Questions From Readers

Lately I’ve been getting lots of questions from readers via email.
I guess I should have thought of that before I posted my email address on my blog.
Many of the questions are in regards to living in Israel, specifically to guns.
I’ll try and answers as many of your questions as I can…

I carry a Glock17 in a Foubus pancake holster on my right hip. It’s comfortable, easy to get to sitting or standing, and extremely visible. My carry permit allows me to carry. Period!

No, if someone sees it you can loose your permit junk.

The laws here in Israel are extremely restrictive, but have some elements of common sense. All weapons are listed, registered and individually licensed. The Ministry of Interior is responsible for the licensing of weapons and Gun Shops. I applied for and was issued a carry permit back in the 1980’s when I was still on active IDF duty. Every 5 years I am required to pass a physical and mental health check, criminal background check, qualify at the range, and pay a renewal fee for my carry permit.

I do not have, and can’t get a backup pistol. Although I am a Reserve Office (Captain) and have a M16A1 military issue rifle that I have “signed out” from the military, for civil defense, I am still only allowed 1 handgun carry permit, for my single pistol.

Mrs. DoubleTapper has her own Glock 26. We are not allowed to carry each other’s pistols.
That’s it one pistol per person, very few exceptions. But if you aren’t crazy, a criminal, or too infirm to carry, you can apply and get a permit to carry.

Who carries weapons in Israel?

Servicemen and women, on duty and off, in uniform or not. Reservists, Cops, Ambulance Drivers, Firemen, Teachers, Security Guards, Businessmen, and anyone else that has a valid carry permit. Jews, Arabs, and Christians (and everyone else) all carry weapons.

Rifles are generally issued by the IDF and carried by Servicemen and Reservists, although if you live in an area deemed by the Government to be a high risk (that’s almost every small town in Israel today) you can be issued a rifle for civil defense.

I'll add some more posts answering your questions later...

Feel free to email me DoubleTapper (at) Gmail.com or leave a comment with any questions.

Tomorrow, I return home video

One of my readers sent me this video. It's a tribute to the IDF. It shows all of the branches in action.

Here are the lyrics:

A century has passed,
each hour is hard for me.
You have surely changed,
but I haven't closed my eyes.
This is the end of the journey
only you I'll want to see.
So I come to you,
with sharpened eyes
because I saw how resentment
takes me to a place
where people had lost it all.

Wait till I return, tomorrow I'll be home.
I'm through fixing the world, in a land of arguing.
Wait till I return, it's good to be home.
All were brothers in their blood,
The road back is beautiful.

I don't want to be a hero,
to you I wanted to tell how during the black light,
somebody watches over,
He hides between the clouds,
but leaves behind hope,
for days that are nicer, the days of love.
I don't want any more pain in the eyes,
this pain will be defeated in love.

Wait till I return, tomorrow I'll be home.
I'm through fixing the world, in a land of arguing.
Wait till I return, it's good to be home.
All were brothers in their blood,
The road back is beautiful.


And in Hebrew:

כבר עברו מאה שנה כל שעה קשה עלי
את ודאי לא ישנה לא עצמתי את עיני
זה סופו של המסע
רק אותך ארצה לראות
אז אלייך אני בא בעיניים לטושות
כי ראיתי איך טינה אותי לוקחת
למקום שבני אדם איבדו הכל

חכי לי שאחזור מחר אני בבית
נמאס לי לתקן עולם בארץ יריבה
חכי לי שאחזור טוב להיות בבית
כולם היו אחים בדם
יפה הדרך חזרה

לא רוצה להיות גיבור לך רציתי לספר
איך בלילה השחור מישהו שומר
הוא מסתתר בין עננים אבל משאיר לנו תקווה
לימים יותר יפים ימים של אהבה
לא רוצה יותר את הכאב שבעיניים
הכאב הזה יובס באהבה

חכי לי שאחזור מחר אני בבית
נמאס לי לתקן עולם בארץ יריבה
חכי לי שאחזור טוב להיות בבית
כולם היו אחים בדם
יפה הדרך חזרה