Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has exposed a more complicated situation.

On a spring day in 1996, a lone gunman using powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many residents.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession 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 about 20 years ago.

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also challenges the common view that guns are mainly owned by people in regional areas.

Weapons are widespread 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 several firearms.

Examining Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Firearm regulations in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules across states and territories.

Typically, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, 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 job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have use of 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These swift actions have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that restricting ownership would not have prevented an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that political capital 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 not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must evolve 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 weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate stated, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a loss of life to get people to wake up and pay heed."