Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a much murkier truth.

On a Sunday afternoon in 1996, a lone gunman wielding semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the most stringent gun laws in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many citizens.

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

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A recent report revealed that there are now more than four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also contradicts the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Guns are common in cities and their outskirts, with a significant portion located in major cities.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the registered individual possessing over four firearms.

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Firearm regulations in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules in various regions.

Generally, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have access to 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 voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were prohibited, and vetting procedures alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "self-defence" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a condition for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

A Complicated Debate

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that restricting ownership would not have prevented an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a key project.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that regulations must keep pace with technological advances.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "keep up-to-date" and protect public safety.

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

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it takes such a devastating event to focus attention and listen."