GUNS: Orlando and Tel Aviv — There is a difference

In less than a week, deadly shooting sprees at the hands of gunmen affiliated with Islamic terror movements rocked Orlando and Tel Aviv. In America, the deadliest mass-murder attack since Sept. 11, 2001, has strengthened calls for stricter gun control laws. Yet in Israel, where many civilians carry firearms, questions on how the terrorists acquired their weapons did not spark national debate.

“Israelis relate to guns totally differently than Americans,” said Marc Provisor, director of security projects for One Israel Fund, an organization that provides security equipment to Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley. Most of terrorists who have attacked Israelis in recent months have been neutralized by armed Israelis, including police officers, off-duty soldiers, and even civilians.

While “people here have guns out of a grim necessity  — it’s not a hobby,” Provisor said.

Israel’s Basic Laws (there is no Constitution) does not protect the ability of any individual to have access to firearms. Israelis face strict controls on who is allowed to possess a weapon, Provisor added, and citizens who carry them are required to go through gun training and are typically restricted to a single handgun and limited numbers of bullets.

“There is a medical review, there is a psychological review, and Israeli police and security services check you out before you are approved for a handgun. It’s not that easy,” he said. “In Israel, a gun is not looked at as a privilege, but rather as a responsibility.”

Avi Dobular, master shooting instructor at the Magnum 88 Range in Jerusalem, argued that the motivations are different when it comes to Israeli and American citizens wanting to own guns for self-defense.

“Here [in Israel] we’re not talking about somebody wanting to break into your house to steal your jewelry. Here it is an existential threat to your life,” he said. “Armed citizens increase the overall security of the nation and its people. There cannot be a policeman or an armed soldier on every block. So an armed citizenry is very important.”