Australia was widely regarded as a world leader in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a far more complex situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in 1996, a single attacker wielding rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a different era for many residents.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from two decades prior.

This equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

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

The data also challenges the popular notion that guns are primarily held by people in regional areas.

Weapons are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in population centres.

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

Examining Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

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

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 background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

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

A national gun buyback scheme 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 "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for regular reviews of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must be updated with changing times.

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

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate reflected, "It is unfortunate that it requires such a devastating event to prompt action and pay heed."