The Israeli government has made it easier for citizens to pass scrutiny to carry guns a necessity to help people to feel safe after the October 7
Hamas attack.
Enrollment into self-defense classes has increased tremendously because according to Dan Orbach, a military historian at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the “allegedly mighty Israeli military isn’t able to protect you, even in the most basic sense,” he said.
The number of people applying for gun licenses over the past two months has soared to 260,000, with the volume of new requests each day exceeding those received each week before the war began.
David Passig, professor of future studies at Bar Ilan University says, Since Hamas operatives crossed into Israel on a killing and kidnapping spree, Israelis remain haunted by scenes of slaughter.
He adds that citizens have been left traumatized by the fear that thousands of militants on their borders will try again — and that their security services might again fail.
“This is a natural reaction to the shock we are going through,” said David Passig, professor of future studies at Bar Ilan University, of the way ordinary citizens are rushing to arm themselves.
He has had a weapon for 35 years that was kept locked away, he said, except for mandatory practice sessions. “Now I’m walking around with it.”
Although the percentage of the population toting guns will still be far lower than many other countries — hovering near 2%, compared with 32% in the US — womens’ groups and those calling for peaceful coexistence between Arabs and Israelis have said they’re worried the uptick will lead to greater violence.
However, opposition lawmaker Idan Roll said issuing of new weapons requires close monitoring, regulation and education.
“Weapons in the right hands save lives,” said Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, of the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party, who has made arming civilians groups a flagship policy.
His ministry has distributed weapons to more than 850 so-called rapid-response teams.
