Letter to the Editor: Don’t give up guns
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Everyone is aware of the murderous terrorist attack on the Israeli people by Hamas from Gaza. In response, the Israeli minister of national security has instructed the firearms licensing division to begin emergency operations allowing more citizens to arm themselves.
This directive accomplishes four things: It shortens wait times for a permit to carry a firearm; it permits anyone who had a conditional permit to purchase a firearm in 2022, whose license expired, to purchase a firearm without seeking another permit; it allows anyone who forfeited their gun in the last six months due to failure to conduct refresher or renewal training to receive their weapon back and it allows permit holders to purchase and possess up to 100 rounds of ammunition instead of the 50 rounds previously permitted.
Yonatan Stern, director of the Pennsylvania-based Cherev Gidon Israeli Tactical Training blames the Israeli government's restrictive gun laws for enabling the Hamas terrorists involved.
According to criminologist John Lott, in 2022 with over 7 million Jews living in Israel, only 148,000 are permitted to carry guns. Thus, only 3.4% of adults have a permit. Most Americans believe Israel is awash in guns, which is untrue.
Only a small percentage of Israeli citizens meet the criteria of eligibility to obtain a firearm. The rest are average people ineligible to own any firearm whatsoever, thus allowing the few citizens the government deems worthy of carrying a firearm and 100 rounds of ammunition, instead of the previous 50, things won't change much.
Stern believes there are two things the Israeli government should do to help their citizens to protect themselves from terrorists. Neither are likely.
They need to legalize rifle ownership. Rifles are needed for combat and the government needs to expand the pool of people eligible to own a firearm; to the entire civilian population 18 and above, man or woman.
Stern's message to the American people is in part, "never ever give up your guns because the minute you do you become a helpless victim and you never know when a situation like this can happen. We have an open border in America. You could have terror cells pouring in, planning to do in America what they are doing in Israel."
Too bad Joe Biden isn't listening!
Steve Wolverton
Parkersburg