7 Countries with Stricter Gun Laws Than the United States

Most Americans who've never traveled abroad tend to take US guns laws for granted. If you take a look at international gun laws, you'll realize that United States citizens are blessed in the freedom department. Here are a few examples of foreign countries that heavily restrict access to firearms. 

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has some of the strictest gun laws on the books that you'll find anywhere in Europe. You'll need a five-year firearm certificate issued by the police to possess any kind of gun. Handguns are practically impossible to obtain for the average citizen. The only permissible semi-automatics are .22 rim-fire models. 

Singapore

If you want to own a gun in Singapore, it generally must be used for target shooting and little else. While licenses are granted for self-defense purposes, very few private citizens are granted these vouchers. Possession of more than two firearms for any reason can result in the death penalty under certain circumstances. 

Honduras

Despite its reputation as an incredibly dangerous jurisdiction, Honduras has some of the toughest gun laws in the Western Hemisphere. While Hondurans can technically own most types of firearms, they can only buy guns and ammunition from a handful of state-run vendors. Furthermore, open and concealed carry are banned for the average, law-abiding citizen. 

China

Compared to Chinese regulations, US gun laws are downright permissive. In fact, firearms are so highly regulated that possession of a pellet gun can result in a three-year prison sentence if you pull the wrong judge. Chinese citizens can be granted individual licenses for hunting if they pass a thorough background check. 

Mexico

Generally speaking, Mexico is pretty restrictive when it comes to private gun ownership. Licenses are required across the board, only a small number of guns can be owned by any one person and open carry is mostly banned. Fortunately, Mexico is taking a second look at their gun laws due to recent surges in crime. 

Australia

After the infamous Port Arthur Massacre, Australia enacted sweeping changes to its gun laws virtually overnight. The average Australian must obtain a firearms license and register every gun they possess by serial number. For the most part, only target shooters and security guards can possess handguns. A 28-day waiting period is required for all gun sales. 

Jamaica

For the average Jamaican, legal gun ownership requires a license that costs about $110 per year. While that might not seem like much, it's a serious burden for most residents. Those convicted of illegal gun ownership can be sentenced to life in prison. As of 2002, there were only 65,000 legal firearms in the country. 

Making the Most of Your Rights

At Concealment Express, we're big fans of US gun laws. That's because the international gun laws mentioned here make it difficult if not impossible for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves. If you want to take full advantage of the freedom that US gun laws provide, a concealed carry holster for your sidearm is a good place to start.