Here in Israel, where weapons permits are issued to those that need them, and are limited to a single weapon per person, there is no such thing as concealed carry.
Or open carry.
Weapons permits for private citizens are granted as Carry Permits.
So you can chose based on fashion, comfort, tactics, or personal preference how you want to carry your weapon. As long as you have your valid Carry Permit and ID on your person, you can legally carry just about anywhere in the country.
I've carried my pistol openly in government offices, military installations, malls, supermarkets, sports arenas, and synagogues. I've even been to political functions and open carried with our current Prime Minister in the room.
Here are a few pictures of what it's like in Israel.
Some random guy looking through his backpack
At a hot dog stand. At the cell phone counter How's that for a patriotic custom pistol on the salesman? At a wedding
In the park At a Synagogue Lots more on how and why we carry weapons here and here
While at the Jewish Blogger conference I met Robert Avrech. I've been reading his blog for a while and really enjoy it. Robert is an Emmy Award winning screenwriter, an observant Jew, a religious Zionist, a fierce conservative Republican, and a member of the NRA. Robert has been writing and producing in Hollywood for over twenty-five years
"I count seven Glocks and two M16's. There is, undoubtedly, more firepower in shul (Synagogue), but these men are not vain, wild west gunslingers. Most sidearms are concealed under shirt tails, or, as in the case of my brother-in-law David—who dresses for Shabbos like he's still back in Monsey—his Glock 17 is hiding under his nicely tailored suit jacket.
It is comforting to daven (pray) in a room with armed and well-trained citizen soldiers. We know from experience that in Israel, it is armed citizens who are the first line of defense against the Arab-Muslim terrorists who have been killing Jews since time immemorial.
One of the most irrational and shameful political positions taken by Liberal American Jews is the demand for the abolition of the right to bear arms.
If Jews in Europe owned guns there would be several million dead Nazis and their collaborators—and far fewer dead Jews."
He also writes about his friend's experience dispatching a terrorist in a crowded supermarket.
“The Glock is a good weapon when every millisecond counts,” says Larry. There's no safety, which can take precious time away from shooting. You can keep a round in the chamber, then just draw and fire.”
“I keep hollow points in the Glock, but my spare magazine has full metal jackets. The day I killed the terrorist, I put him down with the hollow points. Don't want to use full metal jackets in a crowded supermarket, they'll go right through and kill an innocent bystander.”
“The Efrat supermarket was crowded?”
“Very. Look, the terrorist was here,” Larry demonstrates using his body and mine, “and behind him were several women and children.”
With over 200 in attendance, there were bloggers from all over the political spectrum.
Former Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu was due to arrive, so security was tighter then the average Israeli shopping mall.
My carry permit was scrutinized, and I was asked by the head of the security detail to "not take an active role" should any security issues arise. I agreed, and was reassured that I was within my rights to carry (openly) and to protect myself.
I walkedinside, said hi to afew of the bloggers and staff members I know and mingled, introduced myself around, and started counting guns.
There were way too many to count! Most of the men were carrying. I did see lots of fanny packs, inside the pants, small of the back, and on the hip carries.
I couldn't tell with the women, it must be that there aren't any shoes to go with fobus holsters.
I saw lots of Glocks, S&W's a few Sigs, and even a Colt. Members of the panel and the audience were carrying, and I even saw a couple of IDF reserve firearms instructors in attendance.
Akiva did a great job of live blogging the event if you want a play by play of the the evening.
Moshe Plesser, the unarmed yeshiva student who shot and killed the rampaging bulldozer terrorist, explained how he and security guard Oron Ben-Shimon stopped the murderous rampage.
Moshe did not wish to speak with the media, but hours afterwards read a written statement. He began by calling the attack a "murderous attack on our holy and beloved land, part of the war in which we find ourselves." He then thanked all those who, he said, had a hand in helping him act correctly: "First of all, thanks to G-d, and secondly to the education and upbringing I received, beginning in the Morashah Talmud Torah in Jerusalem, and then the Dimona Yeshiva High School, and then the Yitzhar and Kiryat Arba Hesder yeshivot, and finally to my army training, for helping me act in the way every soldier and citizen should. I also wish to thank my brother-in-law David Shapira for serving as a personal example [Shapira was one of the two who killed the terrorist in Merkaz HaRav earlier this year - ed.] "
"As far as what happened," Plesser continued: "I was bicycling from the center of town [westward] towards my home, when I saw a bulldozer battering a bus lying on its side and a lot of commotion. I immediately realized that it was a terrorist attack. I threw the bicycle to the side, and I ran towards the scene, trying to get as close as I could to the bulldozer so that I could get on it and stop the driver. As I got closer I tried to somehow get a weapon. When the bulldozer stopped, a policeman climbed up, and I climbed up right behind him, screaming at him to shoot."
