Gun Licenses in Jerusalem: Ben-Gvir Expands List of Eligible Neighborhoods
Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has signed an order that radically alters the map for issuing personal firearm permits in Jerusalem. According to the new decision, the list of districts whose residents are eligible to apply for a license based on the residency criterion has been expanded by 41 new neighborhoods.
This expansion covers approximately 1,600 streets in the capital, where more than 300,000 people reside. Now, residents of major areas such as Kiryat HaYovel, Katamon, Bayit VeGan, Givat Shaul, Kiryat Moshe, Romema, Talpiot, and others are officially recognized as eligible to obtain a handgun. Previously, these neighborhoods were not included in the list of zones providing automatic access to the licensing procedure based on territorial grounds.
The primary goal of the reform, carried out under the slogan “Guns Save Lives,” is to create the densest possible presence of armed citizens within the urban environment. According to the Ministry, the presence of trained gun owners in public places allows for the neutralization of terrorists in the first seconds of an attack, minimizing the number of victims before emergency services arrive.
Despite the simplification of the territorial requirement, general criteria for candidates remain in force. Every applicant must:
- Confirm their medical fitness with a treating physician;
- Undergo a police background check for the absence of a criminal record;
- Obtain approval from the Ministry of Health;
- Successfully complete theoretical and practical training at a certified shooting range.
