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In the aftermath of the horrific attack at Bondi, Australia is facing several critical reckonings. We are seeing a much-needed national spotlight on antisemitism, an persistent concern about national security, and questions about how such an event could occur. But, as viewed of a health professional and Australian Jew, the paramount discussion we are finally having centers on firearms.

Ten Years of Cautions and a Successful Response

Public health experts have been issuing warnings about guns for at least a decade. Following the events of the Port Arthur massacre, Australians came together and implemented a series of measures to reduce gun violence nationwide. The strategy succeeded. Prior to 1996, the nation witnessed approximately one large-scale firearm incident per year. In the decades since, there have been vanishingly few major events, with none reaching the fatalities of the shootings in the 1980s and 1990s.

This Recent Tragedy and the Function of Current Laws

Amidst the Bondi events, 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 single bullet at a time, requiring a manual operation to chamber the next round. Although these guns can be fired quite quickly with devastating effect, they remain far slower and more cumbersome than the high-capacity, semi-automatic rifles commonplace in international mass shootings. The casualty count at Bondi would've been far higher if different firearms had been available.

Stopping a future Bondi demands unity across all states. And unfortunately, we have already seen cracks in the facade.

Legislation Under Strain

However, the horrific toll of the attack reveals that existing firearm regulations are inadequate. Designed in the late 1990s with the best of intentions, decades have eroded their efficacy. Alarmingly, there are currently a greater number of guns in Australia than prior to the Port Arthur massacre, with some citizens in cities reportedly holding collections numbering in the hundreds.

We have been complacent and it has cost us terribly.

The Road Ahead: Proposed Changes

In the time after the Bondi tragedy, there have been numerous declarations regarding strengthened gun laws. New South Wales in particular will soon enact a suite of reforms to mitigate the collective risk from firearms. The federal government has proposed a fresh firearm surrender scheme, and there is potential for a national firearms registry, despite the complexities of aligning state and federal jurisdictions.

These measures are only possible provided that the nation works together. As noted, regarding firearm laws, the country is dependent on its least stringent jurisdiction. This is the reality of the Australian federation – laws in one state are much less meaningful if they can be bypassed with a journey across a border.

Addressing Common Arguments

We hear the predictable response that "guns don't kill people, individuals are". This is true in the same sense that planes don't transport people, aviators do. Certainly, aircraft require operators, but it would be quite challenging for a pilot to transport 500 people overseas without the plane. The horrific violence seen at Bondi would be all but impossible without firearms, and would have been significantly less lethal if the alleged terrorists had not had access to the firearms they possessed.

Balancing Need and Safety

It is acknowledged there are legitimate needs for some Australians to possess firearms. Farm work or controlling vermin in many places is extremely difficult without them. A total ban of firearms from the country is not feasible, as in some cases they are indispensable.

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 historically 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 previously was. It is vital to take the lessons of Bondi to heart, and ensure that coming Australians are as protected as past generations have been.

A friend 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 made concerted efforts to maintain its security. However horrific as the attack was, there is hope that it can serve as the last one the nation experiences.