Quarter of a million Israelis own firearms (trending down)

[Drizzt]

Quarter of a million Israelis own firearms

New survey conducted by Interior Ministry shows reduction in private gun ownership

Doron Sheffer

A quarter of a million Israeli citizens possess personal firearms, according to an Interior Ministry survey.

The survey said that as of June 2005, 236,879 Israeli citizens had guns. At the same time, the survey pointed to a downwards trend in personal weapon possession.

The study also found that a worrying number of guns were held without valid license, 34,000, due to a failure by owners to renew their licenses.

A spokesman for the firearms branch of the Interior Ministry, Yaakov Amit, said that the government had begun to target those who did not renew licenses.

“A person who shows up on the computers as not having renewed a license for their firearm is informed to apply for a new license. It’s very effective, far more then when we relied on the police, who were not able to enforce this law fully.”

Since 1996, there has been a significant drop in the ownership of private firearms.

In order to qualify for a license, an applicant must pass a number of conditions set, including an assessment of their medical and mental health, and whether they live or work in dangerous areas.

A decade ago, there were almost no limitations on the ownership of guns.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3134459,00.html

 

[Standing Wolf]

A spokesman for the firearms branch of the Interior Ministry, Yaakov Amit, said that the government had begun to target those who did not renew licenses.

Licensing and registration inevitably lead to greater government control.

 

[Wayne D]

In order to qualify for a license, an applicant must pass a number of conditions set, including an assessment of their medical and mental health, and whether they live or work in dangerous areas.

A decade ago, there were almost no limitations on the ownership of guns.

:banghead:

 

[geekWithA.45]

Here's the WHOLE STORY:

Since 1996, there has been a significant drop in the ownership of private firearms.

In order to qualify for a license, an applicant must pass a number of conditions set, including an assessment of their medical and mental health, and whether they live or work in dangerous areas.

A decade ago, there were almost no limitations on the ownership of guns.

This is in full accordance with The key fact discovered and exploited by the forces of organized gun bigotry: The more regulated civil access to guns are, the fewer civilians will own guns.

NJ is our own perfect domestic example of this, even without mental health tests.

NJ usually leads the charge on gun control. In 1966, they put into place the FID, whose only requirements were a clean record, a set of fingerprints, 2 forms and a modest fee.

In 30 years, those simple factors alone was enough to reduce lawful gun ownership from national norms of 40% all the way down to 13%. As a consequence of this, gun ownership is utterly alien and inexplicable to 90% of NJ residents. The few who retain arms are a tiny minority, politically inneffectual, and institutionally held in contempt.

And, that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we fight every little obstacle tooth and nail.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Last time I heard, the goal of Hamas and the PLO was to kill every Israeli. Doesn't that make the spot where any Israeli stands, sits, or sleeps a 'dangerous area'?


I thought so. Just wondering.


Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[NHBB]

gun control in israel of all places... who would have thought. I wonder what the motives are?

 

[Smokey Joe]

Seems counterproductive!

What's the quote? Something like, " ' Never Again ' will not be enforced by preaching, pacifism, or piety."

What CAN they be thinking????

 

[DesertEagle613]

The motive, I'm sure, is to keep guns out of the hands of anyone to the Right of Yossi Beilin (Shimon Peres's "poodle"). Excepting the settlers, who no one could in good conscience leave unarmed... until it's time to cart them out of their homes

 

[goose]

I returned from Israel in April after 15 days visiting my son-in-law's relatives. Outside of seeing many army men & women carrying M-16s shopping, riding busses, and eating at resturants, the biggest thrill I saw were a few guys with revolvers strapped to their hips.....1 was just walking and the other was carrying groceries home. I asked my son-in-law, "Why are they carrying?" he said that there was no law against it and the gov'mint encourages it. Sounds good to me.

 

[Optical Serenity]

I've been to Israel, loved it, very armed society...