Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a much murkier truth.

On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a solitary shooter wielding powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the toughest gun laws in the world, can seem like a different era for many Australians.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has rekindled memories of the 1996 shootings.

Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now more than four million privately-owned firearms 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 highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the popular notion that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Firearms are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have access to a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform 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.

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to tighten gun laws.

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

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

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These swift actions have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that limiting gun numbers would not have averted an attack driven by radicalisation.

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

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

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must evolve with new threats.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "remain effective" and safeguard communities.

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

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it requires such a loss of life to prompt action and listen."