In The News: Israeli NRA and American Gun Culture

In the article "Founder of Israeli NRA seeks to import American Gun Culture" by Raphael Ahren (Haaretz.com corespondant) we learn that the Israeli NRA, based off the US Virgina based National Rifle Association, endorses "the right to carry a firearm for all law abiding, military-serving Israeli citizens," and the expansion the Shai Dromi law. The Shai Dromi law, named after a Negev farmer, gives property owners more freedom to use fatal force against people who break into their homes, businesses or farms. (1) Joshua Moesch, originally from Vermont then moved to Israel six years ago, founded the group last week, who's other goals include gun safety, self-defense courses, promoting shooting as a sport and creating police athletic leagues. He first created a Facebook group and a website to see how much support he could generate before regestering as a non-profit organization. There is much controversy over pro-gun advocacy in Israel. Moesch believes that the compulsory army service makes Israeli society well acquainted with firearms, giving most people "a certain respect for guns." While others think that it will increase violence. Gerald Steinberg, chairman of political studies at Bar Ilan University says the arguments put forward by the Israeli NRA are not convincing. He feels that if more people carried guns the chances of more people getting hurt would be greater than the chance of neutralizing an attacker more quickly. "The last thing we want in Israel is an American gun culture," he added. "Israel has enough dangers, and making it easier for people on the street to carry guns is not what we need."

____________________________________________________________
1. Rebecca Anna Stoil. "New Law Allows Shooting At Burglars." http://www.jpost.com