Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Eriksson, Michael. 2014 ‘Legal Weapons - Social Problems or Straightforwardness.’ TIMBRO. Stockholm: TIMBRO. 1 March
Relevant contents
Sweden currently has around 619,000 legal gun owners who share around 1.8 million licenses.
Not only private individuals have licenses, but also principals for museums and security companies, as well as companies that, for example, develop protective equipment. The system is based on one license per weapon or licensed weapon part, such as silencers and extra barrels; it is also possible to obtain a license to collect ammunition. This means that the number of licenses in Sweden is greater than the number of complete weapons.
What are firearms used for?
Shooting comes in ninth place, just after ice hockey and horseback riding, on the list of the ten most popular training and competition activities in Sweden. Olympic shooting disciplines are conducted within the framework of Swedish law.
Who owns firearms?
A firearms license is also required for certain "weapons" that are not lethal, or can even be fired. Pepper spray, plugged weapons, starting weapons and signal pistols require a permit in certain circumstances. Pepper spray is one of
the few weapons for which it is possible to obtain a permit for the purpose of [personal] protection.
The main purpose of civilian weapons is hunting with sport shooting in second place. Weapons are also owned for other purposes, for example as ornaments, but in those cases it is normally required that a weapon be deactivated. Collecting weapons also entitles one to the possession of weapons, but these weapons may not be used unless the owner applies for a special permit - there are about 4,000 collectors with one or more firearms licenses to their name.
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[Translated by GunPolicy.org]