Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in gun control – Bondi has exposed a more complicated situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a single attacker wielding powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the toughest gun laws in the world, can feel like a different era for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

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

The data also dispels the common view that guns are primarily held by people in regional areas.

Weapons are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the registered individual possessing over four firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules across states and territories.

Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and collecting.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have supervision of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were banned, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "home security" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

New Push for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than changing laws for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

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

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

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through theft – continues to pose a danger.

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