National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Tuesday that a terror attack in Tel Aviv vindicated his push to have more Israelis carry guns, after an armed civilian shot and killed the attacker, who injured seven people in a stabbing and ramming spree.
“I congratulate the brave citizen who neutralized the terrorist, cutting the attack short and saving lives,” Ben Gvir said on Twitter.
“This again proved the importance and effectiveness of citizens carrying guns,” Ben Gvir said. “I call on the public who meet the criteria: carry guns.”
Gun control in Israel has traditionally been relatively strict, with licenses generally only granted to those who can show a need for extra security in their line of work or daily life. Citizens in nearly all cases can own a single gun and only 50 bullets at a given time.
Under current guidelines, military service entitles an applicant to a gun license only if they served in combat infantry units.
However, in recent months Ben Gvir has proposed dramatically expanding the criteria to include any veteran of combat service, including those who served in armored and artillery units and the Border Police, along with Hesder yeshiva students — who do a shortened military stint and also spend time studying in yeshiva — and Magen David Adom ambulance service volunteers.
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