With the High Holidays approaching and antisemitism continuing to rise due to tensions over the war, Jewish communities and individuals are looking for any way they can defend themselves, including unorthodox ones, according to Fox News.
In addition to paid and armed guards at community institutions, Jews - especially those who live in places with strict gun control laws or who are averse to owning and using firearms - are reportedly also turning to a non-lethal weapon called the Byrna launcher.
According to the producer's chief marketing officer, Luan Pham, the Byrna expels a kinetic round which hurts, but does not kill, creating the sensation of one's skin being on fire for about half an hour.
An additional advantage of this weapon is it requires no license or background checks, and people can train with it wherever they wish without having to worry about running afoul of the law or safety regulations.
Pham said that the company witnessed a major increase in purchases from the Jewish community following October 7 and the subsequent increase in antisemitism in the United States.