I live in southern Tel Aviv, in the Shapira neighborhood. One of my direct neighbors is an elderly man, probably around 80 years old. He lives alone, and the only times I usually see him are during rocket alarms, when he slowly makes his way down our long staircase. He walks with a stick and moves very slowly, often needing assistance just to reach the shelter.

What strikes me every time is that he always carries a pistol in a leather holster on his belt.  It feels unsettling to me — seeing someone so frail, who struggles just to get down the stairs, still walking around with a firearm. It makes me think about how normalized guns are in everyday life here, even in situations where they seem unnecessary or even unsafe.

Eventhogh It did not impact the immediate surroundings. But it makes me uncomfortable, it feels unsafe for him to carry a gun.

In hindsight, I think what unsettles me most is not just him as an individual but what his gun represents. It shows how deeply firearms are woven into everyday life here, even for people who may not be able to use them responsibly