Art, obsession, and identity
So far in 2025, the US experienced 82 mass shootings. As the world mourns the lives unnecessarily lost, now is an important time to look both inward and outward, examining the regulations of other countries and how they impact the safety of their populations. Read on to explore gun policies, mass shootings, and their relationships in countries around the world.
A consensus has yet to be reached on what exactly constitutes a mass shooting, or any mass act of violence for that matter, and several common definitions exist. A number of factors are taken into consideration when distinguishing a mass shooting from other violent crimes.
The three primary factors taken into account when defining a mass shooting are the number of casualties, the location of the attack, and the motivation of the shooter. One of the most commonly used definitions, that will also be used here, supplied by the Mass Shooting Tracker database, defines a mass shooting as an indiscriminate attack resulting in four or more casualties, not including the shooter, in any public space. Most definitions also distinguish mass shootings from mass casualty events linked to armed robbery, gang violence, or familicide.
The United States routinely sees more mass shootings annually than any other country on earth. Firearm regulation varies by state; some states conduct thorough background checks and prohibit concealed carry, while other states such as Kansas require no permit or background check to buy or carry a gun as long as the individual is 18 years old.
in 2024, there were 488 cases of mass shootings in the US. Gun-related deaths are still the leading cause of death for children in the United States, beating out car accidents for the first time since 2020. There have been no substantial changes to federal firearm legislation in the 10 years since 26 children and adults were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012.
On June 25, 2022, Joe Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law, gun-safety legislation which he called the most significant of its kind in decades. Though it wasn't as big a reform as some had hoped, the bill restricted firearms access for the youngest buyers and offered incentives for states to set up "red flag" laws. It also put aside federal funding for mental health programs and school security upgrades, and closed the so-called "boyfriend loophole" by banning those convicted of domestic abuse from owning a gun, not just those who are married to their victims or live with them, BBC reported. The National Rifle Association opposed the bill, but it was the first time in decades that the reforms received support from both Democrats and Republicans.
On May 30, 2022, Canada announced their intention to introduce new gun control laws. If passed, the legislation would enforce a nationwide freeze on the sale of handguns, and see the introduction of a "red flag" policy allowing judges to order the removal of legal firearms from owners deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. There will also be stricter penalties for those caught trafficking or smuggling arms. Officials are calling it “the most significant action on gun violence in a generation." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced the implementation of a mandatory buy-back program that will provide compensation to those handing in firearms that are now banned. Canada suffered its deadliest mass shooting in 2020 when a man posing as a police officer killed 22 people in Nova Scotia. Following the devastating attack, the government banned 1,500 makes and models of assault-style weapons.
The Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore has some of the strictest laws concerning firearms and other weapons in the world. Guns aside, weapons such as knives, brass knuckles, and even pepper sprays require a government license.
Gun permits are exceedingly rare and almost exclusively doled out to members of the police force and the military. Any individual caught possessing a firearm may be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, and six canings. Since Singapore became an independent state in 1965, there have been zero mass shootings or killings in the city-state.
Australia's firearm regulations were relatively relaxed before the Port Arthur massacre of 1996, during which 35 people were murdered by Martin Bryant. The same year, Australia banned the sale and possession of automatic and semi-automatic rifles, and required licenses for hunting rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
Licenses are only given to individuals with a "genuine reason" that necessitates their possession of a gun, and self-defense is not considered a valid genuine reason. Since 1996, the rate of mass shootings plummeted, but the incidents did not disappear altogether. But since the ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons, no single firearm incident death toll has surpassed five people.
China's gun laws are also incredibly strict. Only members of the police and the military are allowed to carry firearms, and anyone caught possessing an illicit firearm is subject to a prison sentence anywhere from three years up to life without parole. Hunting licenses are given in some occasions, and a few ethnic minorities are allowed to possess traditional gunpowder muskets for cultural reasons.
The official punishment for a violent crime committed with a firearm in China is the death penalty. There have been five mass shooting events in China since 1980, resulting in 19 total deaths in 40 years.
The United Kingdom distributes permits for hunting rifles and shotguns to citizens who have gone through a thorough and comprehensive application process. Other types of firearms, including pistols and semi-automatic rifles, are outlawed. Certain territories such as the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland have slightly different rules.
There have been five events that fit the criteria of a mass shooting in the United Kingdom. After the 1987 Hungerford massacre that resulted in the tragic murders of 16 people, the UK government quickly passed the Firearms Act of 1988, banning the possession of semi-automatic rifles and high capacity shotguns. The Firearms Act of 1997, which was swiftly enacted after the Dunblane school massacre, effectively banned the private possession of all handguns. There have been two mass shootings in the UK since 1997.
The Middle Eastern nation of Yemen is the second most heavily armed country on earth, second only to the United States. Similar to the US, arming oneself is considered a right, rather than a privilege, and there are no restrictions regarding who can purchase what type of firearm. Carrying in rural areas is unrestricted, while licenses are required to openly carry most types of guns in metropolitan areas.
Since the destabilization of Yemen and the start of its civil war in 2015, weapons sales have broken free of all semblance of regulation. Many of the weapons used in the Yemeni civil war are of European and North American make.
Many believe the comprehensive firearm regulations put in place in Japan are to thank for the country's impressively low rate of gun violence. While it is possible to obtain a permit for certain shotguns and air guns, the application involves intensive written and field exams, drug tests, and thorough background checks.
