As is often stated in the wake of tragedies involving firearms, 'It's not guns that kill. It's people with guns who kill.' No one needs to be taught that guns can be extremely dangerous tools that if misused can result in horrific tragedies.
But this reality of course sits alongside the fact that when used properly, a gun can and does save lives. The underlying distinction therefore is who is using it and for what purpose.
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When examining gun ownership and use, it is critical that every gun owner fully understand the responsibility placed in his or her hands. For that reason, there is a high level of social and governmental oversite to make every effort to ensure that guns are only put in the hands of those who can fully understand and accept that responsibility.
Significant regulatory effort deserves to be in place to ensure that those afforded a gun license completely understand 'rules of engagement' - which means that use of weapons is reserved only for those instances where there is a direct threat to human life that could be negated by the use of the firearm. They further need to understand that a gun is by definition a tool that if not properly used, stored and guarded, can easily lead to tragic injury or death of innocents.
Additional effort needs to be placed into both educating and publicizing those dangers. Significant training, both on the dangers and use of guns, must be a prerequisite for anyone being provided with a firearm.
It is also important that every effort be made to avoid creating a culture where gun ownership loses the seriousness which Israel has succeeded to maintain until now. We need to be ever-careful to avoid a situation where mass distribution of guns makes people feel emboldened to the point of recklessness, or where gun violence will become a reflection of bravado – as we know exists in other cultures and societies.
One can certainly understand the urgency which many Israelis feel to gain access to the tools to help secure themselves and their families. But we cannot fall into a trap where "fast-tracking" approval processes would lead to an increase in tragedies or crime.
There is every reason to ensure that law-abiding, responsible citizens and members of Rapid Response Teams (Kitot Konenut) are given those tools. But the path between that process and dangerous proliferation of weapons into the hands of people not willing or trained to accept that responsibility, is a very narrow one.
Ultimately, the weight of this decision must be shared equally between the authorities who regulate gun licensing and the individuals who will carry that license and weapon. Gun owners must invest proper time and resources in gaining a high-level of familiarity with the weapon and be trained to use it safely and effectively if the need should ever arise.
They must go over and over those rules of engagement, and if they reach a point in time where there is no longer a benefit or encounter a physical limitation that will impact their ability to act effectively, they will hand over the weapon.
At a time and place in our nation's history where we are confronting far too much tragic loss, it is our utmost social and moral responsibility to avoid any unnecessary injury or loss of life – while still accepting the fact that we are also required to pursue those paths which can protect us and our families.
