More requests for these now-critical permits were made in under a month than in the last three years combined in Israel.
Unfortunately, the nation does not enjoy the equivalent of the protections enshrined in the Second Amendment.
The Reload interviewed Simcha Rothman, the Chair of the Israeli Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. He revealed the demand for personal firearms soared to 150,000 as citizens received a stark reminder of the dangers of living in the Middle East.
“More than 100,000. Much more than that. I would say around 150,000,” Rothman reported. “So, it’s an increase. The yearly average is 40,000 or 50,000. In less than a month, it’s three times that.”
Much of the impetus for acquiring weapons for self-defense followed the arming of security teams in locations near Israel’s southern border. This announcement came just three days after the unprecedented attack.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir revealed Tel Aviv “is purchasing 10,000 rifles to arm civilian security teams, specifically those in towns close to Israel’s borders around the country, as well as mixed Jewish-Arab cities and West Bank settlements.”
Gvir said the world will be turned “upside down” to protect border areas, and instructions were given “for massively arming” the population in these vulnerable locations.
It was reported that regretfully, a push three years ago to limit the types of weapons held by existing security teams meant some were forced to use pistols to fight off the ruggedly equipped terrorists.
According to the Times of Israel, “members of some of the teams have told the media in the last few days that they were essentially unarmed during Hamas’s invasion.” While they carried pistols, the attackers deployed “assault rifles, grenades and anti-tank missiles.”
And now the push to arm the citizenry is a grassroots effort swelling up from the besieged border areas. As Rothman conveyed to The Reload, “we live in a dangerous neighborhood. So, Oct. 7 was another terrible reminder.”
The era of strict gun regulations appears to be fading.
Besides not being afforded blanket protection to keep and bear arms, almost all citizens are prohibited from owning rifles and most from owning handguns. If an Israeli wants to obtain a pistol, the individual must live or work in certain areas of the nation considered especially dangerous or demonstrate some other form of need.
Then they must pass a criminal and mental health check. If the permit is issued, they are allowed to carry their weapon outside of the home.
One major change following the Oct. 7 attacks was the government pushing to extend permit eligibility for veterans to own a handgun to their lifetime. This large swath of the population is now eligible to possess weapons.
Ammunition limits for Israeli citizens were also increased.
Rothman said it is his desire to see more Israelis carry their weapons in public. “In the past, “he explained, “law-abiding citizens with handguns stopped and prevented many terrorist attacks in Israel. There are many, many terrorists that were killed on the site by law-abiding citizens carrying a gun. They didn’t wait for law enforcement. That saved many, many people. So, every spike in terror was always bringing motivation.
He further noted that countless lives out in the countryside were saved on Oct. 7 by “semi-military” forces that were properly armed and prepared.
These first responder squads, Rothman explained, were armed with “handguns, rifles and M16s that guard their own municipality and small community.”
Without these armed heroes, the death toll could have been far, far worse.
