Are Guns Muktzah on Shabbos?

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com

Recently, at a wedding in Lakewood, New Jersey, the gentleman seated next to me had asked whether guns are Muktzah on Shabbos or not.  He claimed that the general trend among Rabbis of shuls in current times is to forbid it on account of Muktzah and their feeling that in our times, it really is not a matter of pikuach nefesh.

This author believes that the two topics are, in truth, unrelated.  The underlying issue with guns is whether they are considered a kli sh’melachto l’issur or a kli sh’melachto leheter.

But first, a brief overview of Muktzah.  When Klal Yisroel returned from Bavel at the time before the second Bais HaMikdash was built, Nechemiah noticed that Shabbos observance was in a dire state.  He, therefore enacted a period of “Super Muktzah.”  Back then, Nechemiah forbade both using and moving almost every utensil – except for food utensils.  When things came back to a more normal state of Shabbos observance, we still kept some aspects of Muktzah – and that is how our current state of Muktzah halachos was born (See Meseches Shabbos 123b).  True, there were some Muktzah halachos during Dovid HaMelech and Shlomo Hamelech’s time, but primarily, this was when Muktzah started.  The Rambam (Hilchos Shabbos 24:12-13) lists 3 reasons for the Muktzah halachos and the Raavad adds a fourth.

During the period of “Back to Normal Shabbos Observance” – three (or four) different categories of utensils and seven different categories of Muktzah developed.  We will begin with the four different types of utensils, then we will discuss guns.

• Kli she’melachto leheter – this is a utensil, vessel, or tool whose primary purpose or use is permitted on Shabbos. This category includes a table, chair or a tissue box.  It may be moved if one needs to use it (letzorech gufo) or if one needs the place where it is now at (letzorech mekomo) or if it can get damaged if its stays there.  It may NOT BE MOVED for no reason at all (See SA OC 308:4). It can be abbreviated as KSH.
• Kli sh’melachto le’issur – this is a utensil, vessel, or tool whose primary purpose or use is forbidden on Shabbos. This category includes a hammer, screwdriver, or cheap cell phone. It may be moved if one needs the place where it is now, or for a permitted use for it, such as breaking open a walnut [with the hammer.]  It may not be moved to avoid damaging it (such as if it is left out in the rain), and it certainly may not be moved for no reason at all.  It can be abbreviated as KSI.
• Non-Kli – not a utensil, vessel or tool. This item is completely Muktzah.
• Completely Non-Muktzah – This includes food and seforim which can be moved even with no reason at all. And some are of the opinion (See Mishna Brurah 308:23) that this category includes all silverware, plasticware (not just knives), and drinkware, and all clothing.  Other Poskim (see Ben Ish Chai II Parshas Mikeitz) that they are in KSH – see above.

GUNS

The Klausenberger Rebbe zt”l in his Divrei Yatziv (Orach Chaim Siman 148) writes that in contemporary  times the main use and purpose of guns is not to fire it, but rather to act as a deterrent to create a feeling of trepidation.  Indeed, he points out that the general law is that it may not be fired (and doing so will trigger an investigation).  On account of this, a gun would be viewed as a KSH and not a KSI.  It is therefore not a problem of Muktzah.  Even if the gun is hidden in a holster, since its primary use in general is for deterrence – it is not considered a KSI.

This is also the view of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l as cited in Meor Hashabbos Vol I letter 11:5.

THE CHAZON ISH’S VIEW

The Sefer B’Tzedek Tishpot (p. 171) by Rabbi Hillel Katzenellenbogen cites the Kovaitz Nachalei Daas which cites the response of the Chazon Ish about carrying a rifle in a camp ground.  He responded that in regard to the carrying [since there is an eiruv] it is a non-issue and as far as Muktzah goes, he should also carry some walnuts and occasionally use the end of the rifle to crack open the nuts.  It would thus be considered permitted to carry the rifle since it is now l’tzorech gufo.  It is this author’s view that the vast majority of people in eretz Yisroel hold of the first view and not the latter.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

There is a wonderful young lady who needs to get to seminary in Eretz Yisroel. The parents are divorced, the father is not of much assistance unfortunately, and the mother is struggling financially – but works all day. The sum of $11,500 more for tuition is needed . Rabbi Yair Hoffman knows the situation and vouches for the need. [the 2500 more is for spending money too]. Someone is working on getting the plane ticket paid for/Tizku l’Mitzvos!