This is an updated version of a previously published post.
Another mass shooting has occurred in America, this time in San Bernardino, California. Details are still emerging on the motives of the shooters, but on the heels of so many other examples of horrific, gun-related violence, President Obama and others are once again calling for new legislation to limit the availability of firearms.
It may seem obvious: the availability of guns is an important factor in gun violence. If potential perpetrators cannot access firearms, gun violence cannot occur. But how big of a role does firearm availability actually play?
After all, several other countries with relatively liberal gun laws and high rates of gun ownership have disproportionately low rates of gun-related homicide, especially compared to the United States. Here are just 5 of those nations.
5 countries with relatively liberal gun laws and low gun homicide rates
The following data comes from GunPolicy.org and from the Small Arms Survey 2007, the most recent year for which such data is available. A chart from The Washington Post shows this information next to available homicide rates.
Norway
With a strong hunting culture, it comes as no surprise that Norway has a high rate of gun ownership. The estimated rate of gun ownership is 31.3 per 100 people, the eleventh highest rate worldwide. For comparison, at least as far as we can tell, the rate of gun ownership in the United States is 88.8 guns per 100 people.
To obtain a gun in Norway, you have to provide a reason for wanting one. Hunting and shooting for sport are two commonly cited reasons. Self-defense is cited less often. Automatic weapons are illegal, and there’s a limit to the number of firearms one person can have in his or her possession.
In 2011, the year attacks by Anders Behring Breivik left 69 people dead, the rate of gun homicide was 1.43 per 100,000 people. Typically, that rate has been between 0.10 and 0.35 for the last 20 years, according to GunPolicy.org. (The rate in the United States was between 3.55 and 7.07 during the same timeframe, according to the same source.)
Sweden
Sweden’s gun laws are stricter than those in some of the other countries on this list, but that hasn’t stopped the Swedes from buying guns. Sweden has the tenth highest gun ownership rate, with 31.6 guns per 100 people.
To apply for a gun license in Sweden, individuals must pass a hunting examination or must be a member of a shooting club for at least 6 months. Sweden also restricts how many guns a single person may own: up to 10 pistols, or 6 rifles for hunting, or a mix of the two. The rate of gun ownership homicide usually hovers around 1 per 100,000 people.
Serbia
Although concealed carry permits are difficult to obtain and despite the fact that the police track all gun transactions, it’s still relatively easy to get a gun in Serbia. After obtaining a permit, citizens can purchase shotguns, rifles, and handguns. Automatic firearms are not permitted. The rate of gun ownership is 37.8 per 100 people, and the rate of homicide by guns has been in the 0.6 range in recent years.
Finland
An acquisition license is required to purchase a gun in Finland, and to get that, potential buyers must say why they want a gun. Personal protection is not considered a valid reason to obtain a license, but acquiring firearms for purposes of hunting, shooting for sport, or collecting is generally permitted.
Finland ranks right above Serbia on the list at No. 4, with a gun ownership rate of 45.3 guns per 100 people. Over the past 20 years, the rate of gun homicide has ranged between 0.21 and 0.78 per 100,00.
Switzerland
Think of a country with high gun rates and low gun violence rates, and Switzerland immediately comes to mind. According to the 2007 Small Arms Survey, Switzerland ranks No. 3 worldwide in terms of gun ownership rates, just behind the United States, which comes in at No. 1, and Yemen, which comes in at No. 2. There are an estimated 45.7 guns per 100 people in Switzerland and, from 2009 to 2013, the country’s gun homicide rate was between 0.16 and 0.31 per 100,000.
A weapon acquisition permit is required to purchase most guns. Machine guns are generally prohibited but handguns are not.
Looking beyond the numbers
Clearly, another crucial factor other than availability of guns is at play when it comes to gun violence. Guy Smith of GunFacts.info believes that the United States can learn something from the way guns are treated in other countries. “The primary lesson is that culture determines homicide rates more than anything else,” he says. “The secondary lesson is that education about and exposure to guns does no harm and may do some good. Switzerland is a prime example.” Switzerland has a history of mandatory military service for able-bodied young men, as does Finland, Norway, Sweden (suspended in 2010), and Serbia (ended in 2011).
If we could draw a straight line and show a neat correlation between the rate of gun ownership and the rate of gun homicide, we would know how to reduce gun violence in the United States. But it just isn’t that easy.
The data shows that, even in countries with relatively liberal gun laws and high rates of gun ownership like those listed above, gun homicide rates are not proportionally higher. Contrary to what we might expect, the results do not show that more guns automatically equal more gun violence. The data also shows that some countries, like Bangladesh and Sierra Leone, have low rates of gun ownership per capita yet relatively high gun homicide rates.
To address the problem of gun violence here at home, it appears we’ll have to do more than simply try to reduce the rates of gun ownership.
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3 comments
Tactical terry
What is this "gun show loophole" you speak of em??? You still have to pass a background check to buy from a dealer at a gun show. At least in TN you do.
As for assault weapons with extended clips meant to kill humans.
First let's address ur lack of correct terminology, it's a magazine, not a clip. A clip goes "ping" when it flies out of your gun whilst shooting at Nazi soldiers.
As for assault weapons, I have a dear rifle that shoots as fast, shoots further, and holds as many rounds as any AR. The bullet is also larger and way more powerful. Why is no one shooting people with this gun instead of the AR? Well honestly it's probably because of the bans and because of media attention.
M
I totally agree with em lafleur. The facts you presented seem to bear no impact on your closing comments.
"The data shows that, even in countries with relatively liberal gun laws and high rates of gun ownership like those listed above, gun homicide rates are not proportionally higher."... really? Those countries have liberal gun laws? Didn't you say:
- "Automatic weapons are illegal..." in Norway,
- "Sweden also restricts how many guns a single person may own: up to 10 pistols, or 6 rifles for hunting, or a mix of the two."
- "Automatic firearms are not permitted." - Serbia
-" Machine guns are generally prohibited " - Switzerland
I would have concluded that they have less liberal gun policy regarding who can have them, what kind of guns they can have and how much they can have.
I say here is the new definition of Weapon of Mass Destruction -- Assult Weapons in the hands of civilians.
It is easier for me to deal with you had you come straight out and said: I am for no gun control, and everyone should be allowed to have whatever they want. But please don't disguise yourself as an investigative writer.
em lafleur
Three PAINFULLY OBVIOUS points you glossed over in your piece:
1. The difference between 30-some percent and nearly ninety percent is astronomical.
2. That number becomes exponentially larger when you factor in the comparative populations of the nations you use as examples.
3. ASSAULT WEAPONS and extended weapon clips as well as an assortment of other arms designed solely for killing HUMANS are legal and unlimited via gun show loopholes in the US.
Conclusion: Your comparison between countries one and two (I should think we would agree that #3 has proved to be less than a stellar example of anything even remotely positive) with their careful regulation of arms intended for HUNTING in the traditional sense and the US, in which "anything goes" as long as we don't anger the NRA, is completely devoid of validity.
For the record, I enjoy shooting and but for my gender would have qualified to try out for sniper school when in the Army, which is where assault weapons belong.