21 killed in Texas school shooting: Countries with the toughest and easiest gun laws

The United States of America seems to be turning into a real Wild Wild West. Simple tasks such as going to school, going for grocery shopping, taking the subway metro, walking around in the neighbourhood, etc have also become risky thanks to the gun laws in the country.

In the latest: On Tuesday, May 24, a teenager went berserk outside Robb Elementary School in Texas and indiscriminately shot at whoever was standing around. His victims: 19 children aged just 7-11 years and two teachers.

What happened?

1. The shooter has been identified as Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old working at Wendy’s, a fast food restaurant company.
2. Ramos was killed in a shootout with border patrol agents after the mass shooting incident.
3. Ramos was born in North Dakota but lived in Uvalde, where the shooting took place.
4. He had posted several images of his guns on Instagram before the mass shooting.
5. In one post, he had even tagged a girl in a gun's picture. The girl has publicly said she didn’t really know him and shared screenshots of texts with him.
6. Right before he headed to Robb Elementary School, he also shot his grandmother. His grandmother was airlifted to a hospital and her condition remains unknown.

Gun laws in the US:

The United States ranks number 1 when it comes to civilian gun ownership. Owning a gun is enshrined in the constitution of the US as a fundamental right to self defence. It’s so easy to buy a gun in some states in the US that you can be grocery shopping and fancy yourself a gun too.

Of course, it also means numerous mass shooting incidents. It happens so frequently that people around the world don’t even blink an eye of surprise at the news. 

We have heard a lot about the US, its gun laws, and mass shootings. But what about other countries?

Here is a list of 3 countries with the least toughest restrictions on owning guns:

1. SWITZERLAND

Switzerland, which has one of the highest standards of living in the world and is blessed with awe-inspiring views, ranks second when it comes to how easy it is to own a gun. Firearms categorised as ‘free arms’ such as single-shots and bolt-action rifles can be brought by anyone over 18 years of age without needing a permit. You can even carry a concealed sidearm if there is proof that you are in genuine danger. However, a Swiss with a gun is also responsible for how it is used. So, if someone steals your gun and fires at someone, be sure, that you will be punished too. Even foreigners can purchase firearms, but there are some terms and conditions required.

Switzerland has a robust hunting culture, which is where the gun laws come in. Interestingly, till 2010, all able-bodied men were required to own at least one gun. And a century ago, men without a gun couldn’t legally marry.

2. THE CZECH REPUBLIC

The former Soviet Union country has the third-least restrictive gun ownership laws in the world. While the right to own a gun is not constitutionally recognised, like in the US, it is still very easy to own a gun here. Anyone over the age of 15 years can buy a gun and people don’t need to give a reason to carry concealed firearms in public. However, owning any type of gun requires a permit and buyers also have to go through multiple tests.

3. PANAMA

The small tropical country in Central America, home to rich people’s hoarded wealth, has most pro-gun laws in all of Central America. If you own a gun in Panama, you can carry it in public concealed without any restrictions. It is easy for citizens to acquire a firearm in Panama, however, the process can take months.

But for tourists, it can be a bureaucracy nightmare. Firstly, foreigners need to establish residency in Panama to buy or import guns.

There are only three countries that have enshrined the right to own a gun in the constitution - the US, Mexico and Guatemala.  

COUNTRIES WITH TOUGHEST GUN LAWS

1. JAPAN

Japan has the least (almost non-existent) gun homicide rate in the world.

To own a gun in Japan:

1. You need to attend gun-safety classes,
2. Give a written test,
3. Take a shooting test and pass with at least 95% accuracy,
4. Sit for a mental health and drugs evaluation test,
5. And go through a background and character check.
6. After all this you can only own shotguns and air rifles; handguns and automatic guns are not permitted.

2. SINGAPORE

To own a gun in Singapore:

1. You need to belong to a gun club,
2. You will have to leave the gun at the club for storage,
3. Civilians cannot have guns at home,
4. Fill a mountain of paperwork,
5. Get a permit that’s only valid for a year and repeat the paperwork process again, and
6. Firing a gun outside of the rules even if you don’t injure someone out can be punished with a death sentence.

What about India?

India too has one of the strictest gun ownership laws. Procuring a gun legally can be a long process. However, illegal firearm possessions make up for 85% of the stockpile of the civilian population in India. Nonetheless, India is not turning into the US anytime soon when it comes to mass shootings.