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In the aftermath of the horrific incident at Bondi, Australia is confronting several critical conversations. We are seeing a much-needed national focus on anti-Jewish sentiment, an persistent worry about national security, and questions about the way such an tragedy could happen. However, as viewed of a health professional and Australian Jew, the paramount discussion we are now having centers on firearms.

Ten Years of Cautions and a Proven Solution

Health specialists have been sounding alarms about guns for a minimum of a decade. In the wake of the Port Arthur massacre, Australians united and enacted a series of measures to reduce gun violence across the country. The strategy succeeded. Prior to 1996, the nation witnessed approximately one large-scale firearm incident per year. In the decades since, there have been vanishingly few major events, with none approaching the death toll of the incidents in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Bondi Attack and the Role of Current Regulations

Even during the Bondi tragedy, the nation's gun laws were partially effective. Reports indicate the alleged attackers possessed with bolt-action rifles and a straight-pull shotgun. These weapons can only fire a single bullet at a time, necessitating a physical action to ready the next round. Although these guns can be fired rapidly with devastating effect, they remain far slower and less efficient than the high-capacity, semi-automatic rifles frequently used in international mass shootings. The number of deaths at Bondi would've been far higher if more advanced weapons had been accessible.

Stopping a future Bondi demands unity across all states. And unfortunately, there are already fissures in the facade.

Legislation Showing Weakness

Yet, the terrible toll of the attack reveals that current firearm regulations are failing. Crafted in the late 1990s with the best of intentions, decades have eroded their efficacy. Concerningly, there are currently a greater number of guns in Australia than prior to the Port Arthur shooting, with some individuals in urban areas owning collections numbering in the hundreds.

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

The Path Ahead: Announced Reforms

In the time after the Bondi attack, there have been multiple announcements regarding strengthened gun laws. New South Wales in particular will soon introduce a suite of measures to reduce the public danger posed by firearms. The federal government has announced a fresh firearm surrender scheme, and there is hope for a countrywide gun database, despite the complexities of coordinating state and federal jurisdictions.

These measures are only possible if the nation works together. As stated, regarding firearm laws, the country is dependent on its least stringent jurisdiction. This is the very nature of the Australian system – laws in one state are easily circumvented if they can be avoided with a journey across a border.

Countering Frequent Arguments

We hear the inevitable response that "guns don't kill people, individuals are". This is accurate in the same sense that planes don't transport people, aviators do. Yes, planes can't fly themselves, but it would be virtually impossible for a pilot to move 500 people internationally without the plane. The horrific violence witnessed at Bondi would be extremely difficult without guns, and would have been far less damaging if the alleged terrorists had not had access to the weapons they possessed.

Balancing Need and Security

There are legitimate needs for some Australians to own guns. Managing livestock or culling pests in many places is incredibly hard 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 guarantee that firearm legislation are updated to accurately reflect the society we live in today. Australia's laws have long been the envy of the world, but the passage of years has done its work and the nation is less secure as it once was. It is vital to take the lessons of Bondi to heart, and ensure that future generations are as protected as previous generations have been.

As one commentator remarked after the Bondi events, "such tragedies just don't happen here". They don't, but solely due to the fact that the country has collectively worked to keep itself safe. As nightmarish as the attack was, there is an aspiration that it can become the final tragedy the nation ever sees.