The Czech Republic, perhaps the most pro-gun nation in Europe, has called on its citizens to arm themselves as a line of defense against terrorists.
Meanwhile, the former Soviet satellite has been battling the European Union, of which it is a member, which has been trying to pass more gun restrictions. ย With the help of Finland, Germany, and various national โright wingโ groups, the measure was weakened. ย But the version that passed will still force member nations, including the Czechs, to impose a ban on โmilitary-styleโ firearms and to require gun buyers to pass โpsychological checks.โ
Nevertheless, the Czechs are considering a constitutional amendment to strengthen gun rights.
From Amanda Erickson, Czech government tells its citizens how to fight terrorists: Shoot them yourselves โ The Washington Post:
A couple of months ago,ย Czech Presidentย Milos Zeman made an unusual request: He urged citizensย to arm themselves against a possible โsuper-Holocaustโ carried out by Muslim terrorists.
Never mind that there are fewer than 4,000 Muslims in this country of 10 million people โ gun purchases spiked. One shop owner in East Bohemia, a region in theย northern center of the Czech Republic, told a local paper that people were scared of a โwave of Islamists.โ
Now the countryโs interior ministry is pushing a constitutional change that would let citizens use guns against terrorists. Proponents say this could save livesย if an attack occurs andย police are delayed or unable to make their way to the scene. To become law, Parliament must approve the proposal; theyโll vote in the coming months.
The Czech Republicย already has some of the most lenient gun policiesย in Europe. Itโs home to about 800,000 registered firearms and 300,000 people with gun licenses. Obtaining a weaponย is relatively easy: Residents must be 21, pass a gun knowledge check and have no criminal record. By law, Czechs can use their weapons to protect their property or when in danger, although they need to prove they faced a real threat.
This puts the country at odds with much of Europe, which hasย long supported much more stringent gun-control measures.
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Photo of CZ 805 BREN [Czech-made assault rife] by Koky โ Author, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20014084