Gun licensing reform in Israel returns to debate in Knesset following terror attack
The issue of gun licensing reform was raised once again in Israel following a terror attack in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. The Palestinian terrorist rammed his pickup truck into pedestrians and was later shot dead by an armed civilian.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has historically been a strong advocate for easing the gun license process.
"This neutralization proved once again the importance and effectiveness of citizens carrying weapons,” Ben Gvir said, regarding the attack.
Israeli political analyst Dror Even-Sapir said the Israel Police and the Shin Bet internal security agency support increasing the screening process in place of easing the process to receive a license.
"Recent terrorist attacks prove that, even if gun licenses are only distributed under very strict conditions, there is always a civilian who knows how to draw his weapon at the right moment", Ben Gvir said.
Many Israelis support the idea of easing restrictions but some fear that a less restrictive policy on carrying a gun could lead to a dangerous influx of available weapons.
Israel's Knesset reviewed the criteria for obtaining a gun last year, making it easier for trained individuals and much more difficult for untrained ones to get a license.
The number of gun license permits in Israel increased to a record 42,236 in 2022. Of those, 9,256 were rejected and 10,986 permits were issued, while 17,373 applications were still being processed. With 132 terrorist attacks since the beginning of 2023 in the West Bank alone, that number could rise significantly.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
