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

On a weekend day in April 1996, a lone gunman wielding rapid-fire weapons killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many Australians.

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

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over 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 most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also challenges the common view that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Guns are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in urban hubs.

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

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Generally, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain job-related needs, and collecting.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

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 vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Gun Law Reform

In the immediate aftermath the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to strengthen gun laws.

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed 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 tragic indication that gun laws must evolve with new threats.

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

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the challenge of firearms circulating illegally – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

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