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the most stringent gun laws in the world, can feel like a different era for many residents.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has rekindled memories of the Port Arthur massacre.

Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates 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 Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also dispels the common view that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Guns are common in urban centres, with a significant portion located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the registered individual possessing over four firearms.

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules in various regions.

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, young people in some jurisdictions can have supervision of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a sweeping overhaul of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were prohibited, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "self-defence" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were forceful about the need to tighten gun laws.

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application 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 reform efforts have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that restricting ownership would not have prevented an attack driven by extremist ideology.

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

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must evolve with new threats.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "address deficiencies" and prevent future tragedies.

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

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it needs such a tragedy to focus attention and take notice."