Israeli citizens will have an easier time carrying firearms after the terror attack by Hamas and Iran, which has turned into a war between Hamas and Israel this weekend.
Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir on Sunday ordered the agency that issues gun permits to loosen its requirements.
“Today I directed the Firearms Licensing Division to go on an emergency operation in order to allow as many citizens as possible to arm themselves,” he posted on X/Twitter. “The plan will take effect within 24 hours.”
According to an interpretation of Israeli law by the U.S. Department of Justice, the gun laws of the nation been fairly restrictive: “There is no clear right to carry a gun in Israel. Nothing similar to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution exists. In theory, the policy is very strict. No one may own or carry a gun without showing a reason to do so. A special permit by the Interior Ministry is then required. The permit must have the approval of the police and includes information about the owner and the gun type.”
In Israel guns are strictly regulated yet widely available to law-abiding citizens who hold gun permits; gun control and tough punishment have made it difficult for criminals to acquire guns, the Justice Department says.
“Any citizen who meets the detailed tests for carrying a private firearm due to self-defense and serving the security forces and is without a criminal or medical record will be required to undergo a telephone interview instead of a physical interview and will be able to receive permission to carry a firearm within a week,” Ben-Gvir said. “(Self-defense tests: residence in an eligible settlement, rifle veterans 07 and above, officers in the rank of lieutenant and above and combatants in the rank of major and above in the IDF and the security forces, service in special units, firefighters, policemen, and workers and volunteers in the rescue forces).”
“I thank the members of the Firearms Licensing Division, the Civil Response Department of the Israel Police, and the employees of the Ministry of Health for the very important commitment that will allow as many citizens as possible to arm themselves and protect themselves and their environment when necessary,” Ben-Gvir said.
Following a terrorist attack in January, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would loosen restrictions on private gun ownership in Israel and expand the licensing of weapons for thousands of civilians. It appears to have been a policy that never materialized, however.
Meanwhile, in America, the National Firearms association said, “The last three days Kamala Harris has tweeted about banning so-called ‘assault weapons,’ meanwhile in major cities across the US, Hamas terrorist supporters are rallying. It’s just a matter of time, folks. We will NEVER give up our guns!”
