The nation of Australia was long seen as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a more complicated situation.

On a weekend day in 1996, a lone gunman armed with powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a different era for many residents.

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

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

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 NT that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also contradicts the common view that guns are mostly possessed by rural residents.

Firearms are common in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in urban hubs.

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

Understanding Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Firearm regulations in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Broadly speaking, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some areas can have use of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "home security" 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 bolster gun laws.

A national gun buyback scheme was announced, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than changing laws for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must evolve with changing times.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it requires such a loss of life to focus attention and listen."