Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a much murkier reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a solitary shooter wielding powerful firearms killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can seem like a bygone age for many residents.

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

Weapons Holdings at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from the late 1990s.

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 greatest density of weapons.

The data also contradicts the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by people in regional areas.

Weapons are prevalent in urban centres, with a significant portion located in population centres.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules across states and territories.

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and collecting.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, minors in some states can have use of 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 voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations 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 maintain that imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must be updated with new threats.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "remain effective" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the challenge of guns in the wrong hands – through poor storage – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate stated, "It is regrettable that it requires such a tragedy to focus attention and listen."