Amid the dramatic increase in the number of weapons licenses in Israel, which doubled with over 200,000 licenses approved in the past year, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is pushing to expand a previously introduced initiative as part of the broader weapons reform, doubling the ammunition allowance.
Minister Ben Gvir explained the move, saying: “We’re not just talking about training, but about real situations on the ground – infiltrations into communities, terrorist incidents and immediate threats. Increasing the ammunition quota is a tool that allows citizens to be prepared and able to respond quickly and effectively. This is a vital step that changes the balance of security on the ground.”
The Government website currently lists the permitted quantity that a license holder may possess according to the terms of the license granted to him by the Firearms Licensing Division as 50 bullets. Since the October 7th war began, new gun owners have been permitted to purchase and keep up to 100 bullets, but existing license holders could still not go above 50.
Under the amended plan now implemented by the ministry, licensed gun holders will be allowed to possess up to 100 bullets, double the current limit of 50. Explaining the move, Ben Gvir stated that it is intended to enhance the personal security of citizens and enable a more effective response to terrorist and criminal incidents.
In order to obtain more bullets, the gun owner goes to a licensed gun broker or shooting range and purchases the bullets. The broker sends in an application form to the firearms licensing bureau, and when it is approved the buyer can pick up their additional bullets. According to the Caliber-3 shooting range in Gush Etzion, the process shouldn’t take more than a few days.
An official from the Firearms Division of the Ministry of National Security added, “Doubling the number of bullets that are allowed to be possessed is a direct lesson from the events of October 7. We witnessed cases where civilians fought terrorists with only one magazine and ran out of ammunition. This change aims to prevent such situations in the future.”
