A private Melbourne gym that teaches Israeli army combat techniques is set to teach civilians how to use firearms like snipers in the Israeli Defence Force and Israeli police and security services.
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Participants have paid $599 for the one-day class, which will include use of a firearm and 250 rounds of ammunition. However, participants have been encouraged to bring their own equipment.
News of the shooting course, which sold out in 24 hours, comes amid heightened anxiety about terrorism in Australia.
The course, "Intro to Israeli Tactical Shooting", is being offered by IDF Training, a Caufield gym co-owned by former Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldier Avi Yemini.
The gym is best known for its courses in Krav Maga, a form of combat training used by the Israeli army and wildly popular as a form of self defence.
Mr Yemini said the mentality behind Krav Maga and tactical shooting techniques used by the IDF was similar.
"An example would be always moving forward," he said. "It's changing the mentality in your head to break away from being a victim to being an aggressor."
IDF Training offered the shooting lessons to everyone on its mailing list, subject to them holding a gun licence.
But Mr Yemini insisted he was satisfied that enough checks had been made to weed out unsuitable participants. "We have our own way," he said. "I can't really go into it".
Mr Yemini said the gym had a waiting list for future classes, which he hoped to run monthly.
The shooting class is to be run by Lior Offenbach, a former IDF infantry soldier-turned Israeli Police Force detective, who boasts on his website that he has experience dealing with "large violent riots" and "violent offenders from all walks of life".
According to an email IDF Training sent to members of its gym, the shooting course "will go from basic through to advanced Israeli tactical shooting techniques and its application under stress".
It specifies that participants must have a gun licence to attend the course, which will be run at the Oakleigh Pistol Club, but it does not restrict participants to over-18s or those who have gone through police checks.
Victoria Police was not aware of the course until contacted by The Age, but a spokeswoman said it is making inquiries with the Oakleigh Pistol Club to make sure the classes comply with legislation.
"Participants in any type of handgun training or practice are required to hold a handgun licence under Section 15 of the Firearms Act 1996 or be a person under the instruction and supervision of someone appropriately licensed and comply with their legislative responsibilities."
The Oakleigh Pistol Club was contacted for comment.
