Gun applicants will have to pass psychological examination

Applicants for handguns will have to pass a psychological examination under a reform plan unveiled Wednesday by Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch Wednesday. The plan aims to reduce the number of firearms circulating among the public in an effort to stem a recent rise in handgun-related deaths.

Addressing the Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, Aharonovitch said 290,000 Israelis own handguns. Under the first stage of his plan, to take effect in late August, security personnel at businesses will need special permission to leave the premises with their weapons; otherwise they will have to keep the guns safely secured at the site.

The second stage of the reforms will require all applicants for handguns to pass both a medical examination by a family doctor and a psychological examination. Would-be gun holders who fail the psychological examination will then have to meet with a psychiatrist.

The minister’s announcement expanded on directives he set down in May, days after a former Border Police officer, Itamar Alon, opened fire at a bank in Beersheba, killing four people and injuring three.

Last week, security guard Getagon Tadesse was arrested and charged with the Jerusalem shooting deaths of his attorney and the attorney’s daughter over a financial dispute.

As of March, before those incidents, the daily newspaper Israel Hayom reported that 30 murders had been committed in the last 11 years by security guards who were licensed to carry firearms.

According to the May directives, beginning with the upcoming academic year, school security guards must return their weapons at the end of every shift to the office of the security company that employs them.

Additionally, applicants seeking to renew their gun license will be required to provide proof of need for the weapon.