A thousand thousand more guns, fewer owners
Independent research project “Small Arms Survey” 2018 study shows that the approximate number of guns per 100 inhabitants in Latvia is 10.53, which places Latvia closer to the bottom among the member states of the European Union (EU). In Lithuania, this indicator is estimated in the study at 13.59, in Estonia – 4.96. Among the EU member states in the study, Cyprus had the highest rate – 33.96, followed by Finland, which was shocked by the news of a school shooting at the beginning of April, with about 32.36 guns per 100 people -resident, and Austria in third place (29.99).
If there has been an increase in the number of registered weapons in recent years, the number of gun owners has decreased – in January 2016, there were 33,259 gun owners in Latvia, and at the beginning 2024, there were 30,613 gun owners.
Changes in the number of gun owners and registered firearms 2016-2024. every year compared to the month of January of the previous year.
Photo: NGO
The number of weapons registered for self-defense has also increased
The increase in the number of weapons and the decrease in the number of gun owners in the State Police were explained mainly by changes in the largest group of gun owners – hunters. That is, existing hunters are getting older, new ones join hunters less often. Estimates of the Association of Latvian Hunters show that there are approximately 25 thousand hunters in Latvia, of which approximately 20 thousand actively hunt. On the other hand, hunters do not destroy old weapons, but keep them and buy newer ones. Also, the sharp decrease in the number of gun owners in the past year could be related to gun license reformwhich had to be done before September 14 last year.
Another reason for the increase in the number of weapons is the desire of people to defend themselves if necessary.
Since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the number of firearms registered for self-defense has increased. If in January 2022, 11,054 weapons were registered for self-defense, then in January 2023 – 11,320 weapons, and now – 11,346 guns.
Both police and dealers are monitoring the increase in citizen interest in acquiring firearms.
The opinions of merchants and the police also show that the interest of the citizens in getting weapons has increased, but it cannot be considered that a large-scale weapon will happen.
This is also confirmed, for example, by the number of permits for the purchase of weapons issued by the police. In 2021, weapons purchase permits were issued to 2,949 individuals and 17 legal entities, and in 2022 – 3,712 and 87 such permits, respectively, and in 2023 – 3,026 and 40.
On the other hand, Sandra Libeka, a member of the arms and ammunition trade board SIA “Zommers”, said that citizen activity has increased in this regard. “In particular [ieroči interesē] for self-defense. Just already after 2014 [kad Krievija anektēja Ukrainai piederošo Krimas pussalu] her interest grew. People call, ask what we have. “Especially at the very beginning of the war, people openly said they wanted weapons for self-defense,” Liebeka said.
Āriks Kaufmanis, secretary of the Association of Manufacturers and Traders of Arms, Weapons and Pyrotechnics of Latvia, expressed the same opinion to the portal LSM.lv.
Already at the beginning of the war, the society saw more demand for guns in Latvia. The situation has not changed much in two years.
Kaufmanis said: “Demand grew when Covid-19 started [pandēmija] – In 2020, there were queues in stores. This was the first leap when people began to think that something was needed for self-defense. In fact, in 2022, when the war started, in March, the demand increased very, very quickly. After that, it remained a little less towards the end of the year, towards the beginning of 2023. But now I feel there is an increase again because people don’t know what’s coming , what are the prophecies. Nevertheless, people believe that something should be done for self-defense. And it’s not just ordinary citizens who want to get a firearm for self-defense, but also hunters who already have weapons for hunting – they also begin to think that something must be taken for self-defense protection, something that can be used for hunting. also , and for self-defense in such cases “X” times.”
The increasing demand affects the availability of ammunition and the supply of ammunition in stores
The supply of arms and ammunition to the war-torn Ukraine and the increased demand from the population of Latvia have also affected the availability of ammunition in depots.
Kaufmanis, a representative of the traders’ association, who is also the owner of the “Gun Market” store, said: “At the beginning of 2022, when the war started, there was a shortage of weapons. Not only pistol ammunition, for For example, “9×19″ was at the top – for two months there was no store at all There was none in Latvia, because everything went to state orders, to the army, etc. product of both hunting and pistols [munīciju] or the standard used by the Army changed to another requested standard. It’s smoothed out now.”
Due to the reasons mentioned above, there is now a wait for the firearm itself.
“The demand is like this at the moment – there are already three orders that are in the execution phase with licenses that have not arrived yet, but they have already been sold. People come, they booking, paying for their gun. When they come on a certain date, then they get it.
On the other hand, a member of the board of the company “Zommers” noted that the delivery time of weapons has increased by two months, and the prices have also increased. “Prices have increased, twice as much for weapons – because of the cost and availability of raw materials. The delivery is longer, but not so much that weapons cannot be delivered,” said Libeka.
There is a process for issuing a military ownership permit in Latvia hard, very complicated and expensive. To have a weapon, a person must pass a general medical examination, pass a first aid course, pass a test – skill in handling weapons, and for hunting weapons also a hunting test, and then apply to the State Police. You will also need a safe to keep your gun in and it must comply with all regulations.
The police confirmed that the right to arms is only in Latvia. When a person becomes the owner of a weapon, the State Police monitors daily that the requirements for obtaining a weapon are met, and also monitors the storage of firearms.
2024-04-22 03:32:30
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