Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has revealed a more complicated situation.

On a weekend 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 thirty years ago, which sparked some of the toughest gun laws in the world, can seem like a bygone age for many residents.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories of the Port Arthur massacre.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A recent report 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 about 20 years ago.

This means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by NSW and 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 primarily held by those in the countryside.

Firearms are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a significant portion located in major cities.

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

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Weapons legislation in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules across states and territories.

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a safety program, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 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.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "self-defence" 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 most significant such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations 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 limiting gun numbers would not have averted an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must evolve with new threats.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "keep up-to-date" 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 danger.

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