Since Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, Israelis have flocked to gun stores and firearms training facilities in record numbers. Some are angered by the tardy military response, while others are frightened by heart-wrenching, horrific scenes. They now believe that arming themselves is the best approach to combating any future terror danger. As a result, gun shops and shooting ranges are working extra hours to meet the demand.
Local media says that a record 150,000 people have registered for weapons licenses in the weeks since Hamas initiated attacks on Israel. To put the increase in context, only 42 candidates showed up during the same time period last year. They used to host only one training session each day at the central Kfar Saba Shooting Range, but now they hold three to four every day. To meet the tremendous demand, several facilities are hiring more staff.
A recent shift in government legislation has increased the trend of purchasing personal guns. So far, issuing gun licenses in the country has been severely regulated, necessitating a lengthy application process that can take months. It only takes a few days now, with the majority of the work done online. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s police minister, believes that private gun ownership is beneficial to internal stability. Even Prime Minister Netanyahu has endorsed the notion. In a televised speech on Wednesday (Oct 25), he added that the campaign against Hamas included “encouraging civilians and assisting civilians to arm themselves for self-defense.”
Personal accounts from some of the Oct. 7 attack survivors have also prompted some others to purchase weapons. Some survivors claimed they were only able to defend their homes because they had a rifle nearby. They persisted until security officers came, which took many hours.
While Israelis demonstrate great enthusiasm for purchasing firearms, some anti-gun activists have raised concerns. They believe making firearms too freely available raises the risk of accidental shootings, murder, and suicide. “An untrained response in the event of a subjective sense of danger is liable to bring about the needless death of innocents,” said an Israeli advocacy group called “Pistol on the Kitchen Table”.