This is What Gun Control Looks Like Across the World

Discourse about gun control has been incredibly heated in the United States in the light of an immense number of gun-related homicide cases. Talking and discussing with others about this topic can turn hostile quickly, as many people have strong emotional ties to the discourse, its flaws, and its implications. However, it can be incredibly eye-opening to examine how other countries handle and control the use of guns to help eliminate gun related deaths. This is a brief look at some countries who have drastically different gun laws than the United States.

The United States

The conception of the Second Amendment was the catalyst for courts of law to consistently allow states the right to regulate firearms independently. The Second Amendment has constantly been cited to be an essential right, fundamentally given to U.S. citizens by the Constitution.

Americans own the most guns per person in the world, according to a 2017 Pew Center Study. Additionally, around 310 million firearms exist in the U.S. that are freely available for American citizens. There are more mass shootings in the U.S. than in any other country in the world, and according to the World Health Organization, the U.S. has one of the highest rates of death by firearm in the developed world. While two-thirds of American gun owners say the reason they own a gun is for their own protection, the majority of America’s firearm related deaths are attributed to gun-related suicide, which is eight times higher in the U.S. than in other high income nations.

Analysts cite not only the huge amount of guns in the U.S. as responsible for these harrowing statistics, but also the process through which someone can obtain a gun legally. While federal law in the U.S. creates their own gun laws, they are incredibly small, and individual states often create their own laws to supplement them.

To purchase a firearm legally in the United States, you must pass a background check. Private sellers often do not require background checks, so this can be easily avoided.

Canada

In Canada, federal legislation creates restrictions across the country, but provinces, territories, and municipalities all supplement the restrictions. Most gun laws in Canada were made in response to gun violence, specifically the Montreal massacre in 1989. The 1995 Firearms Act required owners to be licensed and required registration of long guns (rifles and shotguns), and additionally banned more than half of all registered guns. However, in 2012, the long gun registry was scrapped because of expenses. Yet in 2016, there were only 130 handgun deaths in Canada compared to 7,105 in the U.S.

To purchase a firearm legally in Canada, you must:

1.  prove that you are in a club, go to a range, or are a collector;
2.  complete a safety course and pass a written and practical test;
3.  have two references;
4.  apply for a permit with a 28 day waiting period pass a background check  on criminal history, mental health, and drug addiction; 
5. and register any handguns with the police before taking it home.

Australia

In 1996, Australia was hit by the Port Arthur massacre, which was the worst mass shooting in Australia’s history. Less than two weeks after the massacre, the conservative government changed their gun laws at a fundamental level to regulate the possession and usage of guns in the country. The national agreement on firearms prohibited automatic and semiautomatic assault rifles, made more regulated licensing and ownership rules, and made a temporary gun buyback program that took 650,000 assault weapons out of circulation.  Australia has had declining gun death rates, and no mass shootings since 1996. 

To purchase a firearm legally in Australia, you must: 

1. join a hunting or shooting club, or document that you are a collector; 
2. complete a course on firearm safety, pass a written assessment; 
3. acquire a regulated safe and ammo storage;
4. pass a review of criminal history, domestic violence, restraining orders and arrest history; 
5. have interviews of your family and neighbors;
6. apply for a permit for a specific weapon with a 28 day waiting period.

Israel

In Israel, military service is required for every able-bodied 18 year old, who are psychologically screened and take weapons training. After serving 2-3 years, most Israelis are discharged and must follow the usual civilian gun laws. There is an assault weapons ban and a very limited supply of bullets available to a gun owner, which rests at usually around 50 bullets.

There is some criticism about the gun laws in Israel. Since most of the population has indirect access to high powered assault weapons through family or friends who are in the military, some believe weapons should be even more regulated. However, there is an incredibly low gun death rate in Israel.

To purchase a firearm legally in Israel, you must:

1. be a citizen or permanent resident;
2. be at least 21;
3. speak some Hebrew;
4. register as a gun owner;
5. join a club, prove you work in a dangerous area, or live in an area authorized for gun ownership; 
6. get a doctor’s note that says that you are mentally healthy and have no history of drug abuse; 
7. have proper firearm storage; 
8. release criminal and mental health history to officials; 
9. and demonstrate that you can use the weapon correctly at a firing range.

Japan

Japan has the lowest gun homicide rate in the world. Under Japan’s Firearm and Sword law, the only guns available to citizens are shotguns, air guns, guns that are needed for research or industrial purposes, or competition guns. To even obtain one of these accepted guns, you must have formal instruction, pass several mental, physical, written, and drug tests, and a rigorous background check. Gun-owning citizens also have to be incredibly open with authorities about how the weapon and ammo is stored and go through a yearly firearm inspection.

Most analysts believe that Japan has an “aversion to firearms,” which would be a side effect of the demilitarization of Japan after World War II. The overall crime rate in Japan remains extremely low.

To purchase a firearm legally in Japan, you must:

1. take a firearm class and pass a written exam up to three times a year;
2. get a doctor’s note saying that you are mentally fit and have no history with drugs;
3. acquire a permit to take firing training which takes up to a month;
4. participate in a police interview which takes up to a month;
5. pass a review of your criminal history, gun possession record, employment, debt, and relationships with family, friends, and neighbors;
6. apply for a gunpowder permit;
7. take a one day training class and pass a firing test;
8. obtain a certificate from a gun dealer that describes the gun you are purchasing;
9. apply for a hunting license (if you’re a hunter);
10. buy a regulated gun safe and ammunition locker, allow police to inspect your gun storage;
11. and pass an additional background review.

Works Cited

Masters, Jonathan. “Gun Control Around the World: A Primer.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 13 Jan. 2016, www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/01/worldwide-gun-control-policy/423711/.

Carlsen, Audrey, and Sahil Chinoy. “How to Buy a Gun in 16 Countries.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Mar. 2018, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/03/02/world/international-gun-laws.html. 

Fox, Kara. “America’s Gun Culture vs. the World.” CNN, Cable News Network, 6 Aug. 2019, www.cnn.com/2017/10/03/americas/us-gun-statistics/index.html. Fletcher, Robson. “Canada Gun Facts: Here Are the Latest Stats on Firearm Deaths, Injuries and Crime | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 31 Aug. 2018, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canada-gun-facts-crime-accidental-shootings-suicides-1.4803378.