Illustration photo
Photo: Visual/Photos
License to kill?
Following the controversial arrest of farmer Shai Dromi, who shot and killed a Bedouin burglar in December, lawmakers were quick to propose a bill permitting the shooting of offenders. The US has enforced a similar law; legislators say it will deter trespassers. Opponents of the new bill say it constitutes a death sentence for innocent trespassers and grants citizens higher authority than police officers
| Arieh Amit - former Jerusalem police chief |  | Yossi Sedbon – former Tel Aviv police chief | | | | |
Arieh Amit - former Jerusalem police chief
One of the greatest problems facing the State of Israel is the consideration given to the offending party, which exceeds the consideration given to innocent citizens. This was true and still holds true in everything pertaining to innocent persons sleeping in their beds: When an armed burglar enters their homes, citizens are limited in the action they can take against the perpetrator.
חזור למעלהOne should simply refer to the trivial sentence that says a "man's home is his castle" and take it seriously. Our police force is small and weak, and in turn the confidence of criminals has grown constantly in recent years. Their fear of the police is currently almost zero, and they do whatever they wish.
Controversial Proposal
Tsvika Brot
A draft bill allowing homeowners to attack, even kill, intruders passes first reading in Knesset, causing split between opponents and supporters
As of late, we have been witnessing numerous break-ins to private homes that inevitably end in terrible burglaries. The State and legislators simply tell citizens to turn a blind eye to such violations. This is totally unacceptable.
This is why I greatly favor the proposed bill, and in my opinion there is no reason why citizens shouldn't be permitted to carry firearms. However, there is one compulsory condition: The State has to learn how to adequately monitor the provision of licenses to carry arms.
Also, it has to ensure that anyone carrying arms knows how to use them properly - the State has not been able to do this for several years.
As far as I am concerned, let them issue firearm licenses and let them determine that they can only be used at home. I think this is the right direction. It's about time offenders began to fear a little more than do our innocent and honest citizens.
Yossi Sedbon – former Tel Aviv police chief
The proposed bill suggests expanding the right of self-defense, which until now was limited to saving life, even when it relates to property. Today, one can threaten the life of the attacker only when the attack continues; this is a rule based on the principle of a life for a life. The proposed bill attempts, for the first time, to threaten human life in a bid to save property.
חזור למעלהIn my opinion, the means for achieving the desired goal is inappropriate and disproportionate. For the sake of argument, when police officers make an arrest they are entitled to use firearms and shoot at a suspect's foot, but this is only as a last resort, namely, if the offender endangers human life and the shots is necessary to prevent it. A police officer cannot shoot at every burglar caught stealing a TV set. That is, police officers are also limited.
The new law will give citizens, who are often not trained to use the firearms in their possession, greater authority than police officers. This can lead to a situation whereby a trespasser would mistakenly be identified as a burglar and shot.
This proposal is far-fetched. The moment a bullet is fired it cannot be taken back. If a person mistakenly kills someone the situation is irreversible, and therefore the permission to open fire should be limited.
Although the proposal limits the use of firearms – they can only be used at night –other ways of limiting fire should also be considered, such as an initial warning shot fired into the air. I imagine the proposed bill will undergo various amendments and will not be approved in its current form.
The new law could indeed cause great tragedies of the type that would make it to newspaper headlines.
