The nation of Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a more complicated situation.

On a weekend day in 1996, a single attacker wielding semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the most stringent gun laws in the world, can seem like a different era for many citizens.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms 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 the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the common view that guns are primarily held by rural residents.

Firearms are widespread in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the average licence holder possessing over four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Firearm regulations in Australia are inconsistent 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 of legal age, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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.

Certain types of firearms were prohibited, and security screenings alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "home security" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These swift actions have sparked debate from some quarters.

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

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number 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 reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must be updated with changing times.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "keep up-to-date" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it takes such a devastating event to focus attention and pay heed."