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In the aftermath of the horrific attack at Bondi, Australia is confronting multiple pressing reckonings. 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. But, as viewed of a health professional and Australian Jew, the paramount discussion we are finally having revolves around firearms.

Ten Years of Warnings and a Successful Response

Public health specialists have been sounding alarms about firearms for at least a ten-year period. In the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy, 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. Over the following years, there have been extremely rare major events, with none approaching the death toll of the shootings in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Bondi Tragedy and the Role of Existing Laws

Amidst the Bondi tragedy, the nation's firearm regulations were not entirely useless. It has been suggested the alleged attackers possessed with manually-operated long guns and a straight-pull shotgun. These firearms are limited to firing a single bullet at a time, necessitating a physical action to chamber the next round. Although these guns can be fired rapidly with lethal results, they remain significantly less rapid and less efficient than the large-magazine, self-loading rifles frequently used in overseas mass shootings. The number of deaths at Bondi could have been much greater if more advanced weapons had been accessible.

Preventing another Bondi requires unity across all states. Regrettably, there are already cracks in the facade.

A System Under Strain

However, the horrific consequences of the incident demonstrates that current firearm regulations are inadequate. Designed in the late 1990s with the best of intentions, years have worn away their efficacy. Alarmingly, there are currently more firearms in Australia than prior to the Port Arthur shooting, with some individuals in urban areas reportedly holding collections of hundreds of weapons.

We have been overconfident and it has cost us terribly.

The Road Ahead: Proposed Reforms

Since the Bondi attack, there have been numerous announcements regarding new firearm legislation. New South Wales in particular will shortly introduce a suite of reforms to reduce the public danger from firearms. The national government has proposed a fresh gun buyback, and there is potential for a countrywide gun database, despite the inherent challenges of aligning state and federal jurisdictions.

All of this 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 reality of the Australian system – regulations in one state are easily circumvented if they can be bypassed with a short drive across a border.

Addressing Frequent Objections

We hear the predictable response that "firearms are not the killers, individuals are". This is true in the identical way that aircraft do not fly passengers, aviators do. Yes, aircraft require operators, but it would be quite challenging for a captain to move 500 people overseas without the aircraft. The mass slaughter seen 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 used.

Weighing Need and Safety

There are legitimate needs for some Australians to possess guns. 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 indispensable.

The achievable goal – the imperative action – is to ensure that gun laws are modernized to better match the world we live in today. Australia's legislation have historically been the envy of the world, but the passage of years has done its work and the nation is no longer as safe as it once was. It is critical to learn from the tragedy of Bondi seriously, and make certain that future generations are as protected as previous generations have been.

As one friend observed after the Bondi events, "things like this just don't happen here". This is true, but solely due to the fact that the country has made concerted efforts to maintain its security. As nightmarish as the attack was, there is an aspiration that it can become the last one the nation experiences.