Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a far more complex situation.

On a spring day in 1996, a single attacker wielding rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly a generation ago, which led to some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can feel like a distant memory for many residents.

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

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than 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 one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also dispels the common view that guns are mainly owned by rural residents.

Weapons are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

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

Understanding Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules across states and territories.

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and collecting.

However, significant shortcomings 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 sweeping overhaul of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a large-scale surrender scheme 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 "home security" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

A Complicated Debate

These proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

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

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

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

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must be updated with changing times.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "address deficiencies" and prevent future tragedies.

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

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