Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan relaxes Israel’s gun control criteria

Potential for firearms holders increases by more than half a million people Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan announced new criteria Monday making hundreds of thousands of IDF infantry unit veterans eligible to receive firearms licenses. In addition, Erdan decided officers and commanders will not be required to return their arms and weapons license after they are released from reserve duty. “Many civilians saved lives during terror attacks and in an era of ‘lone terrorism.’ The more skilled civilians carrying weapons, the greater the chance of thwarting attacks without casualties and reducing the number of casualties,” he said. As a result of the liberalized weapons policy, the potential for skilled firearms users in the public sphere to have licenses will increase by more than half a million people, including those who are serving in, or are veterans of the security forces and IDF, as well as volunteers for the Israel Police and emergency and rescue organizations, he said. Erdan also enacted regulations that significantly upgrade the training process for new license applicants and holders of existing licenses. “The new policy balances the need to protect the public who may be at risk and the need to protect the public from misuse of guns,” he stated. Joint List MK Dov Henin slammed the policy. “Welcome to the war zone,” he said. “More weapons mean more violence, more accidents, and more wounded and dead. The trend should be the opposite: a reduction in the presence of weapons in the civilian space in […]

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