The nation of Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in gun control – the Bondi attack has revealed a far more complex truth.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a single attacker using rapid-fire weapons killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many Australians.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

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

Firearms are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the average licence holder possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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

Rapid-fire weapons were banned, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for regular reviews of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have sparked debate from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that policies must be updated with technological advances.

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

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate reflected, "It is unfortunate that it requires such a loss of life to get people to wake up and take notice."