"Oron Ben-Shimon, (a Security Guard) with whom I was privileged to cooperate in stopping the terrorist, also climbed up, and he and the policeman tried to stop him with their hands. At first I could not shoot him, because the policeman stood in between us and the terrorist. The terrorist suddenly got up and started to drive again, screaming out Allahu Akbar, and Oron was able to turn the steering wheel so that the bulldozer wouldn't run over more cars. Finally, I was able to grab Oron's gun and shoot over the heads of the policeman and Oron, three bullets to his head. Then a Yassam (Riot) policeman got on and fired again to ascertain his death."
Another eyewitness said that he saw the bulldozer ram the bus several times, and then continue on in his attempt to run down passersby and cars. "Some cars were able to get away, but at least one was not, and he rammed his shovel right into the windshield," the man said.
Moshe can be seen in a blue shirt, outside the bulldozer cabin, in many of the videos of the attack being circulated.
Oron Ben-Shimon, a security guard at the nearby Kupat Cholim Leumit office, also took part in the save. He said that when he saw the shovel of the bulldozer mowing things down, "I ran towards it. When I got there, the bulldozer was stopped, I got up on it - Moshe helped me - and we tried to stop the driver, who looked like he was fainted on the steering wheel. But then he suddenly got up and started the bulldozer going again. I couldn't get to my gun, and also the policeman was in between me and the terrorist - so I punched him [the terrorist] and that stunned him... Then Moshe - who really deserves all credit; of all the people there, he was the one who responded the most correctly - quickly realized what was happening, and took the gun from my holster and shot the terrorist three times in the head. Then a Yassam policeman got on board, shot another bullet, and that was it."
The journalists listening to the accounts of Plesser and Ben-Shimon praised them highly, as well as the policeman and the Yassam officer. The fact that the policeman did not shoot and kill the terrorist, and the questions raised as a result, were not mentioned outright.
At least four people were murdered in the unprecedented terror attack.
Two Israeli civilians received IDF certificates of appreciation for having responded heroically to terrorist attacks. IDF Binyamin Brigade Commander Col. Amir Abulafia awarded the certificates to two residents of the Binyamin region of Judea and Samaria.
Moshe Benbenishti was cited for having "acted courageously when he did not lose his cool when attacked by rioters from the village of Zara el Kabaliye." In the incident, which occurred in March of this year, Moshe "used his personal pistol and hit one of the central inciters, and as a result saved his own life and scattered the mob that wanted to harm him."
Rabbi Erez Bar'on was praised for "acting with a perfectly cool head when he responded effectively and killed a terrorist who tried to attack him as well as a youth at the Shilo hitch-hiking post." The incident occurred a month ago.
Here in Israel, every privately owned firearm is registered to a single owner. Every carry permit holder is required to qualify at the range in order to renew the permit on the weapon.
My permit expires in June, so instead of relying on the local militia for ammunition and training, I went to the local range.
I took my 15 year old son along figuring it had been way too long since I had taken him shooting.
The guy that runs the place knows me, and the range instructor has seen me around, so instead of putting me through the standard permit renewal stuff, he just went over the safety basics and went to the back of the room.
I went through safety rules with my son, the correct way to check a weapon, how to draw cock and shoot, maintain eye contact with the target, change magazines, and how to doubletapp.
At this point the range instructor left the room, figuring that we knew what we were doing.
My son, who started shooting at the age of 7, is a confident and extremely proficient shooter.
I let him do most of the shooting, just enjoying the "quality time" and basking in pride at what a man he is becoming.
