Israeli gun permits made difficult to attain

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In the U.S., in spite of all the deadly and daily incidents, a person can buy a weapon like a sandwich, in Israel, while it’s always been a difficult process, it’s going to get even harder to obtain a gun license.

The Israeli Internal Security Minister announced a reform intended to reduce the number of available weapons in Israel from 290,000, this comes amid wave of murders and suicides.

In 2013, 11 individuals were murdered and five committed suicide in Israel using privately owned weapons.

At a meeting of the Internal Affairs Committee of the Israeli Knesset, on the reduction of available weapons, the minister stated that as a part of the gun reform in Israel, anyone who wishes to receive a gun permit will be required to undergo a medical and psychological examination. “If they won’t pass the psychologist’s test, they’ll have to see a psychiatrist.” he said.

Over  290,000 guns are in the hands of private individuals and security guards. Since last year, 4,800 gun permits were revoked. People who renew their gun permit will be required to provide liable cause.

Israeli Homeland Security Website

Amid the wave of murders the minister ordered that security guards carry guns only at high-risk businesses that require armed security, such as malls, banks and hotels.

Following pressure from security companies, the gun reform was postponed until the coming school year and has now been extended.

As we pointed out here in previous articles, in most cases the security guards do not have to carry a hand gun and when they do it is a danger mainly because they are not as highly trained as they should be, and can’t be expected to use the gun properly under stress.