Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – Bondi has laid bare a much murkier reality.

On a weekend day in 1996, a single attacker wielding powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the toughest firearm regulations 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.

Firearm Possession at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also contradicts the common view that guns are mainly owned by people in regional areas.

Weapons are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing more than four firearms.

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

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

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

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, young people in some states can have use of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Certain types of firearms were banned, 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.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was announced, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

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

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These proposed changes have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than changing laws for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must keep pace with technological advances.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "keep up-to-date" and prevent future tragedies.

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

As one advocate reflected, "It's sad that it requires such a loss of life to get people to wake up and pay heed."