Australia was widely regarded as a world leader in gun control – Bondi has exposed a more complicated situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a lone gunman wielding powerful firearms killed 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a different era for many citizens.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

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 two decades prior.

This means approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also challenges the popular notion that guns are mostly possessed by rural residents.

Weapons are prevalent in urban centres, with a large share located in population centres.

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

Examining Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules across states and territories.

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

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

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, young people in some states can have supervision of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were prohibited, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that resources would be better spent improving intelligence rather than changing laws for the vast majority of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must keep pace with changing times.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "remain effective" and safeguard communities.

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

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it needs such a devastating event to get people to wake up and take notice."