Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a much murkier truth.

On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a solitary shooter using rapid-fire weapons killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can feel like a distant memory for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from about 20 years ago.

This translates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also challenges the common view that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Weapons are common in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

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

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have access to a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "personal protection" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Addressing "indefinite" 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 "situations evolve" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a key project.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must evolve with technological advances.

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

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

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it needs such a tragedy to prompt action and pay heed."