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In the aftermath of the awful attack at Bondi, Australia is confronting several critical reckonings. We are seeing a much-needed national spotlight on anti-Jewish sentiment, an persistent concern about national security, and inquiries about the way such an tragedy could happen. However, from the perspective of a public health expert and Jewish Australian, the paramount discussion we are now having centers on firearms.

A Decade of Warnings and a Proven Response

Health experts have been sounding alarms about guns for a minimum of a decade. In the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy, Australians united and enacted a series of measures to reduce gun violence across the country. And it worked. Prior to 1996, the nation witnessed approximately one large-scale firearm incident per year. Over the following years, there have been vanishingly few major events, with none reaching the fatalities of the incidents in the 1980s and 1990s.

This Recent Attack and the Role of Existing Laws

Even during the Bondi tragedy, the nation's firearm regulations were partially effective. Reports indicate the individuals involved might have been armed with manually-operated long guns and a straight-pull shotgun. These weapons are limited to firing a one round at a time, requiring a manual operation to chamber the next round. Although these guns can be fired rapidly with lethal results, they remain far slower and less efficient than the high-capacity, self-loading rifles frequently used in overseas attacks. The number of deaths at Bondi would've been far higher if more advanced weapons had been accessible.

Preventing another Bondi requires unity across all states. And unfortunately, we have already seen cracks in the united front.

Legislation Under Strain

Yet, the terrible consequences of the incident reveals that existing gun laws are failing. Designed in the late 1990s with the noblest aims, decades have worn away their effectiveness. Concerningly, there are now a greater number of guns in Australia than prior to the Port Arthur shooting, with some individuals in cities reportedly holding arsenals numbering in the hundreds.

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

The Path Ahead: Proposed Changes

In the time after the Bondi attack, there have been numerous announcements regarding new gun laws. The state of NSW specifically will shortly enact a suite of measures to mitigate the public danger from firearms. The national government has proposed a fresh firearm surrender scheme, and there is potential for a national firearms registry, despite the inherent challenges of coordinating state and federal governments.

All of this are only possible if the nation works together. As stated, regarding gun control, the country is only as strong as its weakest link. This is the reality of the Australian federation – regulations in one state are much less meaningful if they can be avoided with a journey across a border.

Addressing Frequent Arguments

We hear the inevitable response that "firearms are not the killers, individuals are". This is true in the same sense that planes don't transport people, aviators do. Yes, aircraft require operators, but it would be virtually impossible for a captain to transport 500 people internationally without the plane. The horrific violence seen at Bondi would be extremely difficult without guns, and would have been significantly less lethal if the alleged terrorists had been denied access to the weapons they possessed.

Weighing Necessity and Safety

It is acknowledged there are legitimate reasons for some Australians to own guns. Farm work or controlling vermin in rural areas is incredibly hard without them. A complete removal of firearms 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 modernized to accurately reflect the society 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 once was. It is vital to take the lessons of Bondi seriously, and make certain that future generations are as protected as past generations have been.

As one commentator remarked after the Bondi events, "things like this just don't happen here". They don't, but solely due to the fact that 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.