An Israeli Woman Takes Target Practice in the Background of Growing Threats of Increased Terrorism

Jerusalem, 11 April, 2024 (TPS) -- A record number of Israelis filed for licenses to carry guns since the October 7 Hamas massacre. Here a religious woman (she is wearing a traditional head covering that orthodox Jewish women wear when married) can be seen taking target practice.

In Israel, there is strict gun control. To possess a handgun one must apply for a license, provide a reason for the need for a gun, release their medical records to the licensing authority and then pass a course on gun use and safety and take target practice regularly to keep their license, if approved.

Israelis seen on the news carrying any sort of rifle, like an M16, are either off-duty soldiers/police/security guards or live in a remote area near a border like the one with Lebanon or Gaza and are part of their community’s local security team. However, there is no private ownership of rifles in Israel, only handguns.

The Jordan Valley, Apr 10, 2024.

Photo by Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS