Gun law in the Czech Republic

Gun laws in the Czech Republic in many respects differ from those in other Member states of the European Union (see Gun laws in the European Union). A gun in the Czech Republic is available to anybody subject to acquiring a shall issue firearms license. Gun licenses may be obtained in a way similar to a driving license – by passing a gun proficiency exam, medical examination and having a clean criminal record. Unlike in most other European countries, the Czech gun legislation also permits a citizen to carry a concealed weapon for self-defense – 250,342 out of 307,372 legal gun owners have a concealed carry permit (31 Dec 2020).[4] The vast majority of Czech gun owners possess their firearms for protection, with hunting and sport shooting being less common.[5]

A gun shop in Prague. Pistols, modern sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines are all shall issue.
Total number of gun license holders and registered firearms in the Czech Republic since the fall of communism[1][2][3]

The beginning of Czech civilian firearms ownership dates back to 1421, with the first use of firearms as the primary weapons of Hussite militia (see History of Czech civilian firearms possession). Firearms became indispensable tools for the mostly commoner militia in a war for religious freedom and political independence. Firearms possession became common throughout and after the Hussite wars. The universal right to keep arms for "all people of all standing" was formally affirmed in the 1517 Wenceslaus Agreement. Throughout its 600-year history, Czech firearms legislation remained permissive, with the exception of periods of German Nazi occupation and Communist dictatorship. Today, ability to be legally armed is considered a symbol of liberty in the country, alongside freedom of speech and free elections.

The English term pistol originated in 15th-century Czech language.[6] Mariánská skála in Ústí nad Labem is Europe's oldest continually-open shooting range, established in 1617.[7][8]

History
A replica of 1420s Hussite war wagon with embrasures for firearms.
Main article: History of Czech civilian firearms possession

History of Czech civilian firearms possession extends over 600 years back when the Czech lands became the center of firearms development, both as regards their technical aspects as well as tactical use.

In 1419, the Hussite revolt against Catholic church and Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor started. The ensuing Hussite wars over religious freedom and political independence represented a clash between professional Crusader armies from all around Europe, relying mostly on standard medieval tactics and cold weapons, and primarily commoners' militia-based Czech forces which relied on use of firearms. First serving as auxiliary weapons, firearms gradually became indispensable for the Hussite armies.

1421 marks a symbolical beginning of the Czech civilian firearms possession due to two developments: enactment of formal duty of all inhabitants to obey call to arms by provisional elected Government in order to defend the country and first battle in which Hussite Taborite militia employed firearms as the main weapons of attack.[9]

Universal right to keep arms was affirmed in 1517 Wenceslaus Agreement. In 1524 the Enactment on Firearms was passed, establishing rules and permits for carrying of firearms. Firearms legislation remained permissive until the 1939-1945 German occupation. The 1948-1989 period of Communist dictatorship marked another period of severe gun restrictions.[10]

Permissive legislation returned in 1990s. Citizen's ability to be armed has been considered an important aspect of liberty. The "right to acquire, keep and bear arms" is explicitly recognized in the first Article of the Firearms Act. As of 2021 a proposal to include constitutional "right to defend own life or life of another person also with arms" is being debated by the Parliament.

Current law
The right to acquire, keep and bear firearms is guaranteed under conditions set by this law.

Article 1 Subsection 1 of the Czech Firearms Act

Cornerstones of current Czech gun law remain the same since the 1990s: precisely defined requirements that an applicant must meet in order to be granted a license. Once a person obtains the necessary license, the law is relatively permissive as regards both the type of firearms that become legally accessible, as well as possibility of their concealed carry for personal protection. At the same time, the issuing authority (police) firearm owners' database is connected to information needed for a background check and red flags any incidents that may lead to loss of license requirements. Similarly, health clearance by the general practitioner is needed for periodical renewal of license (every ten years).

Under Act No. 119/2002 Coll.[11] every citizen that meets the act's conditions has the right to have firearms license issued and can then obtain a firearm.[12][13] Holders of D (exercise of profession) and E (self-defense) licenses, which are also shall-issue, can carry up to two concealed firearms for protection.[14]

License type Minimum age Ammunition restriction Note No. (31 Dec 2020)[4]
A – Collecting 21 3 pcs or 1 smallest production package of the same type, caliber & brand [15] The only license type under which an A-category firearm may be acquired (subject to may-issue exemption). In case of A-category firearm possession, the license holder must allow access for inspection of its safe storage to police officers.[16] 104,874
B – Sport 18
15 for members of a shooting club		 None 162,035
C – Hunting 18
16 for pupils at schools with hunting curriculum		 None 114,627
D – Exercise of profession 21
18 for pupils at schools conducting education on firearms or ammunition manufacturing		 Only ammunition for the firearm in possession (no restriction on quantity). Cannot own any firearms (unless holder also of another type of license), only possess & carry concealed firearms owned by the employer (any category).
Open carry for members of Municipal Police, Czech National Bank's security while in duty		 67,054
E – Protection of life, health and property 21 Only ammunition for the firearm owned (no restriction on quantity). Concealed carry
(up to 2 guns ready for immediate use)		 250,342
Firearms Act
Czech Parliament
CitationNo. 119/2002 Coll.
Enacted byCzech Parliament
Enacted9 April 2002
Commenced1 January 2003
Introduced byMiloš Zeman's Government
Related legislation
Regulation of Ministry of Interior No. 221/2017 Coll., on Execution of Certain Sections of Firearms and Ammunition Act (Firearms Regulation)
Status: In force

Types of licenses

There are five types of gun license; however, these should not be mistaken with the categories for guns.[17]

A – Firearm collection
B – Sport shooting
C – Hunting
D – Exercise of a profession
E – Self-defense

Obtaining a license

An applicant applies for a gun license at a designated local office of the National police. If the conditions of age, qualification, health clearance, criminal integrity and personal reliability are met and a fee of 700 CZK (US$ 30.53) per type is paid, the license shall be issued in thirty days.[18] The license must be renewed every ten years[13] (no need to undergo qualification exam if the application is filed at least two months before termination of the previous license; health clearance still necessary[19]).

