Guess what … No, forget it. I can’t fight stupidity, I can just state the facts:
European states began imposing gun restrictions and licensing laws primarily in the early 20th century, with significant developments after World War I. For example, Germany introduced strict firearm regulations following the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which mandated disarmament and imposed licensing schemes by 1928 to control gun ownership and use26. These laws required gun owners to be trustworthy and demonstrate a need for firearms, such as hunting or sport.
In contrast to the United States, where gun rights are constitutionally protected and federal gun control laws began with the National Firearms Act of 1934 targeting specific weapons, European countries generally adopted more comprehensive restrictions earlier, often linked to state efforts to monopolize armed force and prevent unrest56.
Britain started regulating firearms in the early 20th century, with more stringent laws following events like the 1987 mass shooting and the 1996 Dunblane massacre, which led to near-total handgun bans49.
Overall, the key difference is that European states, starting mainly in the early 1900s and especially after WWI, implemented licensing and disarmament laws that limited private gun ownership and carrying rights, whereas America maintained a constitutional right to bear arms with more gradual and limited federal regulation.
European measures to restrict guns and impose licensing laws have generally been associated with relatively low rates of gun-related crimes compared to global averages. Studies show that Western European countries, with stricter firearm regulations, experience firearm homicide rates around 0.3 per 100,000 population, significantly lower than the global average of 3.1 per 100,00028. Research indicates that more restrictive firearm control policies correlate with reductions in firearm homicides; for instance, a one-point increase on a firearm control index corresponded to a decrease of 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people1.
However, the relationship between gun laws and gun crime is complex. Some European countries with relatively easier firearm acquisition, like Poland or the UK, still report low gun crime rates, suggesting that factors beyond legislation-such as cultural attitudes, law enforcement priorities, and illegal firearm trafficking-play significant roles46. Sweden is a notable exception, having experienced a sharp rise in gun violence over recent decades despite strict laws, attributed to factors like gang activity, lax sentencing, and illegal arms trafficking5.
In summary, European gun control measures have contributed to low firearm homicide rates overall, but the effectiveness of these laws are influenced by enforcement, cultural context, and illegal firearms circulation.
Based on established knowledge, Canada has a system of firearm regulation that includes licensing requirements, background checks, and registration for certain types of firearms. Canadian gun laws are generally stricter than those in the United States but less restrictive than many European countries.
Canada’s firearm homicide rate is relatively low compared to the US but higher than most Western European countries. The country has seen efforts to tighten gun control, such as banning certain assault-style rifles and enhancing background checks.