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In the aftermath of the awful attack at Bondi, Australia is facing several critical reckonings. We are seeing a much-needed national focus on anti-Jewish sentiment, an ongoing worry about public safety, and questions about how such an tragedy could happen. However, from the perspective of a health professional and Australian Jew, the most important dialogue we are now having revolves around firearms.

A Decade of Cautions and a Successful Response

Public health experts have been sounding alarms about firearms for a minimum of a decade. In the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy, Australians united and enacted a series of reforms to curb gun violence across the country. And it worked. Prior to 1996, the nation experienced roughly one large-scale firearm incident per year. Over the following years, there have been vanishingly few major events, with none approaching the fatalities of the shootings in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Bondi Tragedy and the Function of Current Laws

Amidst the Bondi events, the nation's gun laws were partially effective. Reports indicate the alleged attackers possessed with manually-operated long guns and at least one straight-pull shotgun. These firearms are limited to firing a single bullet at a time, requiring a manual operation to ready the subsequent shot. While these guns can be fired rapidly with lethal results, they remain significantly less rapid and more cumbersome than the large-magazine, semi-automatic rifles commonplace in international mass shootings. The number of deaths at Bondi could have been much greater if different firearms had been available.

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

A System Showing Weakness

However, the horrific toll of the incident demonstrates that current firearm regulations are failing. Crafted in the late 1990s with the noblest aims, years have worn away their efficacy. 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 collections of hundreds of weapons.

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

The Path Ahead: Announced Changes

In the time after the Bondi tragedy, there have been multiple declarations regarding new firearm legislation. The state of NSW in particular will soon enact a package of reforms to reduce the public danger posed by firearms. The national government has announced a fresh gun buyback, and there is potential for a countrywide gun database, notwithstanding the complexities of coordinating state and federal jurisdictions.

All of this are feasible provided that the nation acts in unison. As noted, regarding gun control, the country is dependent on its weakest link. This is the reality of the Australian system – regulations in one state are much less meaningful if they can be avoided with a short drive across a state line.

Countering Frequent Arguments

There is the predictable response that "firearms are not the killers, individuals are". This is accurate in the same sense that aircraft do not fly passengers, aviators do. Yes, aircraft require operators, but it would be virtually impossible for a pilot to move 500 people internationally without the plane. The mass slaughter seen at Bondi would be extremely difficult without guns, and would have been far less damaging if the alleged terrorists had been denied access to the firearms they possessed.

Balancing Need and Safety

There are valid reasons for some Australians to possess firearms. Farm work or controlling vermin in many places is extremely difficult without them. A complete removal of guns from the country is impractical, as in some cases they are essential tools.

The achievable goal – what we must do – is to ensure that firearm legislation are updated to accurately reflect the society we live in today. Australia's laws have long been the envy of the world, but the passage of years has taken a toll and the nation is no longer as safe as it once was. It is critical to take the lessons of Bondi seriously, and ensure that future generations are equally safe as past generations have been.

A friend remarked 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 collectively worked to maintain its security. As nightmarish as the attack was, there is an aspiration that it can serve as the final tragedy the nation experiences.