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In the aftermath of the horrific attack at Bondi, Australia is confronting multiple pressing reckonings. There is a much-needed national focus on antisemitism, an persistent worry about national security, and inquiries about the way such an event could occur. However, as viewed of a public health expert and Australian Jew, the most important dialogue we are finally having centers on firearms.

A Decade of Warnings and a Successful Solution

Health specialists have been issuing warnings about guns for at least a ten-year period. Following the events of the Port Arthur tragedy, Australians united and enacted a suite of reforms to reduce gun violence nationwide. The strategy succeeded. Before 1996, the nation witnessed approximately one mass shooting per year. In the decades since, there have been extremely rare major events, with none approaching the death toll of the incidents in the 1980s and 1990s.

This Recent Tragedy and the Role of Current Regulations

Even during the Bondi events, the nation's firearm regulations were partially effective. Reports indicate the alleged attackers might have been armed with bolt-action rifles and at least one straight-pull shotgun. These weapons are limited to firing a single bullet at a time, requiring a manual operation to chamber the subsequent shot. While these guns can be fired quite quickly with lethal results, they remain significantly less rapid and less efficient than the high-capacity, semi-automatic rifles frequently used in international attacks. The casualty count at Bondi would've been far higher if more advanced weapons had been accessible.

Stopping another Bondi requires national cohesion. Regrettably, we have already seen cracks in the facade.

Legislation Under Strain

Yet, the terrible toll of the incident demonstrates that existing firearm regulations are failing. Crafted in the late 1990s with the best of intentions, decades 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 complacent and it has cost us terribly.

The Road Ahead: Proposed Changes

Since the Bondi tragedy, there have been multiple declarations regarding new firearm legislation. New South Wales in particular will soon enact a suite of reforms to mitigate the collective risk posed by firearms. The national government has announced a new firearm surrender scheme, and there is potential for a countrywide gun database, notwithstanding the complexities of coordinating state and federal governments.

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

Addressing Common Objections

We hear the predictable response that "guns don't kill people, people kill people". This is accurate in the same sense that planes don't transport people, aviators do. Yes, planes can't fly themselves, but it would be virtually impossible for a captain to move 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 accused individuals had been denied access to the weapons they used.

Weighing Necessity and Security

There are legitimate needs for some Australians to own guns. Farm work or controlling vermin in rural areas is extremely difficult without them. A complete removal of firearms from the country is not feasible, as in some cases they are indispensable.

What we can do – what we must do – is to guarantee that gun laws are updated to accurately reflect the society 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 less secure as it previously was. It is critical to learn from the tragedy of Bondi to heart, and make certain that coming Australians are as protected as past generations have been.

A friend observed after the Bondi events, "such tragedies just don't happen here". This is true, but only because the country has collectively worked to keep itself safe. However horrific as the attack was, there is hope that it can become the final tragedy the nation ever sees.