Australia’s Gun Count Hits Record High After Bondi Attack

Australia’s firearm numbers have climbed to a historic peak, right as the country reopens a painful national debate about gun control.
The new figures arrive amid fresh federal action following the Bondi Beach massacre, intensifying questions about public safety, extremism, and the effectiveness of existing laws.

Australia’s Firearm Total Crosses 4 Million

Australia recorded more than 4 million firearms in circulation in 2025, marking the highest level ever documented, according to the country’s centre-left Labor government.

Government data cited from the Department of Home Affairs put the national total at 4,113,735 guns last year.

A significant share of those firearms were located in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state and the site of the Bondi attack. Officials said NSW alone accounted for 1,158,654 firearms.

The figures were released on Sunday, just one day after the government confirmed it would move ahead with a major gun reform bill in parliament.

According to a Reuters report, the numbers underscore how firearm ownership has steadily risen even under strict post-1996 laws.

Parliament Recalled as Government Pushes New Reforms

The Labor government said on Saturday that parliament would be recalled from its summer break to debate legislation this week.

The proposed measures include a bill to authorise a gun buyback, alongside changes aimed at lowering the threshold for hate speech prosecutions.

Officials described the legislation as part of a response to the violence that shocked the country in December.

The bills were drafted in the aftermath of the December 14 shooting that killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration, a case that has triggered renewed alarm over extremist violence and antisemitism.

A Grim Comparison to Australia’s 1996 Gun Reform Era

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the latest figures reveal a sobering milestone: Australia now has more guns than it did in 1996, when the nation was rocked by a mass shooting that left 35 dead.

That 1996 tragedy led to sweeping national gun restrictions and a landmark buyback scheme, introduced under the conservative government of then-Prime Minister John Howard.

Burke’s remarks highlight a growing concern among policymakers—whether Australia’s gun control framework, long held up internationally as a model, is now being outpaced by rising firearm numbers.

Government Message: “This Can Never Happen Again”

Burke described the Bondi Beach massacre as a national tragedy that must not be repeated.

He said the government remained committed to reducing the risk of similar attacks by limiting access to weapons and removing firearms deemed unsafe or unlawful.

In public messaging, the government has framed the reforms as a direct attempt to prevent mass casualty incidents and disrupt violent extremism before it escalates.

New South Wales Tightens Limits on Personal Gun Ownership

New South Wales has already moved to tighten its laws in the wake of the Bondi attack.

In December, the state passed legislation banning private individuals from owning more than four firearms.

The law includes exemptions for farmers, who are allowed to own up to 10 firearms, reflecting the practical realities of pest control and rural property protection.

The NSW reforms show how state-level governments are taking parallel action, even as federal lawmakers prepare broader national steps.

Bondi Shooting Fuels Fresh Focus on Antisemitism

Beyond gun policy, the Bondi shooting has reignited debate over how Australia confronts hate-driven violence.

Authorities have pointed to antisemitism as a central concern following the attack and the earlier Hanukkah shooting that killed 15.

Police have said the alleged gunmen were inspired by the Islamic State militant group, adding another layer of urgency to national security discussions.

The case has prompted renewed calls for stronger responses to radicalisation, hate speech, and extremist propaganda, particularly when it intersects with real-world violence.

Public Reaction: Grief, Anger, and Demands for Action

The government’s push for reforms comes amid intense public pressure.

Mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some other countries, but when they occur, they leave a deep national scar, and often trigger swift political action.

The Bondi attack, described by officials as a terrorist incident, has added emotional weight to the debate, with many Australians demanding tighter controls and faster intervention against extremist threats.

At the same time, the rising firearm count has raised uncomfortable questions about how many weapons are circulating legally, and whether regulation and enforcement have kept pace.

Why Australia’s Gun Numbers Keep Rising

While Australia has long maintained strict licensing and ownership requirements, the record-high firearm count suggests that legal ownership has expanded over time.

The data cited by the government does not automatically indicate illegal gun growth but it does show that the country’s total stock of firearms has increased to levels not seen even before the landmark 1996 reforms.

That reality complicates Australia’s global reputation as a success story in gun regulation. It also forces lawmakers to confront a difficult balance: maintaining legitimate use for sport, farming, and security work, while limiting access for those who could cause harm.

Impact Analysis: What the New Reforms Could Change

If passed, the proposed gun buyback legislation could reshape firearm ownership patterns, particularly for weapons that authorities consider high-risk or unnecessary for civilian use.

Buybacks have historically been used as a tool to reduce the number of firearms in circulation while compensating owners, making compliance more likely.

Meanwhile, the government’s parallel effort to lower the bar for hate speech prosecutions signals a broader strategy: not just controlling weapons, but also confronting the ideological drivers of violence.

Taken together, the reforms represent a combined approach, reducing the means to carry out mass attacks while strengthening legal pathways to intervene earlier when hate-driven threats escalate.

What Happens Next

Lawmakers are expected to debate the proposed reforms this week, following the recall of parliament.

The outcome could determine whether Australia enters another major chapter of national gun reform, nearly three decades after the policies that followed the 1996 mass shooting.

State-level action in New South Wales has already raised the stakes, suggesting a shift toward tighter personal ownership caps even for licensed individuals.

The coming parliamentary debate is likely to be closely watched, not only by Australians but also internationally, as other countries often cite Australia’s model when discussing gun policy after mass violence.

A Turning Point in Australia’s Gun Debate

Australia’s record firearm count is more than a statistic, it has become part of a larger national reckoning after the Bondi massacre.

With lawmakers moving quickly toward a new buyback scheme and tougher hate speech laws, the country is once again confronting the same question it faced in 1996: how to prevent mass violence before it becomes a recurring reality.

As parliament returns to debate the bills, Australia stands at a crossroads, seeking to preserve lawful ownership while tightening the net around the weapons and ideologies that can turn public spaces into scenes of tragedy.

(With inputs from Reuters.)

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