On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a solitary shooter armed with semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.
That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which led to some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many residents.
However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has brought back painful recollections of the Port Arthur massacre.
A analysis 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 two decades prior.
This equates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.
While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the most guns per person.
The data also contradicts the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.
Weapons are widespread in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.
Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the typical gun owner possessing over four firearms.
Weapons legislation in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules across states and territories.
Generally, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.
The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and collecting.
However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some states can have access to a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.
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 background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.
A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.
In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to bolster gun laws.
A weapons collection initiative was unveiled, marking the first such effort since 1996.
Other suggested measures now under consideration include:
There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.
These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.
Pro-gun advocates argue that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.
They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than changing laws for the vast majority of licensed individuals.
Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a key project.
For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must keep pace with new threats.
They argue that reform is needed to "address deficiencies" and safeguard communities.
While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of firearms circulating illegally – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.
As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it requires such a devastating event to focus attention and pay heed."
