Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has revealed a far more complex situation.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a lone gunman armed with powerful firearms killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many Australians.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Weapons Holdings at a Record High

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from two decades prior.

This equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

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

Weapons are common in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the registered individual possessing several firearms.

What Are 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 secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and collecting.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some states can have use of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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 outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "self-defence" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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

A national gun buyback scheme was proposed, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Addressing "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

A Complicated Debate

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must keep pace with changing times.

They argue that reform is needed to "remain effective" and safeguard communities.

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

As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it requires such a tragedy to get people to wake up and take notice."