After over 6 years of daily carry while, riding through rain, sleet and hail on my Yamaha 660, off-roading, landscaping and military maneuvers, my Glock 17 and the 3 magazines (a 17 round, and 2 33 round Glock originals) preformed flawlessly. No jams, no miss-feeds, no stovepipes, no nothing!
We spent over an hour shooting. My son was doubletapping the heads of the silhouette targets, and changing magazines with ease by the time we were through.
My friend JoeSettler commented that some people shouldn't own guns.
I own a gun, and have always had guns.
Mrs. DoubleTapper has a Glock 26.
Almost all of my friends and neighbors have guns.
The Government here in Israel requires that all guns be licensed, that every permit holder be 21 years old, and certified by a doctor that they are healthy, both physically and mentally. In addition no felons can be licensed to carry guns.
So now you have the government telling an elderly person with a debilitating illness that they have to sell their handgun and are no longer allowed to have a firearm for protection. And Servicemen and students from the ages of 18-21 can't own firearms either. They can do military service and be issued weapons by the IDF, but can't purchase a pistol.
In the USA no felon or mentally ill person can legally own a firearm. But there's no law on the elderly, or the physically weak/sick.
Rabbi Yitzchak Dadon and David Shapira who shot the terrorist that killed eight people in a shooting at Jerusalem's Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, were awarded citations of gratitude by Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, and Jerusalem District Police Commander Aharon Franco.
Rabbi Dadon at the Likud Awards Ceremony
Rabbi Yitzchak Dadon at was also honored at a Likud Party Award Ceremony last Tuesday.
Member of Parliament Moshe Kachalon and former MP Gilah Gamliel also attended the Ceremony.
The certificate of honor was presented to Rabbi Dadon by Mr. Eli Sheetrit, of the Likud Tegar fellowship, comprised of the fighters of the Etzel and Lechi undergrounds. Tens of Tegar members attended the salute, emphasizing the fact that Rabbi Dadon has continued the battle for the Jewish State where they left off.
During a recent interview Rabbi Dadon reconstructed his own experience the night of the attack. "I was studying alone at the front of the study room when I heard the first round of fire. I realized it was a terror attack. The room's inhabitants quickly evacuated through the front door. I pulled my gun, climbed up to the row of windows facing the street and then jumped on to the roof of the dining room. I then jumped on to a separate roof overlooking the library and the library entrance. I lay on the roof with my gun ready for about five minutes. All that time I heard gunfire from inside. Because of the fire power, I was sure that there were a number of terrorists. Had I known it was only one, I probably would have gone inside. I waited for the terrorist to come out. Then, the door to the library opened and the gunman fired in the air. Bullets flew past my ear. I carefully peeked down and the terrorist was gone.
"After a few seconds, I saw Shapira beneath with a rifle. An M-16. I shouted: 'Don't shoot me.' Shapira asked: 'Where did the terrorist go?' I said: 'Either the library or study room. Shapira peeked into the library and went back to the study room. At that point I saw the terrorist walking inside the library near the glass doors. He pressed his head against the window, with his Kalashnikov against his chest. Then, I shot two bullets. He swaggered and fell. His weapon fell to his side. Shapira fired at the same time as me, and then I emptied my clip on him. I saw him through the glass, falling."
Rabbi Dadon and David Shapira deserve much more then awards!
The accepted method of training in Israel is demonstrated in this video.
The first thing that is taught is firearm safety. Notice that the firing line is not crossed, and that the instructor maintains control of the trainee at all times.
Next, how to carry, draw, cock, and shoot, and change magazines from a static position. Most shooters are taught the Isosceles shooting stance, although the front Weaver stance is also used.
Then how to effectively engage a single target, and after the target has fallen, to "verify" that the target has been neutralized.
Next, how to do all of the above dynamically, including stepping to the side and dropping to one knee to change magazines. And moving with one hand on the pistol and the other held up to part the crowd.
An finally how to engage multiple targets.
This is only the basics, and is taught to civilians at shooting ranges.
More advanced techniques like room clearing and other anti terror methods are also taught at shooting ranges.
Rabbi Erez Bar-On is the principal of the Hitzim High School in Itamar, near Shechem. and a graduate of the Hesder yeshiva in the town of Har Bracha, on Mt. Gerizim in Samaria.
