Jewish Americans are reportedly flocking to gun stores amid rising anti-Semitism due to the war in Israel.
More and more Jewish people are taking courses on firearm safety and going to shooting ranges around the U.S.
SPIKE IN LOCAL GUN SALES – There has been a rise in local gun and ammo sales, and experts say it’s primarily coming from people within the Jewish community who want to protect themselves. https://t.co/mEfJZ5neaa
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) October 17, 2023
“We’ve definitely seen a tremendous increase in religious Jewish people, Orthodox people purchasing firearms,” Florida Gun Store owner David Kowalsky said. “I’ve seen a surge in individual training as well as group training.”
Instances of antisemitism in the country have dramatically spiked in recent years. In California, for instance, incidents increased by 29 percent from 2020 to 2021, and a staggering 217 percent from 2017 to 2021, according to data previously compiled by the Anti-Defamation League.
“Since that spike, this has been the biggest spike. We’ve been doing consistent training and keeping things going,” said Rabbi Yossi Eilfort, a former MMA fighter who has been teaching his fellow Jews self-defense classes.
“In the last two weeks, we’ve basically told everybody, ‘We can’t train you today. We’ve been trying to train you for the last couple years. We can’t train you today. But we’re putting out a new schedule,’” Eilfort continued.
Veteran New York-based political strategist and Orthodox rabbi veteran Hank Sheinkopf believes that the uptick in gun sales and training lessons marks a change for the American Jewish community.
“The majority of Jews in the country historically have been liberal on the left, pro-gun reform, pro-gun control, opposed to personal gun ownership,” Sheinkopf said. “Jews with guns were always seen as an odd event.”
This comes after the terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel and invaded towns along the Gaza border earlier this month, killing at least 700 people.
President Joe Biden has since pledged his support for Israel, with his administration already moving military units to the country as well as supplying them with munitions and interceptors to ensure the Iron Dome defense system has enough supplies.
“We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack,” he said in remarks from the State Dining Room. “There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse.”