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In the aftermath of the awful attack at Bondi, Australia is confronting multiple critical conversations. We are seeing a much-needed national focus on antisemitism, an ongoing concern about public safety, and questions about the way such an tragedy could happen. However, from the perspective of a health professional and Jewish Australian, the paramount dialogue we are now having revolves around firearms.

A Decade of Cautions and a Successful Solution

Public health specialists have been issuing warnings about firearms for at least a decade. Following the events of the Port Arthur massacre, Australians united and implemented a series of measures to reduce gun violence nationwide. And it worked. Before 1996, the nation witnessed approximately one mass shooting per year. In the decades since, there have been extremely rare major events, with none reaching the fatalities of the incidents in the 1980s and 1990s.

This Recent Attack and the Role of Current Regulations

Amidst the Bondi events, the nation's gun laws were partially effective. It has been suggested the individuals involved might have been armed with manually-operated long guns and at least one straight-pull shotgun. These weapons are limited to firing a one round at a time, necessitating a manual operation to ready the next round. Although these guns are capable of being discharged quite quickly with devastating effect, they remain far slower and less efficient than the high-capacity, self-loading rifles frequently used in overseas attacks. The casualty count at Bondi would've been far higher if more advanced weapons had been accessible.

Preventing a future Bondi demands unity across all states. And unfortunately, we have already seen cracks in the united front.

A System Under Strain

However, the horrific consequences of the attack demonstrates that existing firearm regulations are inadequate. Crafted in the late 1990s with the noblest aims, years have worn away their efficacy. Alarmingly, there are now more firearms in Australia than prior to the Port Arthur massacre, with some citizens in cities owning arsenals of hundreds of weapons.

The nation has grown complacent and it has cost us terribly.

The Path Ahead: Announced Reforms

Since the Bondi tragedy, there have been numerous declarations regarding new gun laws. The state of NSW in particular will shortly enact a suite of reforms to reduce the public danger from firearms. The federal government has proposed a fresh firearm surrender scheme, and there is potential for a countrywide gun database, despite the complexities of aligning state and federal governments.

All of this are only possible if the nation works together. As noted, regarding firearm laws, the country is dependent on its weakest link. This is the very nature of the Australian system – regulations in one state are easily circumvented if they can be avoided with a short drive across a border.

Addressing Frequent Arguments

We hear the predictable response that "firearms are not the killers, people kill people". This is true in the same sense that planes don't transport people, pilots do. Yes, aircraft require operators, but it would be virtually impossible for a pilot to move 500 people overseas without the aircraft. The horrific violence witnessed at Bondi would be extremely difficult without guns, and would have been significantly less lethal if the accused individuals had not had access to the weapons they used.

Balancing Need and Security

It is acknowledged there are legitimate reasons for some Australians to own firearms. Managing livestock or controlling vermin in many places is incredibly hard without them. A complete removal of guns from the country is not feasible, as in some cases they are essential tools.

What we can do – the imperative action – is to guarantee that firearm legislation are updated to accurately reflect the world we live in today. Australia's legislation 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 seriously, and make certain that future generations are as protected as past generations have been.

A friend observed after the Bondi events, "such tragedies just don't happen here". This is true, but only because the country has collectively worked to keep itself safe. However horrific as the attack was, there is hope that it can serve as the last one the nation experiences.