Gun sales in Czechia to come under stricter control
The Senate has passed an amendment to the gun law that will oblige arms dealers and shooting range owners to report suspicious clients to the police. The measure is a forerunner of a massive overhaul of the gun law that will come into force in 2026, approved in reaction to the tragic shooting at the Prague Faculty of Arts almost exactly a year ago.
The act of a lone gunman who went on a rampage at the Prague Faculty of Arts on Dec 21 of last year, killing 14 people and injuring 25, left the country reeling and set in motion a massive overhaul of the gun law that was approved earlier this year.
The law will tighten the rules on gun sales, introduce a digitized central weapons register, oblige arms dealers to report any suspicious transactions, make it easier for the police to seize weapons and give doctors access to a central gun register. Should a GP or specialist ascertain that their patient has a condition that makes them a potential safety risk to themselves or others they will be obliged to report this to the police.
The new law will not take effect until 2026, because of the need to complete the digitization of the central arms register as well as police and medical records. However, the provision tightening arms sales under which arms dealers and shooting range owners are obliged to report suspicious clients will come into force with the start of next year, so as to close at least some of the loopholes in the legislation which present a security risk.
Senator Robert Šlachta, former head of the police’s elite unit for fighting organized crime, says the sooner it applies the better.
“I have served in the police force for 27 years. I know how the force works and I know that, first and foremost, officers need information. “
The amendment grants police officers the power to seize weapons from holders if a security risk is identified, either through a warning from salespeople, citizens or threats made on social media. Mayors or school principals could also initiate the seizure of weapons.
Senator Martin Červíček, former head of the Czech police force, said he is confident that the extended powers are a step in the right direction.
“I see no reason to fear that the extended powers could be abused. On the contrary, they will enable the police to respond promptly to any potential security risks that may arise.”
The new gun law will reduce the interval for medical check-ups of gun owners from ten to five years and will allow police to order a medical review at any time.
Far reaching as the changes are, they stop short of requiring mandatory psychological tests for gun license applicants. Currently only proof of physical fitness is needed for a license. On the other hand, a general practitioner can request the opinion of a psychologist if in doubt.
The legislation preserves the right to acquire, own and carry weapons under legal conditions.
In 2021, the Czech Constitution was amended to include the right to bear arms in self-defense after a massive petition campaign that was prompted by EU moves to limit the possession of weapons, including legal ones.
This is largely due to the country’s influential Hunters Association, which lobbied against significant restrictions. However, since the deadly shooting in December of 2023, public opinion has swung in support of stricter control. A poll conducted by the STEM agency earlier this year indicates that 80 percent of Czechs would welcome stricter conditions for gun ownership, including more frequent medical check-ups and psychological tests.
There are now more than 300,000 licensed gun owners and more than a million guns in the Czech Republic, which has 10.7 million inhabitants.
