Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in gun control – the Bondi attack has revealed a far more complex situation.

On a spring day in April 1996, a solitary shooter armed with semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which ushered in some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can feel like a different era for many residents.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has revived the ghosts of the Port Arthur massacre.

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also contradicts the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by rural residents.

Firearms are common in cities and their outskirts, with a significant portion located in population centres.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the average licence holder possessing more than four firearms.

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

Typically, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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 prohibited, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "personal protection" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

New Push for Regulatory Tightening

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

A weapons collection initiative was proposed, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during background check processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

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

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must keep pace with technological advances.

They argue that reform is needed to "keep up-to-date" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it takes such a loss of life to focus attention and pay heed."