Israel’s President Isaac Herzog didn’t mince words as he concluded his four-day visit to Australia, labeling the surging antisemitism there frightening and worrying. Protests dogged him at every turn—angry mobs chanting slogans that echoed the darkest chapters of history, from Sydney to Melbourne. This isn’t just a diplomatic dust-up; it’s a stark snapshot of how quickly civilized societies can slide into mob-rule intolerance when free speech protections fray and self-defense rights are neutered. Herzog’s despair underscores a global pattern: where governments disarm their citizens, minority communities become sitting ducks for hatred’s predators.

For the 2A community, this hits close to home—and it’s a clarion call. Australia’s strict gun laws, born from the 1996 Port Arthur hysteria, have left Jews and other vulnerable groups defenseless amid rising threats. Remember the 2019 Halle synagogue attack in Germany or the 2022 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting? Armed good guys with rifles stopped further carnage. In Oz, where even basic self-defense tools are criminalized, Herzog’s entourage needed heavy police protection just to navigate protests that turned violent. Contrast that with armed congregants in U.S. synagogues who’ve thwarted attacks—data from the Crime Prevention Research Center shows permit holders stop crimes 94% of the time without firing a shot. Australia’s experiment proves disarmament doesn’t breed peace; it invites emboldened antisemites who know the state monopoly on force favors the aggressor.

The implications ripple worldwide: as antisemitism spikes—up 400% post-October 7 per ADL reports—nations like Australia expose the folly of gun control utopias. For pro-2A advocates, Herzog’s wake-up serves as ammo in the culture war: self-reliance isn’t paranoia, it’s providence. When governments fail to protect (or worse, appease radicals), the right to keep and bear arms ensures communities don’t despair—they defend. Time to double down on educating allies Down Under and fortifying our own ramparts.