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.
“I have a lot of people coming in saying that they’ve never thought they’d be in this position where they had to purchase own or train with a firearm,” Florida Gun Store owner David Kowalsky told Fox News. “And they’re coming in and wanting more information on how to obtain one train with one and to be able to protect their family and loved ones.”
Veteran New York-based political strategist and Orthodox rabbi 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.”
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 by a staggering 217 percent from 2017 to 2021, according to data previously compiled by the Anti-Defamation League.
This comes after the Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel and invaded towns along the Gaza border earlier last month, killing at least 700 people. The death toll has so far risen to 1,200, according to IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus.
The attack has since prompted Israel to declare war against the terrorist group with a ruthless aerial campaign that has flattened homes, schools, medical institutions, and government buildings in the Gaza Strip.
Kowalsky said he has known people who have received direct threats since the war began one month ago following Hamas’ unprecedented massacre of the Israeli people.
“Aside from neighborhoods being vandalized, synagogues, areas… saying they want to kill Jews and direct threats, they are very conscientious, very worried about what is going on around them and around the country in general.,” the gun store owner said.
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.
