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Following the tragedy of the horrific incident at Bondi, Australia is facing multiple pressing conversations. There is a long-overdue national focus on antisemitism, an ongoing concern about national security, and inquiries about the way such an event could happen. However, as viewed of a health professional and Australian Jew, the paramount discussion we are now having revolves around firearms.

Ten Years of Warnings and a Proven Solution

Health experts have been issuing warnings about guns for at least a decade. Following the events of the Port Arthur tragedy, Australians came together and implemented a series of measures to curb gun violence across the country. And it worked. Before 1996, the nation witnessed approximately one large-scale firearm incident per year. Over the following years, there have been extremely rare significant tragedies, with none reaching the fatalities of the incidents in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Bondi Attack and the Function of Existing Regulations

Amidst the Bondi tragedy, the nation's gun laws were not entirely useless. Reports indicate the individuals involved might have been armed with manually-operated long guns and a straight-pull shotgun. These firearms are limited to firing a one round at a time, necessitating a manual operation to chamber the next round. While these guns are capable of being discharged quite quickly with devastating effect, they remain significantly less rapid and less efficient than the high-capacity, self-loading rifles commonplace in overseas mass shootings. The casualty count at Bondi would've been far higher if more advanced weapons had been accessible.

Preventing a future Bondi demands unity across all states. Regrettably, there are already cracks in the united front.

A System Under Strain

However, the terrible consequences of the attack reveals that existing gun laws are inadequate. Crafted in the late 1990s with the best of intentions, decades have worn away their effectiveness. Alarmingly, there are currently more firearms in Australia than before the Port Arthur shooting, with some citizens in urban areas reportedly holding arsenals numbering in the hundreds.

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

The Path Ahead: Proposed Changes

Since the Bondi attack, there have been numerous announcements regarding strengthened gun laws. The state of NSW in particular will shortly enact a package of measures to reduce the public danger posed by firearms. The national government has announced a new gun buyback, and there is potential for a national firearms registry, despite the inherent challenges of aligning state and federal governments.

All of this are only possible provided that the nation acts in unison. As noted, when it comes to gun control, the country is only as strong as its weakest link. This is the reality of the Australian federation – laws in one state are much less meaningful if they can be avoided with a journey across a state line.

Countering Common Arguments

We hear the inevitable response that "firearms are not the killers, people kill people". This is true in the identical way that aircraft do not fly passengers, pilots do. Yes, planes can't fly themselves, but it would be virtually impossible for a pilot to move 500 people internationally without the plane. The horrific violence witnessed at Bondi would be all but impossible without guns, and would have been significantly less lethal if the accused individuals had not had access to the weapons they possessed.

Balancing Necessity and Security

There are valid needs for some Australians to own firearms. 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 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 done its work and the nation is less secure as it once was. It is vital to learn from the tragedy of Bondi seriously, and ensure that future generations are as protected as previous generations have been.

As one commentator observed after the Bondi attack, "such tragedies just don't happen here". They don't, but only because the country has made concerted efforts to maintain its security. However horrific as the incident was, there is hope that it can become the last one the nation experiences.