Mythbusing: Israel and Switzerland are not gun-toting utopias
Posted by Ezra Klein on December 14, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Ezra Klein: Israel and Switzerland are often mentioned as countries that prove that high rates of gun ownership dont necessarily lead to high rates of gun crime. In fact, I wrote that on Friday. But you say your research shows thats not true.
Janet Rosenbaum: First of all, because they dont have high levels of gun ownership. The gun ownership in Israel and Switzerland has decreased.
For instance, in Israel, theyre very limited in who is able to own a gun. There are only a few tens of thousands of legal guns in Israel, and the only people allowed to own them legally live in the settlements, do business in the settlements, or are in professions at risk of violence.
Both countries require you to have a reason to have a gun. There isnt this idea that you have a right to a gun. You need a reason. And then you need to go back to the permitting authority every six months or so to assure them the reason is still valid.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/14/mythbusting-israel-and-switzerland-are-not-gun-toting-utopias/
Very interesting - I really had no idea about gun policies in Israel.