The nation's Gun Legislation: An International Model That Needs to Persist, Especially After Bondi

In the aftermath of the horrific attack at Bondi, Australia is confronting several critical conversations. There is a much-needed national focus on anti-Jewish sentiment, an persistent concern about public safety, and questions about how such an tragedy could occur. However, as viewed of a health professional and Australian Jew, the paramount discussion we are finally having revolves around firearms.

Ten Years of Warnings and a Successful Response

Public 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 implemented a series of reforms to reduce gun violence across the country. The strategy succeeded. Prior to 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 approaching the fatalities of the shootings in the 1980s and 1990s.

This Recent Tragedy and the Function of Current Laws

Even during the Bondi events, the nation's gun laws were partially effective. Reports indicate the alleged attackers possessed with manually-operated long guns and at least one straight-pull shotgun. These weapons can only fire a single bullet at a time, necessitating a physical action to chamber the next round. Although these guns are capable of being discharged rapidly with lethal results, they remain far slower and less efficient than the high-capacity, semi-automatic rifles frequently used in overseas attacks. The casualty count at Bondi would've been far higher if different weapons had been available.

Stopping a future Bondi requires unity across all states. And unfortunately, there are already cracks in the facade.

Legislation Under Strain

Yet, the horrific toll of the attack demonstrates that current firearm regulations are failing. Crafted in the late 1990s with the noblest aims, decades have worn away their efficacy. Alarmingly, there are now a greater number of guns in Australia than before the Port Arthur shooting, with some citizens in cities owning arsenals numbering in the hundreds.

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

The Path Forward: Proposed Reforms

In the time after the Bondi tragedy, there have been multiple declarations regarding strengthened gun laws. The state of NSW in particular will shortly enact a suite of reforms to reduce 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, despite the complexities of coordinating state and federal governments.

These measures are only possible provided that the nation acts in unison. As stated, when it comes to firearm laws, the country is only as strong as its weakest link. This is the very nature of the Australian system – laws in one state are much less meaningful if they can be bypassed with a short drive across a state line.

Addressing Frequent Objections

There is the inevitable argument that "guns don't kill people, people kill people". This is true in the identical way that aircraft do not fly passengers, aviators do. Certainly, planes can't fly themselves, but it would be virtually impossible for a captain 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 been denied access to the weapons they possessed.

Weighing Necessity and Safety

It is acknowledged there are legitimate needs for some Australians to possess guns. Farm work or culling pests in many places is incredibly hard without them. A complete removal of firearms from the country is impractical, as in some cases they are essential tools.

The achievable goal – the imperative action – is to guarantee that gun laws are modernized to accurately reflect the society 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 once was. It is critical to learn from the tragedy of Bondi seriously, and ensure that coming Australians are as protected as previous generations have been.

A commentator observed after the Bondi attack, "things like this just don't happen here". This is true, but solely due to the fact that the country has collectively worked to keep itself safe. As nightmarish as the incident was, there is an aspiration that it can become the final tragedy the nation experiences.