Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a far more complex reality.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a solitary shooter wielding semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many citizens.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now more than four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also challenges the common view that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

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

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.

Examining Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have supervision of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

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

Certain types of firearms were prohibited, and vetting procedures alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

A Complicated Debate

These reform efforts have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have prevented an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than changing laws for the overwhelming number of licensed individuals.

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 Catalyst for Change

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must keep pace with changing times.

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

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

As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it needs such a devastating event to prompt action and take notice."