Gun Control Across the Globe

To the surprise of many, the United States does not top the list of firearms related deaths from a global perspective. South Africa, Brazil and Mexico all rank higher than number 12, the United States, when looking at this issue. When it comes to the regulation of guns, there is a wide variety of laws, or lack of laws, enforced, or not so enforced, in countries around the world.

South Africa is under great scrutiny in current news because of the tragic death of Reeva Steenkamp, whom was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Olympian Oscar Pistorius, with a handgun. In recent years, South Africa was seen as a model for gun laws after a great gun-related violence drop was seen since 2004 with the enactment of gun laws that required a two-stage license application process. With this tragedy though, these laws are being aggressively criticized.  

On the flip-side, Japan has very relaxed gun laws that are not strongly enforced and still has one of the lowest gun related death-rates in the world. Other countries such as Russia and England all but prohibit the ownership of guns by individuals. 

Firearm related violence and deaths are seen greatest in countries with high concentration of gang activity and drug cartels even if the country employs very strict gun control laws. Central American countries such as Guatemala and Mexico are especially struggling with issues of this type.

-Ashton Theiss
Gun Regulation 
Blog Post Two