Guns in Israel

[SamuraiCO]

There are number of different "permits" you can have that allow you to bring your weapon through security. Anyone on active military duty can be armed (assuming they're a normally armed combat soldier. No office workers, etc). Off duty cops of course. And civilians with a CCW permit as well. At any of these security checkpoints (bus stations, malls, fancy restaurants, public buildings, etc) if you have a weapons permit you're generally exempt from being searched and you can go right through.

That is the rub I have when sensible gun laws are ever talked about such as background checks and training for a CCW. The powers on the left never say because these new laws are so good we can now remove restrictions on magazine capacity, types of, guns allowed or where we can carry. Hence their real agenda is revealed.

[Irving]

Thanks Clang.

[Lucky]

There are number of different "permits" you can have that allow you to bring your weapon through security. Anyone on active military duty can be armed (assuming they're a normally armed combat soldier. No office workers, etc). Off duty cops of course. And civilians with a CCW permit as well. At any of these security checkpoints (bus stations, malls, fancy restaurants, public buildings, etc) if you have a weapons permit you're generally exempt from being searched and you can go right through.

Exactly. Based on my appearance, I was directed through the detector and searched every time. But if you have the right uniform and/or papers you're waved through to a different side of the entrance. Not complaining, that's just how it works.

[Lucky]

...snip... I'm not excusing the behavior, just explaining it.

Also, most important... walking around the streets of Jerusalem, you can safely be in condition white and blissfully unaware. There is very little street crime in Israel. There are some rough neighborhoods here and there, but otherwise it's quite safe. The Israeli mentality for carrying is to defend against terrorism, not a simple mugging. Using your issued weapon to defend against a mugging could actually land you in deep shite.

So for all those reasons, many soldiers tend to just sling their guns over their back and forget about it. It's more common in the more "pedestrian" units. As soon as you start moving up to anything approaching SOF (Paratroopers, Seals, lots of other units with Hebrew names) you'll see model weapon control everywhere they go. The girl pictured above is probably a base guard who's never been in actual combat.

Yes, I noticed the same things. It was commonplace for locals to keep doors to homes/ gates to yard unlocked, etc, including cars (even though most cars require that key code before ignition). I enjoyed a lot of long conversations with Israeli's- Jews, Arabs, and Palestinians alike- who were pretty open in discussing what life is really like, for them, there. They all agreed that street crime is extremely low and most attributed it to high numbers of individuals carrying personal protection, even if their intention of carrying is to be ready for a terrorist attack. One really needs to be on a mission to attack someone carrying, and each person who attempted while I was there was immediately stopped, for good.

Overall, the AR carry style was very lax in public, but at the actual border crossings each soldier was at the ready with one hand near trigger and weapon in front of the body- like the picture you posted. One man I was in a room with for about an hour was very disciplined, with rifle across his front and a hand on it at all times, very aware of his surroundings. He had just graduated to Seal within a day or two of when I met him.

[Lucky]

Yes! For two full days the government shut down the high schools. Not out of fear- they do not respond in fear- but simply to move all security from the high schools to the elementary and middle so those kids could go about their business as usual.

[WETWRKS]

Here is one of the major differences in their society and ours...theirs teaches a respect for firearms. Our society doesn't teach a respect for anything or anyone.

[clodhopper]

Our society doesn't teach a respect for anything or anyone.

However, ours teaches how to use claiming disrespect to your advantage.

[zimagold]

I would definitely consider my time in Israel a formative life experience.

[ClangClang]

I would definitely consider my time in Israel a formative life experience. Sorry for quality, wasn't really trying to take pics of the police/military.


2010
Typical Police/Military presence at entrances to the old city in Jerusalem
Attachment 61687 Attachment 61693

Just FYI - The first two pictures you have are of Border Police ("Mishmar Ha-Gvul" in Hebrew). They are under the command of the Israeli National Police, so not soldiers or military. Being in the Border Police certainly counts towards your mandatory conscription though. Much like in the USA, recruits are allowed to make requests of which branch they join.

[Lucky]

This is Old City, Christian Quarter, the day after the reportedly unarmed 13 year old was shot. Full on strike, about 95% of the shops were closed for business (all four quarters). This was a weekday at about noon- an entirely different scene than last time I'd seen it in 2008. One could hear a pin drop, it was eerie.