Prague, Aug 1 (CTK) – The number of gun licence holders rose by 5944 to 297,966 in the Czech Republic and there were 784,222 registered weapons this year, according to the statistics passed to CTK by the police command yesterday.
The figures refer to June 1.
In the previous five years, the number of gun licence holders was steadily falling, down from 311,667 in 2011 to the current 292,022 at the end of last year.
The rise only resumed this year.
On the other hand, the number of the possessed arms was steadily growing, from 706,900 in 2011 up to 806,895 at the end of last year.
The debate about arms possession flared up over the attack of a mad shooter in Uhersky Brod, south Moravia, who killed eight people last year.
Due to this, the government passed a law tightening the rules of gun possession, signed by President Milos Zeman.
However, Zeman said this Sunday that Czechs should arm themselves for defence against terrorism.
The number of gun licence holders and arms from 2011 to 2016:
Year Holders Arms
2011 311,667 706,900
2012 306,815 721,054
2013 292,976 736,405
2014 292,283 752,387
2015 292,022 806,895
2016* 297,966 784,722
Source: police command
pv/dr/kva
