Low Gun Ownership? Individual Israelis Defenseless Against Attacks

The problem with drinking the liberal Kool-Aid: "Without a Second Amendment Private Gun Ownership Low in Israel."

    As the world watches the atrocities of the past few days unfold in Israel — including Hamas terrorists going door to door to kill Israelis — it is notable that Israel does not have a U.S.-like Second Amendment and private gun ownership among Israelis is low.

    The BBC reported that “Israeli gun ownership is low at about 2% of the population.” In contrast, the findings of a recent study by Rutgers University’s New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center estimated upwards of six in ten Americans own guns.

The article goes on to note that even for those Israelis wanting a firearm, they are generally limited to only owning a pistol and 50 rounds of ammunition.  

    Israelis have to obtain a gun license in order to legally possess a gun and the BBC pointed out that more and more Israelis are trying to get such a license, reporting that “applications for gun licenses have more than doubled, according to the national security ministry, from 19,000 in 2021 to 42,236 last year.”

    In January, the Israeli security cabinet approved measures to curb terrorism following deadly attacks in Jerusalem, including making it easier for civilians to carry guns and revoking residency and citizenship of terrorists. The Times of Israel noted ministers in the “high-level security cabinet” were convening to discuss response options to the terrorism, and those options “[included] expediting the issuing of firearms licenses for civilians and providing further funding for the purchase of guns.”

    Commentators have suggested Israeli leaders may go further than expediting licenses this time; that they may broaden the types of weapons Israelis can own privately for defense of themselves and the nation.