Gun Control Backfired on Ukraine and Backfired on Israel

History has repeated itself again, and we should learn a lesson about gun control from it. The Second Amendment grants us those rights, and the time to find out you need a firearm is not after the crisis has begun.

Unlike in the United States, Israeli citizens do not have the right to bear arms. Although you see firearms all over Israel because of mandatory military service, Israel’s government strictly regulates private ownership. Private gun ownership only runs between 1.5% and 2.5%, depending on what source you go off of.

They can get a license to have a gun if they can prove they need it for self-defense, but proving it is difficult. They must meet many requirements listed on the Ministry of National Security Firearm Licensing Department website.

Although this video is from Israel, it shows what a small armed group of people could do to a community in a short period of time. This could be anywhere in any country.

Scenes that stop the heart. Heavily armed Hamas terrorists are going door to door in Kibbutz Be'eri looking for Israelis.pic.twitter.com/PRq1n0vudH

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) October 7, 2023

They didn’t let up with the restrictions like Ukraine, but Israel has decided to loosen its restrictions.

In February 2022, I wrote about Ukraine being caught off guard and scrambling to arm its citizens. At the time of the invasion, you could not legally own handguns, only firearms for hunting, and you needed a license. Once the attack began, they tried to arm thousands of citizens to help hold back the Russian invasion. Sorry, “special military operation.”

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir Tweeted the following, translated into English, “Today I directed the Firearms Licensing Division to go on an emergency operation, to allow as many citizens as possible to arm themselves.

The plan will take effect within 24 hours. Below are its main points:

1. Any citizen who meets the detailed tests for carrying a private firearm due to self-defense and serving the security forces, and is without a criminal or medical record, will be required to undergo a telephone interview instead of a physical interview, and will be able to receive permission to carry a firearm within a week.

(Self-defense tests: residence in an eligible settlement, rifle veterans 07 and above, officers in the rank of lieutenant and above and combatants in the rank of major and above in the IDF and the security forces, service in special units, firefighters, policemen, and workers and volunteers in the rescue forces).

2. Any citizen who received a conditional permit to purchase a firearm and did not purchase a firearm during the year 2023 and the conditional license has expired, will be able to purchase a firearm now without the need to submit another application. The exemption will apply to about 4000 citizens.
3. Any citizen who deposited his weapon in the last six months due to failure to perform refresher training or renewal training, will be able to receive his weapon back. The exemption will apply to about 1800 citizens.
4. In addition, starting next Tuesday, conditional permits to carry firearms will be issued with a permit allowing the purchase of up to 100 bullets instead of 50 today.

All this in addition to the criteria change that should happen soon.

I thank the members of the Firearms Licensing Division, the Civil Response Department of the Israel Police and the employees of the Ministry of Health for the very important commitment that will allow as many citizens as possible to arm themselves and protect themselves and their environment when necessary.”

It is important to remember the lessons of the past. Everyone should be able to defend themselves from dangerous criminals or other threats to their security.

This could happen to another country, at the mall, or driving down the interstate; help isn’t likely to be next to you. That leaves you to defend yourself until the police or, in this case, the military arrives.