The nation of Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in gun control – the Bondi attack has revealed a more complicated truth.
On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a single attacker wielding semi-automatic rifles took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.
That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many Australians.
However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.
Weapons Holdings at a Record High
A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from about 20 years ago.
This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.
While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.
The data also contradicts the common view that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.
Firearms are widespread 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 typical gun owner possessing over four firearms.
What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?
Weapons legislation in Australia are varied across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules in various regions.
Generally, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.
The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.
However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some states can have supervision of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.
Following the Port Arthur massacre, a sweeping overhaul of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.
Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were banned, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.
A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "self-defence" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.
New Push for Firearm Policy Changes
In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to strengthen gun laws.
A country-wide firearm surrender program was proposed, marking the largest such effort since 1996.
Other planned reforms now under consideration include:
- Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
- Addressing "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
- Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
- Enhancing intelligence sharing during background check processes.
There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.
A Nuanced Discussion
These swift actions have sparked debate from some quarters.
Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.
They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than changing laws for the great bulk of responsible owners.
Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.
A Painful Reminder
For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must evolve with changing times.
They argue that strengthening is needed to "remain effective" and protect public safety.
While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.
As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it takes such a tragedy to get people to wake up and listen."
