Australia was long seen as a world leader in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a far more complex situation.

On a weekend day in 1996, a solitary shooter using semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the most stringent gun laws in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has revived the ghosts of the Port Arthur massacre.

Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than 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 a weapon for each small group of people.

While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and the state of 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 mainly owned by rural residents.

Guns are common in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in population centres.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the registered individual possessing several firearms.

Understanding Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Gun control laws in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules across states and territories.

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some states can have supervision of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and security screenings alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Gun Law Reform

In the immediate aftermath the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to tighten gun laws.

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during background check processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These swift actions have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by extremist ideology.

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

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains incomplete, 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 technological advances.

They argue that reform is needed to "remain effective" and prevent future tragedies.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the challenge of guns in the wrong hands – through theft – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it needs such a loss of life to prompt action and listen."