Australia was long seen as a world leader in weapons legislation – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a much murkier situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in 1996, a solitary shooter wielding semi-automatic rifles took the lives of 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

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

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.

Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While the state of 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 contradicts the popular notion that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Weapons are common in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the average licence holder possessing over four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Broadly speaking, 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 accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some states can have use 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were prohibited, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was proposed, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a condition for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – 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 horrific reminder that regulations must be updated with changing times.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "keep up-to-date" and protect public safety.

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 unfortunate that it requires such a loss of life to focus attention and pay heed."