There is regular public discussion about public gun ownership. This is almost always preceded by a shooting incident. Consider the massacre at Columbine High School in the US in 1999 or the cinema shooter who fired his machine gun into the audience in Colorado in 2012 during the premiere of a Batman film. The Norwegian Anders Breivik and ‘our own’ Tristan van der Vlis prove that it is not just an American phenomenon . In which countries are the most privately owned weapons in circulation? Below you can read the top 10 of the most weapon-rich countries. The Swiss independent research institute The Small Arms Survey has conducted research into this. This organization aims to provide the public, politicians and policymakers around the world with objective information, including about public gun ownership (www.smallarmysurvey.org.). Research by the Swiss shows that the Netherlands is not even in the top 100 of weapon-rich countries. With 3.9 weapons per 100 inhabitants we are at 112.
Top 10
- United States with 88.8 guns per 100 inhabitants.
The right to own guns is enshrined in the US Constitution. No law may prejudice that constitution. This was confirmed again by the Supreme Court in 2008. 31,000 Americans are killed by a gun every year.
2. Yemen, 54.8 weapons
It is quite easy to obtain weapons. 2,000 people are killed by firearms every year. In 2005 and 2007 the government tried to combat gun ownership with new legislation, but that turned out to be very difficult.
3. Switzerland, 45.7 weapons
All healthy adult men between the ages of 21 and 31 receive a fully automatic weapon from the government, the SIG 550, with cartridges that they must keep at home. This is in connection with being called up for the army. There are an estimated 600,000 automatic weapons owned by private individuals. In addition, 500,000 pistols. In 2010, the Swiss voted against tightening the weapons law.
4. Finland, 45.3 weapons
In Finland you can buy a weapon at the age of 15. It has to do with the hunting culture. Here too, the discussion about gun ownership flared up after shooting incidents in 2007 and 2008, but Finnish politicians decided not to tighten the rules.
5. Serbia, 37.7 weapons
Serbia has fairly strict weapons legislation. However, it is expected that there are still approximately 900,000 weapons in circulation as a legacy of the Balkan War in the early 1990s.
6. Cyprus, 36.4 weapons
Out of a total population of 870,000, there are 104,000 registered hunting weapons. The vast majority are in Greek Cypriot hands. There are fewer than 10 gun deaths in Cyprus every year.
7. Saudi Arabia, 35 weapons
In 2009, the government made it easier to buy weapons. The country has a very relaxed attitude towards gun ownership. There has been a minimum age for purchasing weapons since 2007 and there are penalties for weapons smuggling.
8. Iraq, 34.2 weapons
Before the second Gulf War, the Iraqis were already well armed. There are now stricter laws requiring registration of weapons. A permit is required to carry a weapon.
9. Uruguay, 31.8 weapons
This country has the most firearm deaths in the world after the US. There are approximately 600,000 registered weapons in circulation for the 3.5 million inhabitants and it is expected that the same number exists illegally.
10. Sweden, 31.6 weapons
Of the 9 million Swedes, 300,000 are registered as hunters. Hunting is the number 1 national sport. An adult Swede is allowed to own a maximum of six hunting rifles.