It seems like every day, there’s someone on the news or the internet that’s dead set on voicing their opinions about America’s guns. The second amendment in our Constitution has become a hot button issue over the last several years as the media focuses more and more on the spree of mass shootings that have become commonplace in our modern society. Hey, no judgement on the right to bare arms; they’re baked right into the foundation of the country and they’re extremely important to a large percentage of law-abiding citizens who’ve simply earned the right to feel protected in their own home. Of course, that’s America; the rest of the world has tackled the gun problem in an entirely different manner. And since it’s sometimes helpful to view our own country through the lens of others’ experiences, here, for your consideration, are a few of the ways our international brethren have handled guns in their country.
1. Canada Is Close, But Stricter
Canadian gun laws are actually fairly close to America’s in terms of how they’re handled. The country’s capital, Ottawa, makes their own gun restrictions that can be modified by Canada’s provinces and territories. Those gun owners wishing to purchase a rifle or shotgun are required to be 18 years old, pass a background check, and take a public safety course. Anyone hoping to obtain a semi-automatic weapon needs to go through the federal government and a more rigorous testing process. What’s interesting is that although many Canadians have guns, they don’t tend to use them on each other like their neighbors to the south do. Canada’s firearm-related homicide rate is around seven times lower than the United States’ (3.5 per 100,000 population). You’re more likely to be shot to death in the U.S. than you are to die in a car accident in Canada.
2. Israel Gets by With Its Unique Culture
In Israel, the United States’ ally in the Middle East, military service is compulsory and the threat of attack is nearly constant. As a result, guns of all types are a daily reality in the country. While the country has strict gun laws in place, some Jewish writers have claimed that guns are still ever-present in society (because pretty much everyone is a soldier and therefore has access to an assault weapon). However, there’s not much of a gun problem in Israel thanks mostly to the country’s inclusion of firearms (and firearm safety) into everyday life.
3. Japan Leans Strict Regulation
No matter how you look at it, Japan is winning the gun crime competition. The country is only victim to gun crime for one in every ten million of its citizens, making Japan the country with the lowest instance of gun crime in the world. Some experts link this phenomenon to Japan’s incredibly strict gun laws in which only shotguns, air guns, and a very limited selection of other options are available. The Japanese government also mandates that its people undergo a rigorous series of written, background, drug, and mental tests as well as annual reviews in order to own a weapon in the country.
