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In the aftermath of the awful incident at Bondi, Australia is confronting multiple pressing reckonings. There is a long-overdue national spotlight on antisemitism, an ongoing worry about national security, and questions about how such an tragedy could happen. However, from the perspective of a public health expert and Australian Jew, the most important discussion we are now having centers on firearms.

Ten Years of Warnings and a Proven Response

Health experts have been sounding alarms about firearms for at least a ten-year period. Following the events of the Port Arthur massacre, Australians united and implemented a series of reforms to curb gun violence across the country. And it worked. Prior to 1996, the nation experienced roughly one mass shooting per year. Over the following years, there have been extremely rare significant tragedies, with none approaching the fatalities of the incidents in the 1980s and 1990s.

This Recent Tragedy and the Function of Current Laws

Even during the Bondi events, the nation's firearm regulations were partially effective. It has been suggested the alleged attackers possessed with bolt-action rifles and at least one straight-pull shotgun. These firearms are limited to firing a single bullet at a time, necessitating a manual operation to ready the subsequent shot. While these guns are capable of being discharged rapidly with lethal results, they remain far slower and more cumbersome than the high-capacity, semi-automatic rifles frequently used in international mass shootings. The number of deaths at Bondi could have been much greater if different firearms had been accessible.

Preventing a future Bondi demands national cohesion. Regrettably, we have already seen cracks in the united front.

Legislation Under Strain

Yet, the terrible consequences of the attack demonstrates that current gun laws are failing. Designed in the late 1990s with the noblest aims, decades have eroded their efficacy. Alarmingly, there are now more firearms in Australia than prior to the Port Arthur shooting, with some citizens in cities owning collections numbering in the hundreds.

We have been overconfident and it has exacted a terrible price.

The Road Forward: Announced Reforms

Since the Bondi attack, there have been numerous announcements regarding new firearm legislation. The state of NSW specifically will shortly enact a suite of reforms to mitigate the public danger from firearms. The federal government has proposed a fresh gun buyback, and there is potential for a countrywide gun database, notwithstanding the complexities of coordinating state and federal jurisdictions.

These measures are feasible provided that the nation acts in unison. As stated, when it comes to gun control, the country is only as strong as its least stringent jurisdiction. This is the reality of the Australian system – laws in one state are easily circumvented if they can be bypassed with a short drive across a state line.

Addressing Common Arguments

We hear the inevitable response that "guns don't kill people, people kill people". This is true in the identical way that aircraft do not fly passengers, pilots do. Yes, aircraft require operators, but it would be quite challenging for a pilot to transport 500 people overseas without the plane. The horrific violence witnessed at Bondi would be all but impossible without guns, and would have been far less damaging if the accused individuals had not had access to the weapons they used.

Weighing Necessity and Security

There are valid reasons for some Australians to possess guns. Managing livestock or controlling vermin in rural areas is extremely difficult without them. A complete removal of guns from the country is not feasible, as in certain contexts they are essential tools.

The achievable goal – the imperative action – is to ensure that firearm legislation are modernized to better match the world we live in today. Australia's legislation have long been the admiration of the world, but time and distance has taken a toll and the nation is no longer as safe as it once was. It is vital to learn from the tragedy of Bondi seriously, and ensure that future generations are equally safe as past generations have been.

As one friend observed after the Bondi events, "such tragedies just don't happen here". They don't, but only because the country has collectively worked to maintain its security. As nightmarish as the incident was, there is hope that it can serve as the last one the nation experiences.