Israel eases gun licensing laws

Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan has issued his directions to offices of his ministry to increase the number of gun licenses, giving the chance for hundreds of thousands of Israelis to carry guns, Arab48 reported yesterday.

Israeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan [File photo]

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, Arab48 said, that official statistics stated that 145,000 Israelis have licences to carry guns.

The reduced conditions stipulate that applicants for gun licenses should be over 21 years, be in good health, be reserve officers, or have served in the Special Units, farmers, tourist guides and paramedics with a preference given to settlers who live in illegal settlements or Israelis living in border areas.

After the new facilitations, the ministry estimated that between 35,000 and 40,000 new Israelis would benefit from the relaxing of the laws.

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