“The State has a responsibility to ensure that gun licenses are not given to people who pose a danger to their families and the wider community”, says by Attorney Keren Horowitz, CEO of the Rackman Center.
We are happy to report that, one year after the decision expanding the criteria for awarding gun licenses – during which the Rackman Center and other organizations have lobbied on this issue at endless Knesset Committee meetings, and sent many letters explaining the importance of background checks into the domestic violence records of gun license applicants – finally we are seeing progress.
The Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Welfare have reported that they are now working on an interface system that allow the transfer of information on gun license applicants whose families are recognized as victims of domestic violence. Before this interface can work, it will require legislation and a system for monitoring its implementation, but this is certainly progress.
Keren Horowitz insists that the interface system should be broadened to allow the sharing of other background information held by the Welfare Ministry and the National Security Ministry. We will continue to monitor the progress of this system and the passing of relevant legislation, demanding that the Knesset supervise these important steps.
