Our Gun Solution Is Found Looking To Israel
We should look to Israel for our gun policy.
Anyone with access to a repeating weapon could commit an attack on a random soft target with little preparation and have a very high possibility of success. Law enforcement can’t possibly protect millions of soft targets from determined terrorist attacks; therefore, we have an extremely serious problem as these attacks continue.
So what can be done, short of putting all possibilities in jail, to keep us safe and out of trouble? Some say the answer is to ensure that competent, law abiding citizens have access to guns so they can return fire. Not only will this effectively take the fight to the terrorists, but will also engage the violent criminal as well. This is how Israel is dealing with their current epidemic of similar soft target attacks.
There is nothing controversial about withholding gun ownership from violent criminals or those who are dangerously unstable. This can generally be done by maintaining a list of competent, law abiding citizens or maintaining a list of those who are not. As the former is literally impossible, we must maintain an exclusion list.
This list will effectively deny those on it their 2nd Amendment rights, something which millions of Americans in all walks of life apparently take very seriously. The no-fly gun control proposal is a good idea, but unfortunately many Americans do not trust our government to honestly and competently administer such a list. Gun ownership is a right, not a privilege to be meted out arbitrarily by the very government for whom the 2nd Amendment is supposed to be an insurance against.
Israel
As a liberal, I agree with implementing Israeli gun laws to combat our problem. Unfortunately, there is no political will in this country for Israeli-type gun laws as their laws are much stricter than ours. In fact, I can confidently state that the vast majority of liberals would gladly accept Israeli gun laws if given the chance.
Minimum Age
27 is the minimum age of purchase and ownership (21 if you’re a male veteran honorably discharged, 20 if you’re a female veteran honorably discharged). This eliminates buying rifles for teenaged kids.
Limited Number
Veterans are allowed one rifle. Civilians are allowed one handgun with 50 bullets. Mind you, that’s all the personal handgun bullets they get for a lifetime.
Residency Requirements
You must be a resident of Israel for three consecutive years, pass an extensive background check (any physical/mental ailments or criminal issues are dealbreakers), provide a detailed reason for why you want the gun, and then pass a weapons training course if your application is accepted. 40% of applications get rejected. Finally, you register with the Israeli government. They have a national database of gun owners.
Licensing
You must have a permit for public carry. This is regardless of whether it’s open carry or concealed.
Continuing Education
To maintain ownership of your gun, you must pass a shooting exam every 3 years. You must also pass a mental health screening every 6 years.
Since many 2nd amendment advocates feel that Israel has the right idea, they should support incorporating these regulations into our gun policy framework. Afterall, Israel is surrounded by people who want to attack and destroy it. We really only have to worry about decreasing violent crime, and the 5% of mass shootings that involve the mentally handicapped.
