Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a more complicated situation.

On a weekend day in the year 1996, a single attacker wielding rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the most stringent firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many citizens.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Weapons Holdings at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

This means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.

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

Guns are prevalent in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

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

Examining Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Weapons legislation in Australia are varied across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

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

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some states can have supervision 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 large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were prohibited, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

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

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

A Complicated Debate

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have prevented an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number 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 priority.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must be updated with new threats.

They argue that reform is needed to "address deficiencies" and prevent future tragedies.

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

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it needs such a devastating event to prompt action and pay heed."