On Monday afternoon, an Arab man approached the Shiloh Junction bus stop and began talking to two people, Rabbi Erez Bar-On and teenager, Hillel Maeir. Maeir described the events which followed: After a short conversation in broken English and Hebrew, which aroused the suspicion of the two, the 16-year-old young man decided to move away, behind a concrete barrier at the bus stop while the Rabbi Erez Bar-On placed his hand on his personal weapon.
At that point, the attacker suddenly pulled out a six-inch knife and tried to stab the Rabbi Bar-On. Because of his fear of getting entangled with the law for using his weapon, the would-be victim waited until the last second to draw his personal weapon. Hillel Maeir described that as the terrorist's knife was coming down toward the Rabbi Erez Bar-On, he managed to draw, cock and shoot his pistol at the terrorist all in the same motion.
The bullet knocked the Arab off his feet and wounded him. When the terrorist then reached inside his shirt, the Rabbi Erez Bar-On interpreted the motion as a possible attempt to detonate an explosive vest, and he shot again, this time killing his attacker. It later turned out that the Arab was reaching for a second concealed knife.
Steve at HogOnIce asked about accessories for the AR. Versitile, customizable rifles with a huge selection of accessories available.
Here in Israel we carry the IDF issue M16A1 (and the M4) as members of the local militia.
I carry my M16A1 with a barrel mounted laser sight/pointer with a PTT on my tactical fore grip in the front, a Surefire flashlight, and a rear pistol grip. I also have a see through mount for my 50mm 3-9X scope with lighted rangefinder reticle so I can use the iron sights at close range. And a magazine coupler.
I added accessories as they became available as my budget for add ons is nonexistent.
Each accessory has been carefully checked out and certified by the anti-terror team.
If I had my way, I'd upgrade to a newer M4 rifle and set it up like this:
Steve, I don't think Mrs. DoubleTapper would appreciate me naming her Vera, but since she's a Colt, I could probably get away with calling her Filly.
Of course there are many more accessories and options available...
At 17:30 today, an Arab terrorist approximately 20 years old drew an 8 inch knife and attempted to stab a 15 year old Jewish boy at a bus stop near the town of Shiloh.
Rabbi Erez Bar-On, who was at the bus stop, drew his pistol fired twice killing the terrorist on the spot.
IDF officials said Monday that Rabbi Erez Bar-On did the right thing, “The citizen acted properly, in a decisive and fitting manner,” officials said. Rabbi Bar-On’s quick response saved the 15-year-old, who was not hurt in the attempted stabbing.
Senior officials in the PA (Palestinian Authority) health system systematically stole valuable medications and replaced them with worthless placebo pills.
The placebos, which lab tests show had no medical value, were passed along to clinics and hospitals, where they were given to patients suffering from serious and often life-threatening diseases.
The real medications were taken to massive warehouses in Ramallah and Shechem, and were sold for high prices on the black market.
After 4 1/2 months of intensive training, culminating in a 50k high speed forced march in full gear, the basic trainees of the Givati Infantry Brigade are graduating.
This is the same group of trainees who's allegiance ceremony I attended last month.
The graduation ceremony took place at the Yoav Fortress (Givati Brigade Museum) near the Givati Junction not far from Kiryat Gat east of Ashkelon.
Thursday was a beautiful spring day, with clear bright skies and temperatures in the mid 70's (Fahrenheit). I took advantage of the weather and rode my Yamaha XTZ660 the 60 mile trip.
As I arrived I saw the serviceman near the entrance. I took out my camera and snapped a few pictures.
Notice that there are IWI Tavor rifle's everywhere you look.
Jim: When I was diagnosed with cancer I found myself and my family in need of protection. I was too old to fight, too sick to run, and since cancer took my vocal cords, I couldn't yell for help. I purchased my first ever firearm.
Jessica: I'm just one little girl in the world.
Anthony: I own a gun because I'm a fuckin' American and a Marine. It's my God-given right.
Bashir: I just think it's a good thing to have.
Beth: I have one for self protection. I was raised to never rely on anyone else to protect me or watch my back.
Jerry: We are our own last line of defense.
Ashley: There are few things that beat a good day at the gun range, but the biggest reason I own firearms is because it’s my right as a citizen...
Dan: I consider the ownership of arms not only a right, but the duty of a free people to themselves and future generations.
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