Beersheba residents now eligible for firearm licenses under expanded reform

Beersheba residents can now apply for personal firearm licenses, the National Security Ministry confirmed Sunday. This inclusion marks a significant expansion of a broad firearms reform introduced in 2023 by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The decision followed a thorough review by the Israel Police and the Firearms Licensing Division. The reform's impact is evident in the numbers: in 2026 alone, 126 new communities became eligible for licenses, and the total number of gun owners has nearly doubled from 150,000 before the Israel-Hamas War to 300,000. Since the reform's expansion, over 280,000 citizens have obtained licenses, and more than 200 communities, including areas of Jerusalem, Netanya, and Ashdod, have been recognized as eligible.

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A weapon in the right hands saves lives.

Minister Ben-Gvir continues to advocate for extending eligibility to more cities and communities. He firmly believes Israeli citizens possess a fundamental right to self-defense and to contribute to the nation's security. "A weapon in the right hands saves lives," Ben-Gvir has frequently stated. Following the announcement regarding Beersheba, he expressed pride in advancing the "firearms revolution" and extending it to the "capital of the Negev." He reiterated that Beersheba residents, like all Israelis, have a basic right to protect themselves and their families.

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I am proud to continue the firearms revolution and expand it to the capital of the Negev as well. The residents of Beersheba, like all citizens of the State of Israel, have a basic right to protect themselves and their family members.