AN "OP-ED" in Israel HaYom titled "No more illusions: Come home is concerned with the dangers Jews face in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and North America.
Written by Isi Leibler, an expat Australian now residing in Jerusalem, we are told that the only safe place for Jews is Israel.
He may be right about Europe, Africa, and Latin America, and perhaps even Canada, but I think he's wrong about Jews in the U.S.
I NEVER WILL WRITE that there is no anti-Semitism, no anti-Jewish feelings, and no anti-Israel groups and individuals in the U.S.
That would be stupid and a blatant lie.
At the same time, it would be equally stupid to write that Jews are safe from the same people - including fellow Jews - in Israel.
So why stay in the U.S.A.>?
Because in the U.S. Jews are able to defend themselves.
Because there is a police presence in the U.S. that is lacking in Israel.
The first "Because" unfortunately does not apply equally across all 50 U.S. states (and Puerto Rico). According to Conservapedia.com, "Only six cities in the United States ban handguns: Washington, D.C., Chicago, and four of its suburbs."
The same source noted that in the author's former homeland, "In Australia, where gun ownership was less widespread and the gun control measures were less strict, there was an immediate increase in robbery and armed robbery after the gun control went into effect in 1996.
The Quora web site disputes this, noting that while there are no outright bans on gun ownership in the U,S., Chicago (Obama's town), New York, and Washington D.C. have regulations that make firearms ownership so onerous that they are essentially bans.
Wikipedia lists gun laws by state.
The only people who are allowed to carry sidearms - revolvers and pistols - in Israel are active or retired IDF officers. A few settlers recently have been allowed to carry weapons, but they are the exception, not the rule.
In the Several States, most citizens are allowed not only to own rifles, shotguns, and sidearms, but they are - after being vetted by the state in which they reside - permitted to carry a concealed weapon. Some states - and more are considering the option - also allow "open carry" - where the firearm is carried where is can be seen.
There have been studies after studies that allege that places where citizens have the right to own - and carry - firearms have LESS crime than places with strict gun control (e.g., Chicago, New York, Washington D.C.). Most anti-gun people - and that includes many Jews - have to admit that most crimes committed with weapons are committed with stolen weapons. The anti-gun people will suggest that the weapons were stolen from the homes of persons legally allowed to own the weapons, ignoring the fact that many weapons, in particular assault rifles and automatics, were brought over the boarder illegally.
Regardless, in most places in the U.S., citizens are allowed to own guns and are allowed to defend themselves with those guns. Even in areas that ban carrying guns, weapons may be kept in homes for self-defense.
That's more than allowed in Israel.
Again - no guns, few police.
Israelis who obey the laws are easy victims of people wielding knifes, guns, and large rocks.
Attackers in Israel know that they have an excellent chance of escaping from both the crime scene and prosecution.
For me, it's not so much the political belegan nor the frequency of Histridrut strikes - admittedly fewer than when I lived in Israel (1975-79), or even the tax bite (that new olim can avoid). It's not even the language, especially for English speakers. Don't misunderstand, those things do bother me, especially the politics.
But here in the Several States I am one of many observant Jews who own a firearm and who know when - and when not - to use it. Because I live in an area with too much violence to the south of us and too much violence to the north of us, many members of the congregation, including the rabbi, have applied for, and received, concealed carry licenses.
(I don't know why some Jews are so anti-gun; perhaps they fail to study history, both modern and ancient. )
No, Mr. Leibler, until I can defend myself and my family, I won't even consider living in Israel again.
Visit, of course. But take up residence? Not the way the laws are now.
