Minnesota Jews Turn to Gun Clubs Amid Surge in Antisemitism

New data shows 9 in 10 American Jews feel less safe as antisemitic incidents rise, leading some Minnesota Jews to join gun clubs for a sense of security.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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As antisemitism surges across America, Jews in Minnesota are turning to gun clubs like Lox and Loaded to learn firearm safety and find a sense of personal security. The Minnesota chapter of Lox and Loaded, part of a growing national organization, has seen a surge in membership from Jews who have never owned or used guns before, driven by fears over the rise in antisemitic incidents reported by the American Jewish Committee.

Why it matters

The rise in antisemitism nationwide has left many American Jews feeling increasingly unsafe, with 9 out of 10 reporting they feel less secure. This has led some Minnesota Jews to seek out firearm training and gun club membership, a shift from the historical stigma many in the Jewish community have had around gun ownership.

The details

Lox and Loaded, an all-Jewish gun club, has seen its Minnesota chapter grow rapidly in the last two months, with over 30 people attending the first meeting. The club's founder, Leslie Chudnoff, a retired librarian, says many of their new members are Jews who have never handled guns before but are driven by fear over the rise in antisemitic incidents. The club provides training on gun safety, storage, and laws, as well as a sense of community and personal protection.

  • The Lox and Loaded Minnesota chapter was founded in January 2026.
  • The club holds meetings on the second Tuesday of every month.

The players

Lox and Loaded

A national organization of all-Jewish gun clubs, with 43 active chapters across 20 states and over 1,000 members.

Leslie Chudnoff

The founder of the Minnesota chapter of Lox and Loaded, a retired librarian who started trap shooting years ago and has now organized the club to provide a sense of security for Jewish Minnesotans amid rising antisemitism.

American Jewish Committee

A nonprofit organization that conducts an annual survey on the state of antisemitism in America, finding in 2025 that 9 out of 10 Jews in the U.S. feel less safe and nearly 1 in 3 have been the target of antisemitic incidents.

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What they’re saying

“(He said) they're all Jewish, they're all very concerned. They've never held guns before, they've never considered owning a gun, they felt there was sort of a stigma to it – all the sudden they want to learn how to shoot. They don't just learn how to shoot a gun, they want to learn about gun safety – they want to know about safe storage, they want to know about the laws for owning a gun. They want to know about protecting themselves, because people are scared.”

— Leslie Chudnoff, Founder, Lox and Loaded Minnesota chapter (WCCO)

“I don't walk around in fear, because I know I can protect myself, but I'm watchful.”

— Leslie Chudnoff, Founder, Lox and Loaded Minnesota chapter (WCCO)

What’s next

The Lox and Loaded Minnesota chapter plans to continue holding monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month, providing a space for Jewish Minnesotans to learn about firearm safety and find a sense of community and security amid rising antisemitism.

The takeaway

The surge in antisemitism across America has left many Jewish communities feeling increasingly unsafe, leading some Minnesota Jews to turn to gun clubs like Lox and Loaded as a way to learn self-defense skills and find a sense of personal protection, a shift from the historical stigma around gun ownership in the Jewish community.