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Following the tragedy of the awful incident at Bondi, Australia is confronting several critical reckonings. There is a much-needed national focus on antisemitism, an ongoing worry about national security, and inquiries about how such an event could occur. However, from the perspective of a public health expert and Jewish Australian, the most important discussion we are finally having revolves around firearms.

A Decade of Cautions and a Proven Solution

Public health experts have been sounding alarms about firearms for at least a ten-year period. In the wake of the Port Arthur massacre, Australians came together and implemented a series of reforms to curb gun violence across the country. And it worked. Before 1996, the nation experienced roughly one mass shooting per year. Over the following years, there have been extremely rare significant tragedies, with none approaching the death toll of the shootings in the 1980s and 1990s.

This Recent Tragedy and the Function of Existing Regulations

Even during the Bondi tragedy, the nation's firearm regulations were partially effective. Reports indicate the alleged attackers possessed with manually-operated long guns and a straight-pull shotgun. These firearms can only fire a single bullet at a time, requiring a manual operation to ready the subsequent shot. Although these guns are capable of being discharged rapidly with lethal results, they remain far slower and more cumbersome than the large-magazine, self-loading rifles commonplace in international mass shootings. The casualty count at Bondi could have been much greater if more advanced weapons had been available.

Stopping another Bondi requires unity across all states. And unfortunately, we have already seen cracks in the facade.

Legislation Showing Weakness

Yet, the horrific consequences of the attack reveals that current gun laws are failing. Crafted in the late 1990s with the noblest aims, decades have worn away their effectiveness. Concerningly, there are currently more firearms in Australia than prior to the Port Arthur massacre, with some individuals in cities owning arsenals of hundreds of weapons.

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

The Road Ahead: Proposed Changes

In the time after the Bondi attack, there have been multiple declarations regarding strengthened gun laws. The state of NSW specifically will shortly introduce a suite of reforms to mitigate the collective risk from firearms. The national government has proposed a new firearm surrender scheme, and there is potential for a countrywide gun database, despite the inherent challenges of coordinating state and federal governments.

These measures are only possible if the nation acts in unison. As stated, when it comes to 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 bypassed with a short drive across a state line.

Addressing Common Objections

We hear the inevitable argument that "firearms are not the killers, individuals are". This is true in the identical way that aircraft do not fly passengers, pilots do. Certainly, planes can't fly themselves, 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 not had access to the weapons they possessed.

Balancing Necessity and Security

It is acknowledged there are legitimate needs for some Australians to possess guns. Managing livestock or controlling vermin in rural areas is extremely difficult without them. A complete removal of guns from the country is not feasible, as in certain contexts they are indispensable.

The achievable goal – the imperative action – is to ensure that firearm legislation are updated to better match the society we live in today. Australia's laws have historically been the envy of the world, but time and distance has done its work and the nation is no longer as safe as it previously was. It is critical to learn from the tragedy of Bondi to heart, and ensure that future generations are as protected as previous generations have been.

A friend observed 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. However horrific as the attack was, there is hope that it can become the final tragedy the nation experiences.