Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a more complicated situation.

On a spring day in 1996, a solitary shooter using semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the toughest gun laws in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many citizens.

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

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis 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 the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also challenges the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Firearms are common in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Typically, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

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

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a sweeping overhaul of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback 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 elimination of "self-defence" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of licensed individuals.

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

A Catalyst for Change

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

They argue that modernisation is needed to "remain effective" and prevent future tragedies.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the challenge of guns in the wrong hands – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it takes such a tragedy to prompt action and listen."