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In the aftermath of the horrific incident at Bondi, Australia is confronting multiple critical reckonings. We are seeing a much-needed national spotlight on antisemitism, an ongoing concern about national security, and inquiries about how such an tragedy could happen. However, from the perspective of a public health expert and Australian Jew, the paramount dialogue we are finally having revolves around firearms.

A Decade of Cautions and a Proven Response

Public health experts have been sounding alarms about firearms for a minimum of a ten-year period. In the wake of the Port Arthur massacre, Australians came together and enacted a suite of reforms to reduce gun violence nationwide. And it worked. Prior to 1996, the nation experienced roughly one large-scale firearm incident 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 Role of Current Regulations

Amidst the Bondi events, the nation's firearm regulations were partially effective. Reports indicate the alleged attackers might have been armed with manually-operated long guns and at least one straight-pull shotgun. These weapons are limited to firing a single bullet at a time, requiring a manual operation to chamber the subsequent shot. While these guns can be fired rapidly with devastating effect, they remain far slower and more cumbersome than the high-capacity, self-loading rifles frequently used in overseas attacks. The number of deaths at Bondi would've been far higher if different weapons had been available.

Preventing another Bondi requires national cohesion. Regrettably, we have already seen fissures in the united front.

Legislation Showing Weakness

Yet, the horrific consequences of the attack demonstrates that current gun laws are failing. Crafted in the late 1990s with the noblest aims, years have eroded their efficacy. Alarmingly, there are currently a greater number of guns in Australia than before the Port Arthur massacre, with some individuals in cities owning arsenals numbering in the hundreds.

The nation has grown complacent and it has exacted a terrible price.

The Path Forward: Proposed Reforms

In the time after the Bondi tragedy, there have been multiple announcements regarding new firearm legislation. The state of NSW specifically will shortly introduce a package of reforms to mitigate the public danger from firearms. The federal government has announced a fresh firearm surrender scheme, and there is hope for a countrywide gun database, despite the inherent challenges of coordinating state and federal jurisdictions.

All of this are feasible provided that the nation works together. As stated, when it comes to firearm laws, the country is dependent on its least stringent jurisdiction. This is the reality of the Australian federation – regulations in one state are easily circumvented if they can be bypassed with a short drive across a state line.

Countering Frequent Objections

There is the inevitable response that "guns don't kill people, individuals are". This is true in the identical way that planes don't transport people, aviators do. Yes, planes can't fly themselves, but it would be quite challenging for a captain to transport 500 people overseas without the plane. The mass slaughter seen at Bondi would be all but impossible without firearms, and would have been significantly less lethal if the accused individuals had not had access to the firearms they used.

Weighing Need and Security

It is acknowledged there are legitimate reasons for some Australians to possess firearms. Farm work or culling pests in rural areas is extremely difficult without them. A total ban of guns from the country is impractical, as in certain contexts they are essential tools.

The achievable goal – the imperative action – is to guarantee that gun laws are modernized to accurately reflect the world we live in today. Australia's laws have long been the envy of the world, but time and distance has taken a toll and the nation is no longer as safe as it previously was. It is vital to learn from the tragedy of Bondi to heart, and ensure that future generations are as protected as previous generations have been.

A commentator observed after the Bondi attack, "such tragedies just don't happen here". They don't, but only because the country has made concerted efforts to keep itself safe. However horrific as the incident was, there is hope that it can become the last one the nation experiences.