Australia was long seen as a world leader in firearm regulation – Bondi has exposed a far more complex truth.

On a spring day in the year 1996, a single attacker wielding powerful firearms killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which ushered in some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a different era for many citizens.

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

Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This means approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

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

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

Guns are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a significant portion located in major cities.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Firearm regulations in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules in various regions.

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have access to a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were banned, and background checks 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.

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations 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 imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than changing laws for the overwhelming number 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 urgent task.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must be updated with changing times.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the legacy of guns in the wrong hands – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it requires such a tragedy to prompt action and pay heed."