Australia had long been viewed as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a more complicated situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a single attacker armed with powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many citizens.

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

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

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 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 most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and 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 those in the countryside.

Firearms are common in urban centres, with a significant portion located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the average licence holder possessing more than four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Firearm regulations in Australia are varied across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules across states and territories.

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and collecting.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some states can have access to a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a sweeping overhaul 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 removal of "personal protection" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments 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 restricting ownership would not have prevented an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must be updated with technological advances.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of guns in the wrong hands – through poor storage – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it needs such a loss of life to get people to wake up and take notice."