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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan | |
| Public security minister seeks to expand gun permit eligibility | |
| 2016-04-13 | |
[IsraelTimes] Under Erdan’s initiative, every former IDF combat soldier would be automatically eligible for an arms license
Erdan announced his intention to relax gun permit restrictions at the Israel Security Conference, held in Yad Binyamin in central Israel, Ynet reported. According to Erdan, former combat soldiers should naturally be entitled to bear arms as civilians due to the dangers surrounding day-to-day life in Israel. "It makes no sense to take away the firearms of those who serve in reserve units their whole life," he was quoted as saying at the convention. "The intention is that they will carry a firearm [outside the army as well]." The initiative reflects Erdan’s policy on easing gun permit restrictions. In October 2015, after Israeli police submitted its professional opinion, he expanded gun permit eligibility so that graduates of elite combat units, as well as all IDF officers above the rank of 2nd lieutenant and non-commissioned officers from the rank of first sergeant and up can obtain a permit, even if they hold those ranks in the reserves. Parallel ranks in the police and other security services may do the same. Erdan also ordered gun permits be granted to graduates of certain elite units in the security services, as well as certain government security courses, including those that train the security details of ministers and government institutions. If Erdan’s current initiative to grant permits to all combat soldiers -- even those who didn’t serve in elite units -- is approved, the number of civilians who will be eligible for gun permits will rise to hundreds of thousands, the report said. Erdan spoke at the convention of a need to balance between gun control policy and the possibility of fast response in event of a terror attack. "I decided to switch to a balancing policy. It’s a matter of public interest: When a trained and armed individual is at the scene of a terror attack, we can see the difference. [Easing restrictions on gun permits] saves human lives." Erdan’s initiative would have to be approved by the Finance Ministry to accommodate the budget and staffing requirements it will incur. Israel Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich also commented on the matter in the convention, underlining the complexity inherent to the easing of gun control. "When we debated the question of whether or not easing restrictions on gun permits will bolster security, we also had to question if doing so will be an asset or a burden to Israeli society," Alsheich told the crowd. "Guns can potentially be stolen, and Israeli police are in a constant struggle against this issue. On the other hand, [gun permits] make a difference in terror attacks. It’s not an easy decision to make." | |
| Posted by:trailing wife |