LAKEWOOD, NJ – Lakewood Township is seeing a firearms permit application boom, according to Lakewood Police Chief Greg Meyers. The influx comes after the October 6th terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel that claimed over 1,000 innocent lives.
Meyers confirmed over 700 new gun permit applications have been filed in November alone, marking a significant increase over historical data.
He also confirmed that there has been a surge in concealed carry weapons permits in the community.
On any given day, Lakewood’s two gun ranges have also seen a buzz in activity since the October 6th attack in Israel.
Lakewood, a city of over 100,000 residents, is a predominantly Orthodox Jewish community, the largest in America outside of New York City.
Meyers said his staff is working diligently to process and approve all valid applications although they keep coming in.
Lakewood is on heightened alert with extra police patrols by county and state law enforcement officials since the October terrorist attack in Israel. Last week, an inert grenade was found tied to a utility pole outside a synagogue on Lakewood.