Australia was long seen as a world leader in firearm regulation – Bondi has laid bare a more complicated situation.
On a spring day in April 1996, a single attacker using powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.
That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a different era for many residents.
However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.
Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level
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 nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.
This equates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.
While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the most guns per person.
The data also contradicts the popular notion that guns are mainly owned by rural residents.
Firearms are prevalent in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.
Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.
Understanding Australia's Current Gun Laws?
Gun control laws in Australia are varied across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.
Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.
The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and collecting.
However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have access to 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 voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.
Certain types of firearms were banned, and security screenings alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.
A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "self-defence" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.
Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform
In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were forceful about the need to bolster gun laws.
A weapons collection initiative was proposed, marking the largest such effort since 1996.
Other proposals now under consideration include:
- Limiting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
- Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
- Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
- Strengthening 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 Complicated Debate
These proposed changes have met with opposition from some quarters.
Pro-gun advocates contend that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by extremist ideology.
They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of licensed individuals.
Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a key project.
A Catalyst for Change
For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must be updated with new threats.
They argue that modernisation is needed to "keep up-to-date" and prevent future tragedies.
While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.
As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it takes such a devastating event to prompt action and take notice."
