LAKEWOOD, NJ – New Jerseyans are seeking to arm themselves in light of the terrorist attack in Israel by Hamas on October 7th. The prospect that terrorism could strike home in the form of armed terrorists showing up at their with the intent to kill them is now a real one for many residents in and around Lakewood Township.
Lakewood, a city of over 100,000 residents, is a predominantly Orthodox Jewish community; the largest in America outside of New York City is seeing a gun boom like never before experienced in the community.
Lakewood Township is seeing a firearms permit application boom, according to Lakewood Police Chief Greg Meyers. The influx comes after the October 7th 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. The numbers are also increasing in nearby Jackson and Toms River, home to large Orthodox Jewish populations.
Meyers also confirmed that there has been a surge in concealed carry weapons permits in the community.
While New Jersey’s Jewish residents are arming themselves for self-defense, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, his wife Tammy (running for U.S. Senate), and New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim are pledging to put obstacles between them and the guns they need to protect their homes and families from a possible attack.
Kim has proposed a federal firearms license and the banning of most semi-automatic rifles, which he incorrectly identifies as assault rifles.
Murphy also promised that he’s not done banning guns. The governor and his wife Tammy are among those who want to see a federal and state ‘assault weapon’ ban. After introducing the country’s strictest gun laws in 2022, Murphy isn’t done yet.
He has said many times he wants more bans on certain types of firearms and ammunition. Like Kim, Murphy also wants to see gun owners take mandatory certification courses before being issued permits.
His wife, Tammy, who is running for U.S. Senate, also seeks to disarm New Jerseyans and has lobbied for stricter gun rules in a state that has the most strict laws already in the nation.
“We owe it to our children and grandchildren to fight for abortion rights, end the epidemic of gun violence, address climate change, and protect our democracy. Will you join me?” Tammy Murphy posted on Twitter.
Under the Murphys’ proposed gun laws, residents of New Jersey, including Orthodox Jews seeking to defend their homes from terrorists, would face significant hurdles and bureaucratic red tape intended to dissuade them from the process entirely.
On any given day, Lakewood’s two gun ranges have also seen a buzz in activity since the October 7th attack in Israel. Orthodox Jewish residents are doing what they can to make sure they are not the next victims of Hamas-sponsored terrorism.
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 in Lakewood.