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Following the tragedy of the horrific attack at Bondi, Australia is facing several pressing reckonings. We are seeing a much-needed national spotlight on antisemitism, an persistent concern about public safety, and questions about how such an event could happen. But, as viewed of a health professional and Jewish Australian, the most important dialogue we are finally having revolves around firearms.

A Decade of Cautions and a Proven Response

Health experts have been sounding alarms about firearms for at least a decade. In the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy, Australians united and implemented a series of reforms to curb gun violence across the country. And it worked. Prior to 1996, the nation experienced approximately one large-scale firearm incident per year. In the decades since, there have been vanishingly few significant tragedies, with none reaching the fatalities of the incidents in the 1980s and 1990s.

This Recent Attack and the Function of Existing Laws

Even during the Bondi events, the nation's firearm regulations were partially effective. It has been suggested the alleged attackers possessed 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 manual operation to ready the subsequent shot. Although these guns are capable of being discharged rapidly with devastating effect, they remain significantly less rapid and more cumbersome than the high-capacity, self-loading rifles frequently used in overseas mass shootings. The number of deaths at Bondi could have been much greater if more advanced firearms had been available.

Preventing another Bondi demands national cohesion. Regrettably, we have already seen cracks in the facade.

A System Showing Weakness

However, the terrible toll of the attack reveals that existing gun laws are failing. Crafted in the late 1990s with the noblest aims, years have eroded their effectiveness. Concerningly, there are now a greater number of guns in Australia than before the Port Arthur shooting, with some citizens in urban areas reportedly holding collections numbering in the hundreds.

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

The Road Ahead: Proposed Reforms

In the time after the Bondi tragedy, there have been numerous declarations regarding strengthened firearm legislation. New South Wales in particular will shortly introduce a package of reforms to mitigate the public danger from firearms. The national government has announced a new gun buyback, and there is potential for a national firearms registry, notwithstanding the complexities of aligning state and federal jurisdictions.

These measures are feasible provided that the nation works together. As noted, regarding firearm laws, the country is only as strong as its weakest link. This is the reality of the Australian system – laws in one state are much less meaningful if they can be avoided with a journey across a state line.

Countering Frequent Objections

We hear the inevitable response that "firearms are not the killers, individuals are". This is true in the identical way that planes don't transport people, aviators do. Certainly, planes can't fly themselves, but it would be virtually impossible for a pilot to transport 500 people internationally without the plane. The mass slaughter seen at Bondi would be extremely difficult without firearms, and would have been far less damaging if the accused individuals had not had access to the firearms they possessed.

Weighing Necessity and Security

It is acknowledged there are legitimate reasons for some Australians to possess guns. Farm work or controlling vermin in many places is extremely difficult without them. A total ban of guns from the country is impractical, as in some cases they are essential tools.

The achievable goal – the imperative action – is to guarantee that firearm legislation are updated to better match the world we live in today. Australia's laws have historically been the envy of the world, but the passage of years has done its work and the nation is less secure as it previously was. It is critical to learn from the tragedy of Bondi seriously, and make certain that future generations are equally safe as previous generations have been.

As one friend remarked after the Bondi events, "things like this just don't happen here". This is true, but only because the country has made concerted efforts to keep itself safe. As nightmarish as the attack was, there is hope that it can become the final tragedy the nation experiences.