While there have been a number of massacres involving chemicals, arson, and automobiles in Japan in the last century, there have been zero mass shooting incidents. There are 0.02 gun-related deaths per year in Japan per 100,000 residents.
Turkey's laws regarding firearms prohibit the sale or possession of automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Permits for other firearms require background checks and often doctor's certificates attesting to the applicant's mental and physical health. Like many other nations, the United States excluded, applicants must provide a "genuine reason" for their desire or necessity to own a gun, and after all this the licenses can be prohibitively expensive.
Turkey has been the victim of a number of high-profile terrorist attacks and mass shooting incidents. The New Year's Day nightclub shooting in 2017 left 39 people dead and dozens more wounded shortly after midnight at the hands of Abdulkadir Masharipov, who later admitted to training with the terrorist group ISIL.
Germany's firearm regulation are relatively tight and comprehensive. Ownership permits can be issued to citizens at least 18 years old, who can express a valid necessity for the firearm, and have passed a thorough background check and psychological exam. Carry permits are only given to those with an exceptional need for the firearm, such as private security forces, celebrities, or politicians.
Following a number of mass shootings including the Erfurt school massacre of 2002 and the Winnenden school shooting of 2009, each of which resulted in the deaths of 16 children and staff members, Germany enacted a slew of new regulations to tighten gun control. Today, Germany has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Europe, but one of the lowest rates of gun violence, due to the majority of owned guns in Germany being used for sport shooting and hunting. Private ownership for the purpose of self-defense is not permitted in Germany.
Brazil has a highly publicized issue with gun violence. In 2019 alone, there were 49,436 gun-related deaths in the country. Gun control is relatively lax, with an age requirement of 25, a relatively cheap annual fee, and a psychological exam.
While most gun violence in Brazil is caused by gang-related activity and police interventions, the South American nation is no stranger to indiscriminate massacres. Major school shootings occurred in 2011, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024 leaving dozens dead.
Russia has a moderately lenient but thorough gun regulation system. Russian citizens above the age of 18 can purchase shotguns and other smooth-bore firearms after a course of practical training and thorough background checks. After five years of responsibly owning a smooth-bore firearm, citizens are permitted to purchase rifles.
Despite the background checks and psychological exams, Russia witnesses numerous mass shootings every year. In April 2022, a 26-year-old man entered a Russian kindergarten and murdered two teachers and two toddlers before turning the gun on himself.
Gun laws are relatively lax and loosely defined in India. Federal law states that licenses can be granted to any citizen with a "good reason" for possession, although that term doesn't seem to be elaborated on. It is, however, specified that individuals may not possess any automatic weapons.
Gun violence is not uncommon in India, although it appears close to 90% of gun-related crime in the country is committed with unlicensed firearms. Most violent attacks in recent years have been carried out or orchestrated by anti-government Naxalite militants.
Caused in no small part to a national heritage deeply invested in hunting and sport shooting, Switzerland has some of the most lenient gun laws in the world, as well as one of the most well-armed populations. Many weapons, including automatic rifles, may be purchased with only a background check.
Gun-related violence was relatively rare in Switzerland for most of the nation's history, but in recent decades Switzerland has followed the global trends of increased violence. In 2017, an ideologically motivated attack was carried out at the Zürich Islamic Center by a 24-year-old Swiss citizen wielding a legally-obtained firearm. While numerous people were injured, there were no deaths.
Automatic weapons are banned across the board in Norway, but local police forces may grant permits for semi-automatic weapons at their discretion. They can also revoke these permits at their discretion, if they decide the individual no longer needs the firearm.
The first and only mass shooting in Norway occurred in 2011 when right-wing extremist Anders Breivik first detonated a car bomb in central Oslo, killing eight people, and some hours later opened fire at a youth summer camp, murdering another 67 children and adults. It was the most violent event in Norway since World War II.
Sweden has strict regulations when it comes to owning firearms. To legally acquire a weapon license, applicants must be at least 18 years old, although certain exceptions exist. They must also uphold a clean legal record, exhibit responsible behavior, and provide a legitimate reason for owning a firearm. The most frequently accepted purposes include hunting and target shooting. For those planning to bring a firearm into Sweden on a temporary basis or while traveling through the country, specific legal requirements must be met. Additionally, the weapon in question must be officially recognized as suitable for hunting within Swedish regulations.
A tragic shooting at the Risbergska School in Örebro on February 4 claimed the lives of 11 people. Authorities confirmed that all the fatal victims were discovered within the school premises, with the suspected shooter among the deceased. Local police chief Roberto Eid Forest reported that the assailant had no prior criminal record and was not associated with gang activity or terrorism. While mass shootings are uncommon in Sweden, violent incidents in schools have occurred in recent years. This event, however, stands as the deadliest mass shooting in the nation’s history.
Sources: (Axios) (CNN) (BBC) (RAND Corporation) (GunPolicy.org) (Mass Shooting Tracker)
See also: Gun control laws: celebrities who are either for or against stricter legislation
Global gun control at a glance: How the world handles mass shootings
The strictest nations, the most lenient laws, and their effects on gun violence
LIFESTYLE Government
So far in 2025, the US experienced 82 mass shootings. As the world mourns the lives unnecessarily lost, now is an important time to look both inward and outward, examining the regulations of other countries and how they impact the safety of their populations. Read on to explore gun policies, mass shootings, and their relationships in countries around the world.