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In the aftermath of the horrific incident at Bondi, Australia is confronting multiple critical conversations. We are seeing a much-needed national spotlight on anti-Jewish sentiment, an ongoing worry about public safety, and questions about the way such an tragedy could happen. But, as viewed of a public health expert and Jewish Australian, the most important discussion we are now having centers on firearms.

A Decade of Cautions and a Proven Response

Health experts have been sounding alarms about firearms for a minimum of a ten-year period. In the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy, Australians united and enacted a series of measures to curb gun violence nationwide. The strategy succeeded. Before 1996, the nation witnessed approximately one large-scale firearm incident per year. In the decades since, there have been extremely rare major events, with none reaching the death toll of the incidents in the 1980s and 1990s.

This Recent Attack and the Function of Current Laws

Amidst the Bondi tragedy, the nation's gun laws were partially effective. It has been suggested the alleged attackers possessed with manually-operated long guns and at least one straight-pull shotgun. These firearms can only fire a single bullet at a time, necessitating a physical action to chamber the next round. While these guns can be fired rapidly with lethal results, they remain far slower and more cumbersome than the high-capacity, self-loading rifles commonplace in overseas attacks. The casualty count at Bondi would've been far higher if more advanced firearms had been accessible.

Stopping another Bondi demands unity across all states. And unfortunately, there are already fissures in the united front.

Legislation Showing Weakness

However, the terrible toll of the attack demonstrates that existing gun laws are failing. Designed in the late 1990s with the noblest aims, decades have eroded their effectiveness. Concerningly, there are currently more firearms in Australia than before the Port Arthur massacre, with some citizens in urban areas reportedly holding collections numbering in the hundreds.

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

The Path Forward: Announced Changes

Since the Bondi attack, there have been multiple declarations regarding new firearm legislation. New South Wales in particular will soon enact a package of measures to reduce the collective risk posed by firearms. The national government has announced a fresh gun buyback, and there is potential for a countrywide gun database, despite the inherent challenges of coordinating state and federal jurisdictions.

All of this are only possible provided that the nation works together. As noted, when it comes to firearm laws, the country is dependent on its least stringent jurisdiction. This is the very nature 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 Arguments

There is the inevitable argument that "guns don't kill people, individuals are". This is accurate in the identical way that planes don't transport people, pilots do. Certainly, aircraft require operators, but it would be quite challenging for a captain to transport 500 people overseas without the aircraft. The mass slaughter 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.

Weighing Need and Security

There are legitimate needs for some Australians to possess guns. Managing livestock or controlling vermin in many places is extremely difficult without them. A total ban of guns from the country is not feasible, as in some cases they are essential tools.

The achievable goal – what we must do – is to ensure that firearm legislation are modernized to accurately reflect the world we live in today. Australia's legislation have historically been the admiration of the world, but the passage of years has done its work and the nation is no longer as safe as it previously was. It is vital to learn from the tragedy of Bondi seriously, and ensure that coming Australians are equally safe as past generations have been.

As one friend remarked after the Bondi attack, "things like this 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 final tragedy the nation ever sees.