Old News That Remains New (II)

In January of this year, The Guardian published a useful brief Licensed to Kill? How Gun Laws Vary Around the World. The brief presents a two-line summary of gun laws in 16 countries around the world. Since it is so short, I am including the entire text of the brief below.

Australia: Ownership is strictly prohibited unless there are “genuine reasons” such as licensed sport, animal control or employment requirements.

Brazil: If you are over 25 and have registered a weapon, you are free to keep it indoors. The country has the second-highest gun-related death rate after the US.

Canada:  Significantly stricter than the neighbouring US. To acquire a licence, applicants must undertake a safety course, pass a criminal records check and be certified by a firearms officer.

China: Civilians are not allowed guns, except for hunting and protection from wildlife. The illegal sale of arms can be punished by death sentence.

India: Gun ownership is a “privilege” under the Arms Act of 1959, allowing civilians to have a licence if they can prove that there is a “threat to life”.

Czech Republic: Liberal laws compared with the rest of Europe. Applicants must pass a questionnaire on firearms, have no criminal record and show ID proving they are over 21.

Austria: Also liberal. Guns are classified by four categories – the lowest, for non-repeating shotguns, requires no registration for over-18s.

Germany: The Federal Weapons Act (1972) restricts everything apart from replica guns to over-18s, who must pass checks for “trustworthiness, knowledge and adequacy”.

Italy: Citizens can have up to three “common” handguns in their home, but if they want to hunt or carry a concealed weapon they must apply for a licence.

Japan: Licensing requirements are strict and gun deaths are among the lowest in the world.

Mexico: Strict laws apply for ownership, including criminal records checks. However, there are growing concerns that smuggling from the US is undermining these regulations.

Norway: Since 1989, no registration has been required for buying a shotgun over the counter. There are an estimated 500,000 unregistered guns in homes. However, gun crime is very low.

Russia: Hand guns and fully automatics are prohibited, but over-18s with no criminal record can apply for a licence for shotguns and air rifles. Self defence is not an excuse for carrying firearms outside the home.

Switzerland: All able-bodied men between 20 and 34 are required to have fully automatic firearms in their homes in case of a call-up to the army under the doctrine of “universal conscription”. Others may own weapons for hunting but need a licence. A referendum is to be held next year to determine whether stricter gun laws should be introduced.

UK: Anyone sentencved to three years or more in prison is banned from holding a licence. A licence is needed for any firearm except low-powered air rifles/pistols. Self-defence is not a valid reason for ownership. The country has one of the world’s lowest gun crime rates.

USA: Fully automatic firearms are legal in most states. However, you need a criminal records check and must pay $200 registration tax. In 2004, there were 29,569 gun-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

© 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

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