Lox & Loaded: Antisemitism spurs Jewish gun club, despite strict NY laws

 https://san.com/cc/lox-loaded-antisemitism-spurs-jewish-gun-club-despite-strict-ny-laws/

But a rise in antisemitism, along with the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel, has spurred the growth of organizations like Lox & Loaded, which describes itself as a “Jewish Owned and Operated Shooting Club.” It has opened three chapters in New York and plans another later this year, responding to a growing demand in the Jewish community for using guns for self-defense. One poll found that 56% of Jewish people said they have altered their behavior out of fear of antisemitism and hate crimes.

Werner, one of the Westchester chapter’s first members, recalled an antisemitic experience that shaped him as a 12-year-old boy waiting for a school bus in Queens, New York. 

“There is a quiet shift,” she continued. “A lot of people from all ages, mostly the older generations, are saying now is the time. People are scared. People are scared to go to synagogues. People are scared to be in Jewish communities. … A lot of people right now need to think of themselves and their families, and they’re looking for a safe way to protect themselves.”

When they’re armed, she said, “they feel safe and they feel empowered.”