Bondi Beach Mass Shooting Explained: How Did It Happen Despite Australia’s Strict Gun Laws?

The killing of at least 15 people at Sydney’s Bondi Beach shocked Australia, a country known for some of the world’s strictest gun laws. Police have described the incident as a terrorist attack, the worst mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that led to sweeping gun reforms. Australia’s National Firearms Agreement bans most automatic weapons, mandates licensing, background checks and safety training, and prohibits guns for self-defence. Mass shootings remain rare, but gun ownership has risen in recent years. Investigators are examining how the weapons were accessed despite licensing rules, renewing calls for tighter controls and oversight.