Australia was long seen as a world leader in weapons legislation – Bondi has revealed a more complicated situation.
On a Sunday afternoon in 1996, a lone gunman armed with rapid-fire weapons killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.
That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which ushered in some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many residents.
However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has revived the ghosts of the Tasmanian tragedy.
Gun Ownership at a Record High
A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from the late 1990s.
This means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.
While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.
The data also challenges the popular notion that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.
Guns are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in major cities.
Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the average licence holder possessing more than four firearms.
Examining Australia's Current Gun Laws?
Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.
Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.
The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.
However, significant gaps remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have supervision 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.
Certain types of firearms were banned, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.
A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "self-defence" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.
Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform
In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were forceful about the need to strengthen gun laws.
A national gun buyback scheme was unveiled, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.
Other suggested measures now under consideration include:
- Limiting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
- Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
- Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
- Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.
There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.
A Complicated Debate
These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.
Pro-gun advocates contend that restricting ownership would not have prevented an attack driven by violent beliefs.
They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of responsible owners.
Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.
A Catalyst for Change
For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must evolve with new threats.
They argue that strengthening is needed to "address deficiencies" and safeguard communities.
While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through theft – continues to pose a challenge.
As one advocate reflected, "It's sad that it requires such a devastating event to prompt action and pay heed."
