The nation of Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in gun control – the Bondi attack has laid bare a more complicated situation.

On a spring day in 1996, a single attacker wielding semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

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

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has revived the ghosts of the Port Arthur massacre.

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from about 20 years ago.

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the common view that guns are primarily held by rural residents.

Weapons are common in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in population centres.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the average licence holder possessing more than four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Current Gun Laws?

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

Typically, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

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 prohibited, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "home security" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

In the immediate aftermath the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to strengthen 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 have registered.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a condition for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for regular reviews of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that imposing caps would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.

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

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that regulations must evolve with new threats.

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 black markets – continues to pose a danger.

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