It is far from easy to find a silver lining coming from the bloody war between Israel and Hamas. After the terrorist group attacked the Jewish state on October 7, the conflict has continued to escalate as Israel seeks to eliminate Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But the fact that this has prompted more Jewish Americans to arm themselves is an encouraging sign.

International reactions to the war have been mixed. In the Western world, many support Israel’s right to defend itself. However, others have sided with Hamas under the guise of expressing solidarity with the plight of Palestinian civilians. But with these tensions has come a disturbing rise in antisemitic acts of violence in America and other Western nations.

Yet, if there is one positive thing that has come from these horrific tragedies, it is that more Jewish Americans finally understand the importance of responsible gun ownership and self-defense. There have been plenty of news reports revealing a sharp and encouraging increase in the number of American Jews becoming gun owners.

With threats against American Jews on the rise, many have begun seeking firearms training and purchasing weapons out of fear for the safety of their communities and families, according to interviews CNN has conducted with gun range operators, firearms instructors and Jews in the US in recent days.

The Anti-Defamation League said it recorded 312 antisemitic incidents across the United States over the first three weeks after the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas broke out, including instances of harassment and assault.

A person making death threats to Jewish people near a kosher restaurant; a Jewish-owned business vandalized with anti-Israel phrases; and a driver swerving toward Jewish children while shouting, “Allahu akbar” are among the recent hate-related encounters, according to the league.

The increase in antisemitic acts of violence is epitomized by the killing of Paul Kessler, a Jewish man who perished after being assaulted by a Hamas supporter at a rally in Thousand Oaks, California.

Kessler’s tragic fate further highlights the urgency for members of the Jewish community to be able to defend themselves. In states like Florida and Georgia, reports suggest that many Jews are obtaining firearms and getting trained against the backdrop of the Israel/Hamas war and the rise in antisemitism.

Some readers might be familiar with Black Guns Matter, an organization founded by my friend Maj Toure, who travels across the country teaching responsible gun ownership, de-escalation tactics, and other important subjects to inner city communities. He is a big proponent of the notion that it is our responsibility to defend our lives. The same holds true for the Jewish community – especially in these times, hence the headline of this article.

The various reports reveal an overwhelming sense that Jews want to make sure they are “never again” victimized by those who carry anti-Jewish bigotry. They are looking to the Second Amendment to assert their right to defend their lives against aggressors regardless of their political beliefs.

These are all welcome signs.

This demographic is understanding that when their lives are in danger, they cannot rely on the government to show up in time to protect them. As antisemites in America are becoming more emboldened to express their vile beliefs through words and deeds, it only makes sense for their would-be Jewish victims to arm themselves.

Overall, the more people, regardless of ethnicity or religion, who become gun owners, the closer America gets to being less dependent on the government. When people take responsibility for their own defense, it might not be long before they start questioning why they need the government in other areas as well.