The nation of Australia was widely regarded as a global exemplar in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a much murkier situation.

On a spring day in the year 1996, a single attacker wielding semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which ushered in some of the most stringent gun laws in the world, can feel like a different era for many residents.

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

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 roughly two times the amount from the late 1990s.

This means 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 widespread belief that guns are primarily held by rural residents.

Weapons are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a significant portion located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the typical gun owner possessing over four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have supervision of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a sweeping overhaul of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were banned, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to bolster gun laws.

A weapons collection initiative was unveiled, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a condition 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.

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by violent beliefs.

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

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that policies must keep pace with new threats.

They argue that reform is needed to "address deficiencies" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate stated, "It is regrettable that it takes such a loss of life to focus attention and listen."