Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has exposed a much murkier situation.
On a Sunday afternoon in the year 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 three decades ago, which led to some of the strictest gun laws 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 brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.
Firearm Possession at a Record High
A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from two decades prior.
This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.
While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (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 popular notion that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.
Weapons are common in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in population centres.
Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.
What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?
Weapons legislation in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.
Generally, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.
The allowable purposes include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and for collections.
However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have use of 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 voluntary hand-in 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 valid reason for gun ownership.
New Push for Gun Law Reform
In the immediate aftermath the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to bolster gun laws.
A national gun buyback scheme was proposed, marking the first such effort since 1996.
Other suggested measures now under consideration include:
- Restricting the number of guns an individual can possess.
- Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
- Making formal citizenship a condition for firearm ownership.
- Improving intelligence sharing during licence application 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 drawn criticism from some quarters.
Pro-gun advocates maintain that limiting gun numbers would not have averted an attack driven by radicalisation.
They suggest that political capital would be better spent improving intelligence rather than changing laws for the overwhelming number of law-abiding citizens.
Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a key project.
A Painful Reminder
For reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must evolve with changing times.
They argue that reform is needed to "address deficiencies" and protect public safety.
While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.
As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it requires such a devastating event to get people to wake up and take notice."
