10 Easiest Countries to Buy A Gun in The World

Which are the easiest countries to buy a gun in the world?

It is not surprising that a debate over allowing people to carry an item objectively designed to murder other people has attracted controversy, die-hard support and die-hard opposition. Those who favor gun control have stated that their rights are protected by the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, while those opposed have pointed out that the Constitution is hundreds of years old and as society grows, laws are changed in order to reflect that growth.

All the more concerning is the fact that gun related deaths far outweigh all other methods of homicide, especially terrorism, which is considered to be a far greater issue. In the US, in the last 50 years alone, 1.4 million people have been killed by guns. There is more than one gun for every citizen in the country with a population of nearly 320 million. Of course, the US isn’t the only country with all guns out approach.

There are plenty of other countries where a permit is nothing more than an afterthought. However, even the most lax of countries have at least some restrictions. For instance, citizenship is necessary for the purchase of guns in the countries on this list. Furthermore, most of these countries will require special documentation if you want to bring your gun along on a trip.

To compute our rankings, we examined the gun laws of dozens of major countries and determined which ones were the laxest, some of those countries are naturally in our list of 11 Countries With the Best Gun Control Laws. But, today, we didn’t rely only on the flexible gun laws, we have also used the guns per capita ratio to determine the rankings among the following countries, since this criterion is also important when it comes to determining countries whose citizens can most easily purchase a weapon. We wanted to include prices of guns as well to make the ranking more accurate, but we had no luck in finding that data. Without further ado, we present you 10 easiest countries to buy a gun in the world, starting with the number 10.

10. Honduras

Guns per capita ratio: 6.2 firearms per 100 people

Honduras has always been lax when it came to gun laws. For example, it was only in 2003 that the government decided to actually ban its citizens from owning fully automatic rifles such as the AK-47. However, most types of shotguns and rifles are still available for purchase for the citizens.

Despite the lax laws right now, the country’s stance is becoming anti-guns as the time passes. This is mainly because violence is high in the country, which has resulted in the people demanding stricter gun laws. However, the effectiveness of such a move remains to be seen. This is because most of the violence is carried out by people with illegal guns, which are actually in greater number than the legal ones. Hence, reducing the number of legal guns may not have much effect on the situation in the country.

9. Pakistan

Guns per capita ratio: 11.6 firearms per 100 people

The people of the Pakistan, which ranks 9th on our list of easiest countries to buy a gun in the world, has long since considered guns as part of the tradition, especially in the tribal areas as well as the rural areas. Due to this, the laws governing the owning of arms are almost nonexistent. They do require a license, assuming you are a citizen of Pakistan, but the license is very easy to obtain after the payment of fees and a stipulated waiting time. After that, everything is fair game. Pakistanis can own automatic and semi-automatic weapons based on the aforementioned license and no third party checks are required before the issuance of such license. Furthermore, even if the person has a criminal past, the law does not prohibit them from being able to own a weapon legally.

There are no tests, both in practice or in theory, which determine whether the purchaser is aware of how to operate a gun or any safety checks. There are also no limits to the number of guns the purchaser may buy, and to the quantity of ammunition owned. You can even purchase or sell a gun in private, provided you have a gun dealer’s license. Truly, Pakistan is a haven for gun enthusiasts, who can purchase anything from a TT pistol to an AK-47. Or, if you are in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, you can even purchase rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns.

8. Czech Republic

Guns per capita ratio: 16.3 firearms per 100 people

The Czech Republic’s historical significance is not the only allure the country holds. While the country has modern gun laws, they are not extremely restrictive, as evidenced by the fact that the third most popular sport in the country is shooting. If you want to carry a concealed weapon, or even two, without disclosing a reason, you are free to do so.

7. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Guns per capita ratio: 17.3 firearms per 100 people

While gun laws are present in the country, they are fairly lax, especially considering how gun control is an important topic in Europe, and one which is followed in most countries. While you must be over 18 and have a permit to obtain a gun, the permit is easy to obtain. Furthermore, the issue of whether you can carry a concealed weapon does not even arise in the country. If you have a gun, you are allowed to carry it concealed as well.

6. Panama

Guns per capita ratio: 21.7 firearms per 100 people

While tourists have no opportunities to purchase a gun, it is still one of the best countries for guns in the Americas. Not only are guns relatively easy to get if you are a citizen, but you also don’t even need a special permit to carry it concealed. In addition, as long as the weapon is not automatic, you are good to go, with a few restrictions getting in the way of you purchasing the gun of your dreams. And now, let’s see which countries are in the top 5 easiest countries to buy a gun in the world.

5. Canada

Guns per capita ratio: 30.8

Canada has an excellent economy and substantially low crime rates, while the gun laws remain lax. The reason behind the popularity of guns in Canada is the same as in Finland, namely hunting. This is why nearly a quarter of the population owns a variety of guns, while the population consistently opposes any suggests gun reforms.

4. Serbia

Gun per capita ratio: 37.8

Guns have always been a part of Serbia’s culture, which is why it is not surprising to see that gun laws are fairly relaxed in the country. In fact, it ranked second in the aforementioned study of guns per capita. Serbia carries out background checks before allowing gun licenses while guns cannot be issued to anyone with a mental illness or a convict history. Another bonus for gun enthusiasts is that there are no limits to the weapons a person may own though the ammo is restricted. And now, let’s see the top three easiest countries to buy a gun in the world.

3. Finland

Guns per capita ratio: 45.3 firearms per 100 people

Nordic countries have traditionally had strong laws to govern the countries, which is why it is surprising to see Finland on the list of  10 easiest countries to buy a gun in the world. While a separate license is required for every single gun you buy, and you need to state the reason for the purchase of each gun, it is still not hard to purchase a gun as evidenced by the high rates of gun ownership. In fact, just a few years ago, the population fought back an attempt to increase restrictions on the purchase of guns. The reason behind Finland’s strong loyalty to guns lies in their tradition of hunting.

2. Switzerland

Guns per capita ratio: 45.7 firearms per 100 people

While Switzerland is one of the best countries to live in, it is also one of the easiest countries to buy a gun in the world. This is mainly because every male person over 18 in the country is required to not only obtain military training, but to keep two specific guns with him at all times, for the defense of the nation of course.

A permit is required for the purchase of three guns, after which another permit is required for the next three guns and so on. On the other hand, there is no restriction on private sales of guns. You do not even need a permit for such a sale, which is great news for the gun enthusiasts out there.

1. The United States of America

Guns per capita: 88 firearms per 100 people

As we mentioned previously, the US which ranks 1st on our list of easiest countries to buy a gun in the world, gives its citizens a constitutional right to bear arms, a fact which has been seized upon by gun enthusiasts whenever the question of gun control has been raised. If you are mentally ill or have a criminal history, this right may be rescinded. Further gun laws vary by state, though you can generally even obtain permission for concealed carry. More than half the states do not require a permit if you want to carry your weapon, and with a gun per capita ratio of 88 firearms per 100 people, there is no doubt that the USA tops the list of 10 easiest countries to buy a gun.