Gun control laws around the globe
New Zealand joins list of nations with strict rules
New Zealand’s rapid decision to ban the kind of semiautomatic weapons used in mosque massacres this month brings the country in line with countries that have stricter gun laws such as Australia and the United Kingdom.
New Zealand is one of only three countries, including the United States and much of Canada, that does not require registration of most firearms other than handguns, a “loophole” to those who support registration as a pillar of gun control.
The New Zealand ban is not across the board. It specifically zeroes in on the type of weapons used in the killing March 15 of 50 people at the Christchurch mosques, but it does not include semiautomatic .22-caliber or smaller guns that hold as many as 10 rounds or semiautomatic and pump-action shotguns with nondetachable magazines that hold as many as five rounds.
Gun laws in Europe, Asia and the Americas are tailored to each country’s history and political orientation. The ban on weapons in Japan reflects a cultural orientation dating to the 1700s, when gun ownership was practically eliminated.
The approach to gun laws also varies depending on whether owning a gun is considered a right or a privilege.
A look at how some countries deal with guns:
Singapore
Ordinary citizens are not permitted access to any firearms and, if caught, are physically beaten by caning with no fewer than six strokes, according to the Arms Offences Act. Anyone who uses a firearm while committing a crime faces a mandatory death sentence, even if no one was killed or injured.
Australia
After a mass shooting in 1996, when a gunman killed 35 people and injured 23 in Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia’s government moved quickly to restrict ownership of pump-action shotguns and high-capacity semiautomatic rifles with more than five rounds. In buyback programs, Australians turned over 650,000 assault weapons. Gun owners are required to demonstrate a “genuine need” for a particular type of gun, which doesn’t include self-defense, and to take a firearm safety course. License holders must meet strict storage requirements, including keeping ammunition stored separately.
Brazil
Under newly elected President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil is moving to overhaul its gun laws to expand the number of people who can own them. “The people decided in favor of buying guns and ammunition, and we can’t deny what the people want at this moment,” Bolsonaro said in January at a televised signing ceremony for the decree. It establishes a wide range of categories for who qualifies for gun ownership, including citizens living in rural areas, in urban areas with high levels of homicide, business owners, gun collectors and hunters. Prospective gun owners can’t have a criminal record and must take a psychological exam, a course at a gun club and be at least 25 years old.
Great Britain
Only police officers, members of the armed forces or people with written permission from the home secretary may legally own a handgun. Gun owners must obtain either a Shotgun Certificate or a Firearm Certificate, according to the Marple Rifle and Pistol Club. Though people can own a gun for “good reason,” that does not include self-defense. According to guidance from the Home Office, determining what is a “good reason” is “one of the most substantial and complex areas of discretion that chief officers may exercise in licensing firearms.” Even hunters who want to shoot game on their own property don’t automatically get a license. Police are allowed to determine, for example, whether the land in question contains the specific wild game suitable for the firearm being sought.
Canada
A license is required to own any of three categories of guns: nonrestricted, restricted (such as certain types of semiautomatic guns) and prohibited, such as automatic weapons, sawed-off shotguns and rifles under a certain length. Licensees must complete a restricted firearms safety course, covering basic handling and safety practices, and pass a test. Under the Firearms Act, applicants for a license must provide extensive information on their mental health, employment and marital status. Applicants, as well as their doctor in some cases, may be interviewed. The waiting period is a minimum of 28 days.
China
Civilians are not permitted to have guns and can face life imprisonment for trafficking firearms. They can obtain a firearm for hunting only after a strict licensing process. Conviction for illegal possession or sale of firearms is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to life for arms trafficking, according to the Supreme People’s Court.
Japan
Gun control in Japan dates back to the mid-16th century. Under the Firearm and Sword law, shotguns, air guns, guns with specific research or industrial purposes or those used for competitions are legal, according to an analysis by the Library of Congress. Prospective owners must undergo formal instruction as well as written, mental and drug tests and a rigorous background check. Prospective owners must explain how and where the weapons will be stored and make them available for annual inspection.
Norway
Norway does not allow concealed or open carry, but with a permit, it allows some people to own semiautomatic rifles. Weapons are individually licensed by police who can revoke them “if the holder is not sober and reliable or if for special reasons, he can be considered unfit to have firearms,” according to Norway’s Firearms Act. Likewise, the license can be pulled if police conclude the person no longer has a need for it.