Surprising Portuguese Gun Policy
Sport?
You probably will not be surprised to learn that I am not too fond of guns. I realize there is some truth in the saying guns don’t kill people…people kill people. But a person with a knife is able to kill fewer people than one with a semi-automatic. So imagine my surprise when I learned a private citizen can own a semi-automatic in Portugal.
Gun Licenses
Now to be fair, it would appear Portugal’s gun licensing requirements are much more stringent than in the U.S. For example:
Portuguese citizens are allowed to own firearms for hunting, target shooting, pest control, and collecting. Self-defense is not considered a legal reason for owning a firearm.
The National Firearms Center (an organization affiliated with the police) is responsible for all licensing and regulations. It also oversees all firearm-related crimes.
To own a rifle you must be 18 years of age, pass a thorough background check, mental exam, and police interview. To own a handgun you must be 24. There is a 30 day waiting period.
Gun permits are relatively expensive, and failure to maintain and renew permits in accordance with the law results in strict penalties and confiscation.
It is considered a felony to leave a loaded and unlocked firearm unattended.
Comparing the Numbers
Based on data from the University of Sydney gun ownership has actually declined in Portugal over the last 10 years. It is estimated that there are about 2.1 million guns in Portugal of which 1.4 million are legally registered. This compares to nearly 400,000,000 in the U.S. This works out to 21 guns/100 people in Portugal compared to 120/100 in the U.S. The rate of gun deaths is equally striking. In 2019, Portugal's rate of gun deaths was 0.99 per 100,000 compared to the U.S. at 12.09 per 100,000. Gun violence is often noted as a reason younger expats, with children, have decided to move overseas.
As I researched this post I found many different studies, and not every study agrees on the precise statistics. However, the numbers did not diverge very much. It is also interesting to note that countries with more restrictive gun laws have less gun violence. The United Kingdom which does not permit ownership of semi-automatic weapons or handguns had a gun death rate of only 0.17 per 100,000.
I wrote before that we travel with a curious mind. To me learning “what works better” is one of the most important benefits of travel abroad. And, of course, I understand there is a difference between correlation and causation. So perhaps it is my inherent bias that leads me to believe that stricter gun laws mean fewer gun tragedies. What do you think?
Much more interested in the general assault and murder rates than strictly the "gun" death rates.
I don't like being murdered by knives and blunt objects too, you know.
Okay... being gentle... I suggest you take an honest, open-eyed view of the topic and culture. You voice a bias, present some statistics, then conflate stats with your bias as if you've made the case. You fail to address deep cultural differences, social drivers of violence in general, a growing lack of morals (in the U.S.), a massive influx of 3rd-world/crime-and-violence-prone individuals into the U.S. (and much of Europe), and largely your lack of understanding that's compounded by an apparent lack of any desire to learn about what you disdain. I teach marksmanship training for women. Many mention once having the same bias as yours and it's interesting to see many progress to sport, target and competitive shooting. You might take a class, talk to some women who once shared your views, and maybe learn something new.