The Bondi Beach Mass Shootings

Some may view this as “too soon”, but I don’t believe it is ever too soon for rational discussion. What follows is purely in the context of the Australian situation – unque in some ways because of our gun laws, geographical distance from the world’s hot spots, and the fact that we are evolving into a majority of atheists. According to the last census data (2021), 43.9% listed themselves as Christian, and “no religion” came in second at 38.9%. What the data shows is that the latter figure is growing, the former declining – and is probably not accurate anyway, in that many people simply list the religion they were told by their parents that they themselves were raised in. The religious perecentages in all demoninations are kept higher only by immigration.

What happened yesterday on Bondi Beach is abhorrent. Horrifying for those shot and for those who witnessed it. Everyone should get behind supporting the victims. We are not immune any more to the ancient hatreds involving border and religions disputes in far off countries.

And though further tightening of gun laws and other measures will help, nothing will completely stop it until the war crimes end in the Middle east and those responsible are held to account. On both sides. Violence begets violence, and hatred and indoctrination into violence spreads like a plague on social media.

The ultimate solution is to take the Lennon road… “imagine no religion, too…” But since that is not going to happen any time soon, the need to stop what is happening in the Middle East is imperative – all else is a band-aid. Both sides are perpetrators and victims in an endless cycle that desperately needs to be short-circuited with an equitable solution. People of good faith on both sides need to step up and speak out… and both sides should be afforded the same guarantees of safety and security in this country.

Laws that do, or even just appear to, favor one group, only fuel resentment. Having the more influential lobby group should not be the determining factor. Public safety, and achievable, realistic protective measures for all who are prone to attack due to bigotry and xenophobia, should be the goal.

This has to include laws around political advertising and public speaking by politicians during elections that bars fuelling hatred, conspiracy theories, and “dog whistling”. It is not good enough that the public has laws that protect consumers from being lied to or mislead by corporations. Our politicians need to be held to the same standards. That this is an issue, speaks of cowardice on all sides, as they reserve the right to mislead in order to gain or keep power.