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In the aftermath of the horrific attack at Bondi, Australia is confronting several critical reckonings. We are seeing a much-needed national spotlight on anti-Jewish sentiment, an ongoing concern about national security, and inquiries about the way such an event could happen. But, from the perspective of a public health expert and Jewish Australian, the paramount dialogue we are now having revolves around firearms.

A Decade of Warnings and a Successful Solution

Health experts have been issuing warnings about firearms for a minimum of a decade. Following the events of the Port Arthur massacre, Australians came together and implemented a series of reforms to reduce gun violence nationwide. The strategy succeeded. Prior to 1996, the nation witnessed approximately one mass shooting per year. Over the following years, there have been vanishingly few significant tragedies, with none approaching the fatalities of the shootings in the 1980s and 1990s.

This Recent Tragedy and the Role of Existing Laws

Even during the Bondi tragedy, the nation's firearm regulations were partially effective. Reports indicate the alleged attackers might have been armed with manually-operated long guns and at least one straight-pull shotgun. These weapons can only fire a one round at a time, necessitating a physical action to chamber the next round. While these guns are capable of being discharged rapidly with devastating effect, they remain significantly less rapid and less efficient than the large-magazine, semi-automatic rifles commonplace in international attacks. The casualty count at Bondi would've been far higher if more advanced firearms had been accessible.

Stopping another Bondi demands national cohesion. Regrettably, there are already fissures in the facade.

Legislation Showing Weakness

However, the terrible consequences of the attack demonstrates that current firearm regulations are inadequate. Crafted in the late 1990s with the best of intentions, years have worn away their efficacy. Alarmingly, there are now a greater number of guns in Australia than before the Port Arthur shooting, with some citizens in urban areas reportedly holding arsenals numbering in the hundreds.

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

The Path Forward: Announced Changes

Since the Bondi attack, there have been multiple declarations regarding strengthened gun laws. New South Wales in particular will soon enact a suite of measures to reduce the collective risk from firearms. The federal government has proposed a fresh firearm surrender scheme, and there is potential for a countrywide gun database, despite the complexities of aligning state and federal governments.

All of this are only possible if the nation works together. As noted, regarding gun control, the country is dependent on its weakest link. This is the very nature of the Australian federation – regulations in one state are much less meaningful if they can be bypassed with a journey across a border.

Countering Frequent Objections

There is the inevitable argument that "firearms are not the killers, people kill people". This is accurate in the identical way that aircraft do not fly passengers, pilots do. Yes, planes can't fly themselves, but it would be quite challenging for a pilot 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 accused individuals had been denied access to the weapons they used.

Weighing Need and Security

There are legitimate needs for some Australians to own guns. Managing livestock or culling pests 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 gun laws are updated to better match the world we live in today. Australia's legislation have historically been the admiration of the world, but time and distance has taken a toll and the nation is no longer as safe as it previously was. It is critical to learn from the tragedy of Bondi seriously, and make certain that future generations are as protected as past generations have been.

As one commentator observed after the Bondi attack, "such tragedies just don't happen here". They don't, but solely due to the fact that the country has collectively worked to keep itself safe. As nightmarish as the incident was, there is hope that it can serve as the final tragedy the nation ever sees.