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In the aftermath of the awful incident at Bondi, Australia is facing several pressing conversations. There is a much-needed national focus on antisemitism, an ongoing worry about national security, and questions about how such an tragedy could happen. However, from the perspective of a public health expert and Jewish Australian, the paramount dialogue we are finally having revolves around firearms.

Ten Years of Warnings and a Proven Response

Public health specialists have been sounding alarms about firearms for at least a ten-year period. In the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy, Australians came together and implemented a suite of measures to curb gun violence nationwide. And it worked. Before 1996, the nation witnessed roughly 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 Attack and the Function of Current Regulations

Amidst the Bondi tragedy, the nation's firearm regulations were partially effective. Reports indicate the individuals involved possessed with bolt-action rifles and a straight-pull shotgun. These firearms can only fire a single bullet at a time, necessitating a manual operation to chamber the next round. Although these guns are capable of being discharged quite quickly with lethal results, they remain significantly less rapid and less efficient than the high-capacity, semi-automatic rifles commonplace in international mass shootings. The number of deaths at Bondi would've been far higher if more advanced firearms had been available.

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

Legislation Under Strain

Yet, the horrific consequences of the attack demonstrates that existing firearm regulations are failing. Crafted in the late 1990s with the noblest aims, decades have worn away their efficacy. Alarmingly, there are currently a greater number of guns in Australia than prior to the Port Arthur shooting, with some individuals in urban areas reportedly holding collections of hundreds of weapons.

The nation has grown overconfident and it has cost us terribly.

The Path Forward: Announced Reforms

Since the Bondi tragedy, there have been numerous declarations regarding strengthened gun laws. New South Wales in particular will shortly enact a package of reforms to reduce the collective risk posed by firearms. The national government has announced a fresh firearm surrender scheme, and there is hope for a countrywide gun database, despite the inherent challenges of aligning state and federal governments.

These measures are feasible provided that the nation acts in unison. As stated, when it comes to firearm laws, the country is dependent on its weakest link. This is the reality of the Australian federation – regulations in one state are much less meaningful if they can be avoided with a short drive across a state line.

Countering Frequent Objections

There is the inevitable response that "guns don't kill people, people kill people". This is true in the same sense that aircraft do not fly passengers, aviators do. Certainly, aircraft require operators, but it would be virtually impossible for a captain to transport 500 people overseas without the plane. The mass slaughter witnessed 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 firearms they possessed.

Weighing Necessity and Security

There are valid needs for some Australians to own firearms. Managing livestock or controlling vermin in rural areas is incredibly hard without them. A complete removal of firearms from the country is impractical, as in certain contexts they are essential tools.

What we can do – the imperative action – is to guarantee that gun laws are updated to accurately reflect 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 less secure as it previously was. It is vital to learn from the tragedy of Bondi to heart, and make certain that future generations are as protected as past generations have been.

As one commentator observed after the Bondi events, "things like this just don't happen here". They don't, but only because the country has made concerted efforts to maintain its security. As nightmarish as the incident was, there is an aspiration that it can become the last one the nation experiences.