National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir approves measures that will make it easier to obtain a firearm license, as part of a controversial plan to fight rising violent crime rates by arming more Israelis.
According to the Walla news site, any former IDF combat soldier discharged in the previous five years, as well as police officers, firefighters and active reservists, will receive an exemption from personal interviews when applying for a license.
This will significantly shorten the bureaucratic process, which will consist only of filing a health declaration and police approval.
The outlet quotes the far-right minister as saying armed civilians are crucial in thwarting many terror attacks, “and we will do anything we can to allow all those who meet the criteria to get gun permits.”
Ben Gvir later confirms the report’s accuracy on his Twitter account.
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From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 30, 2023
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