2 days ago
Lox & Loaded gun club aims for self-defense for Jewish community amid antisemitism threat
Lox & Loaded — it's the catchy name behind a new gun club formed in Chicago.
The gun club is aimed at giving Jews and allies the tools to defend themselves with antisemitism at historic levels in the U.S.
On a recent Saturday morning, Gayle Pearlstein was not observing the Jewish sabbath in the traditional sense. She was instead leading a weekly ritual of a different kind — in the form of target practice at Article II Range in Lombard.
"It's never been easy being Jewish, but it's feeling harder and harder," said Lox & Loaded Member Jeffrey Sumber.
"I think people that were in liberal households, or weren't accustomed to firearms, are realizing that the police cannot be at every street corner and every event," added Pearlstein.
Most pulling the trigger at the Lombard gun range are inexperienced shooters — like retired psychologist Dr. Marla Friedman.
"I do not want to shoot anybody, but I don't want to be unprepared," Friedman said.
Others in the class said they have never had an interest in guns until recently.
"I never thought that I would own guns or shoot guns as a hobby," said Lox & Loaded member Josh Weiner.
"We aren't big Second Amendment gun people, but we love our identity, and we will do anything to preserve it," said Daniel Schwartz, president of the Chicago Jewish Alliance, "and if that means defending it, we will."
Pearlstein, a firearms instructor with Lucky Star Tactical, started Lox & Loaded.
"Lox & Loaded is a shooting club for people of Jewish heritage and their allies," she said. "We are 100% inclusive."
The Lox & Loaded chapter that practices at the Article II range is just one of several chapters that meets regularly in the Chicago suburbs and a handful of other states.
Pearlstein said since launching Lox & Loaded in March, more than 200 people have signed up. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Pearlstein said sales for firearm instruction have jumped some 60%.
"You are your first defender," she said, "and that's where we come in. That's where we're training you safely."
FBI data from last year showed that anti-Jewish hate crimes made up nearly 70% of all religion-based hate crimes. According to the State of Antisemitism in America report published in February, 33% of American Jews say they personally have been targets of antisemitism in person or online once this past year.
In June, a man was arrested for throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, who supported the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in October 2023.
Weeks earlier, a Chicago man was arrested in a shooting that killed two Israeli embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
Hate crime and terrorism charges were also announced late last year after a Jewish man was shot while walking to synagogue in West Rogers Park — though the suspect in that case later died in custody.
Back at the range in Lombard, members of Lox & Loaded said they were drawn to the class due to the increase in antisemitic incidents and rhetoric.
"It's a cause I really believe in," Sumber said. "I'm super concerned about the state of things in the world right now."
"This is an opportunity for the Jewish community and our allies to really learn how to, you know, use the Second Amendment effectively and defensively," added Schwartz.
While Pearlstein teaches her students to avoid violent or confrontational situations, some say they want the skills to protect themselves just in case.
"I want to see every able-bodied Jew to have a gun," said Friedman.
