Knesset tightens gun control with no opposition

Stricter gun control, requiring regular psychological tests for gun-owners, was voted into law with no opposition Tuesday night.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Gun [illustrative] 370 (photo credit: REUTERS/Carlo Allegri )
Gun [illustrative] 370
(photo credit: REUTERS/Carlo Allegri )
Stricter gun control, requiring regular psychological tests for gun owners, was voted into law with no opposition on Tuesday night.
The law, drafted by MK David Tsur (Hatnua), requires that a person undergo psychological assessment before he or she can get a gun license.
The gun owner will have to be examined by a psychologist at least once every six years to renew the license. Security guards’ employers will pay at least half of the cost of the psychological exam.
The Welfare and Social Services Ministry’s director-general will have to forward information to the gun licensing authorities about anyone under the ministry’s care who has a gun and could pose a danger to himself or the public.
According to the law’s text, it is meant to “plug loopholes” in previous laws.
“In recent years, there were cases in which people who had gun licenses killed others with their guns, and then turned out to have psychological problems,” Tsur explained.
The bill passed its final vote with six MKs in favor and none opposed.