'If I don't protect myself, no one will': Israeli requests for gun permits reach 1 lakh in18 days

The attacks by Hamas terrorists on Gaza border communities led to a surge in requests for gun permits as the Israel Defence Forces were caught off guard by the attacks. It took several days for the military to regain control. At least 100,000 Israelis have applied for gun licenses in the past 18 days, as reported by the National Security Ministry. A 23-year-old resident of Kadima Tzoran in central Israel, who recently completed his military service, is currently in the process of obtaining a firearm license. However, after submitting the required paperwork, Fishbein has expressed uncertainty about the status of his request. “If I don’t protect myself, no one will,” Shahar Fishbein told the Tazpit Press Service. “I have been waiting for an answer from the Ministry of National Security but only got a confusing message that my request was absorbed in the system,” he said. In the wake of the attack, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir eased restrictions on permits. Eligibility has been expanded to include more former combat soldiers, as well as active emergency medical responders and firefighters. After a telephone interview with the ministry’s Firearm Licensing Department, eligible citizens without a criminal record or health issues can now be issued a gun license within a week. Citizens are now allowed to own up to 100 bullets, up from 50. The ministry has also begun distributing weapons, helmets and bulletproof vests to thousands of security volunteers in mixed cities, border communities and towns in Judea and Samaria. Israeli citizens do not have a legal right to privately carry firearms and the country has strict gun control laws. Applicants must meet minimum age requirements, have no criminal record, and provide a declaration signed by a doctor that they are physically and mentally healthy. Applicants must also explain to the Firearms Licensing Division why they need to carry a gun. The type of gun an Israeli is permitted to carry may depend on the reason given to the authorities. Permission is not automatic. According to Ben-Gvir, the Firearm Licensing Division rejected 9,256 requests in 2022. Licenses must be renewed every three years. This process includes a health declaration signed by a doctor, confirmation of completing a refresher training course and a firearm check to verify the gun is in working order. With inputs from ANI.