The nation of Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a more complicated situation.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a lone gunman using semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can seem like a distant memory for many citizens.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has revived the ghosts of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Firearm Possession at a Unprecedented Level

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now in excess of four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

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

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by rural residents.

Firearms are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in major cities.

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

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Generally, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and collecting.

However, significant shortcomings 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 large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

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

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

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

A national gun buyback scheme 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 "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a condition 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 Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that restricting ownership would not have averted an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

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

They argue that strengthening is needed to "keep up-to-date" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the legacy of firearms circulating illegally – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.

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