Aiming to allow security guards to keep their personal firearms after work hours, the Knesset plenary today (Tuesday) approved in its first reading a bill introduced by MK Limor Son Har-Melech. The proposal seeks to eliminate the current requirement for guards to return their weapons at the end of each shift.
The bill passed with the support of 40 Members of Knesset, with six opposed. It will now proceed to the National Security Committee for further discussion and preparation ahead of its second and third readings.
Personal weapons beyond work hours
According to the proposed law, guards who have completed all mandatory background checks, training, and certification will be allowed to carry their personal weapons even when they are off duty. The legislation aims to remove the obligation to surrender weapons at the close of the workday. The bill was prompted by a series of recent terror attacks in which rapid armed responses from civilians and guards prevented greater tragedies.
“A life-saving bill”
During the debate, MK Limor Son Har-Melech stated: “This bill saves lives. It’s straightforward, practical, and avoids theoretical balancing acts. It’s here to fix a simple injustice—the fact that a guard is asked to give up his weapon precisely when he’s most vulnerable.”
Addressing criticism from opponents concerned about armed guards during their personal time, she added: “There are those stoking fear in the name of ‘protecting women’—as if a guard suddenly becomes a threat the moment he takes off his vest. These are baseless and outrageous claims.”
