Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in weapons legislation – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a more complicated situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a solitary shooter armed with rapid-fire weapons 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 most stringent weapons policies in the world, can feel like a different era for many citizens.

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

Weapons Holdings at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This translates 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 the island state and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Firearms are common in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing more than four firearms.

Examining Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Weapons legislation in Australia are varied across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules across states and territories.

Generally, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

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

However, significant loopholes 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 comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "personal protection" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

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

A national gun buyback scheme was unveiled, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" 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 violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than changing laws for the great bulk of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must evolve with changing times.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "address deficiencies" and protect public safety.

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

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