How Europe manages to have few mass shootings despite high gun ownership

A lone gunman has killed 10 people at an adult education center in the Swedish city of Orebro this week, in what Sweden’s prime minister called the worst mass shooting in the country's history. The Scandinavian state is in mourning over the tragedy, as are it's European neighbours who rarely have to experience this type of violence. Statistics show that there have been 19 mass shootings in all of Europe between 2009 and 2015, a number that pales in comparison to figures from the United States. There are an estimated 352 million guns in private circulation throughout the US, therefore it is no surprise that it leads the world in mass shootings. Even though some European countries record similar gun ownership numbers per capita.

School shootings are even more rare in Europe while they sadly dominate American news cycles. The Washington Post reported in January that over 352,000 students have experienced gun violence in classrooms since 1999, the year when the infamous Columbine High School shooting took place in the US.

In most countries, mass shootings remain extremely rare, largely due to stricter gun laws compared to the United States. An article by The Week publication sheds light on five nations that manage to effectively minimize gun violence despite having high rates of firearm ownership.

Finland

Finland has around 1.5 million legally owned firearms among its 5.6 million residents, according to the country's interior ministry. This high gun ownership rate is primarily due to the country’s long-standing tradition of hunting, an activity deeply ingrained in Finnish culture. Finland’s vast landscape provides ample opportunities for hunting, which remains a popular pastime.

Despite widespread firearm ownership, Finland has recorded fewer than five mass shootings. Strict gun control laws play a key role in maintaining safety. Following a school shooting in 2007, Finland raised the minimum purchasing age for firearms from 15 to 18. Prospective buyers must also complete an extensive application process to obtain a firearm license. Additionally, the interior ministry has introduced stricter storage regulations, ensuring that guns and ammunition are securely locked away when not in use.

Switzerland

Like Finland, Switzerland has a strong hunting culture and a high rate of gun ownership, with approximately 2 million privately owned firearms in a nation of 8.7 million people. However, the country has not experienced a mass shooting in over two decades.

Although gun reform opponents like the National Rifle Associate (NRA) in the US like to claim that Swiss gun laws are lax, firearms are actually subject to rigorous controls. According to the Swiss Confederation, semi-automatic rifles with large magazines are prohibited, and those seeking to own handguns or small-magazine semi-automatic rifles must go through an extensive permitting process. Gun owners are also required to register their weapons with the government.

Australia

Australia also has a high rate of gun ownership, with around 3.5 million registered firearms in a population of 26.4 million. However, gun ownership per household has declined by 75% over the past few decades, according to the University of Sydney.

This decline followed a major tragedy: the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, in which 35 people were killed. In response, Australia’s government enacted strict gun control measures, including a national gun registry and a requirement that firearm applicants demonstrate a “genuine need” for ownership. A large-scale gun buyback program led to the confiscation of 650,000 firearms. Since these reforms, mass shootings in Australia have been virtually nonexistent.

New Zealand

New Zealand has approximately 1.5 million firearms among its 5.1 million residents. However, following a major tragedy, the country swiftly enacted tougher gun laws.

After the 2019 Christchurch shooting on a mosque, which killed 51 people, then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern introduced comprehensive gun reform just one week after the attack. The new laws, quickly passed by Parliament, included a nationwide firearms registry and a complete ban on AR-15s and other assault rifles like the ones used in the assault, which was live streamed on social media by the gunman. A gun buyback program was also launched, leading to the surrender of over 50,000 firearms, significantly reducing the number of guns in circulation.

Canada

Canada’s vast wilderness makes hunting a popular activity, contributing to the 7.1 million privately owned firearms in a country of 39 million people. While comparable to other Western nations in terms of gun ownership, Canada enforces much stricter regulations than the U.S.

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, although there have been incidents, including a significant one in 2020. Reuters attributes the low occurrence of gun violence to Canada’s stringent gun control laws. The country has banned over 1,500 models of assault-style firearms, many of which were prohibited in response to the 2020 shooting. Canada’s criminal code also restricts the number of rounds allowed in rifles, handguns, and shotguns.

By Nazrin Sadigova