Age

To obtain a B or C type license, the applicant must be at least 18 years old. Under special circumstances, the applicant need only be 15 if a member of a sporting club, or 16 if taught hunting in schools with such a curriculum. To obtain an A, D or E type license, the applicant must be 21.[20]

Qualification
Apart from gun legislation, the theoretical part of the exam focuses also on first aid
Field strip is usually required to demonstrate "safe handling"

Obtaining the license requires passing a theoretical and practical exam.

  • Theoretical exam: The theoretical exam consists of a written test of 30 multiple choice questions (Created and distributed by the Ministry of the Interior) with a maximum of 79 points possible. To pass the written exam, 67 points are needed for typey A, 71 for type B or C, and 74 for type D or E.[21] The test deals with the following issues:
  • knowledge of firearms legislation,[22]
  • knowledge of legislation related to legitimate use of firearm (e.g. self-defense),[23]
  • general knowledge of firearms and ammunition,[24] and
  • first aid.[25]
  • Practical exam
  • Safe handling:[26] this comprises
  • inspecting, whether the firearm is loaded (safely unloading),[27]
  • field stripping as needed for clean-up,[28]
  • preparation of firearm and ammunition for shooting, shooting, procedure of handling the firearm in case of malfunction, conclusion of shooting.[29]
Touching the trigger, pointing in different than appointed safe direction or trying to field strip loaded gun (dummy round is used) results in the applicant failing the exam. Depending on the types of licenses sought, applicants may be asked to show their ability of safe manipulation on multiple firearms (typically CZ 75 and/or CZ 82 pistol, bolt-action CZ 452 rifle and a double-barreled shotgun).[30]
  • Shooting test,[31] which requires specific scores dependent on the type of license applied for:
  • For the B type license it is 25m on rifle target (A4 sheet sized) with 4 out of 5 rounds hitting the target sheet shooting from a rifle (2 out of five for A type). .22 Long Rifle chambered rifle is used.[32] Alternatively, an applicant can shoot a pistol on 50/20 pistol target at 10 m.
  • For the C type license, the applicant must fires at 25m with a rifle (same as cat. B) and also successfully hit the rifle target from the distance of 25m shooting from a shotgun (Usually double-barreled), 3 out of 4 rounds must hit the target (at least partially).[33]
  • For the E type license, the applicant must successfully hit the international pistol target 50/20 (50 cm x 50 cm) from a distance of 10m (15m for D type license) shooting from a pistol, 4 out of 5 rounds must hit the sheet (2 out of 5 for A type).[34]
In each of the cases above, the actual score is irrelevant; the projectiles simply have to hit the target sheet within the circles.[35] Also in each case, the applicant is allowed 3 test shots to familiarize with the particular firearm used for the test. The shotgun is an exception to this, where only one round is allowed as a test shot.[36]

A person can obtain more or all of the types at once. But the set of types needs to be known before the exam and highest score needs to be met.[37] Typically, people obtain E and B type because these two types provide the best versatility (almost any firearm can be owned and carried concealed). The D type is required by the law for the members of the municipal police (members of the state police do not need a license for on-duty firearms) and does not itself permit private gun ownership (unless the person obtains also other license type).[38]

Health clearance

Applicant (license holder) must be cleared by his general practitioner as being fit to possess, carry and use a firearm. The health check includes probes into the applicant's anamnesis (i.e. medical history) and a complete physical screening (including eyesight, hearing, balance). The doctor may request examination by a specialist in case he deems it necessary to exclude illnesses or handicaps stated in the respective governmental regulation. Specialist medical examination is obligatory in case of illnesses and handicaps that restrict the ability to drive a car.[39]

Governmental Regulation No. 493/2002 Coll.[40] divides the listed illnesses and handicaps into four groups, covering various issues from psychological and psychiatrical to eyesight and hearing (for example, the applicant must be able to hear casual speech over distance of 6 meters to be cleared for the E type). Generally, the regulation is more permissive when it comes to the license type A and B, and more strict with view to the other types, listing which illnesses and handicaps may curtail or outright prevent positive clearance by the general practitioner.[41] The outcome of the medical examination may be either full clearance, denial, or conditional clearance that lists obligatory health accessories (glasses, hearing aid, etc.) or sets obligatory escort when armed (e.g. B – sport shooters with minor psychological issues, or with addiction habits cured more than three years prior to the health check).[42]

Barrel for dry firing for civilians at a police station in Karviná, Czech Republic. After unloading, a person aims the firearm into the barrel and dry fires it. The barrel is constructed so as to safely contain a fired bullet in case the owner mistakenly leaves a live cartridge in the chamber.

Criminal integrity

The enactment specifies the amount of time that must elapse after a person is released from prison for serving time for particular groups of crimes. Ex-convicts punished for committing selected crimes, such as public endangerment, or participation in organized crime group or murder, if sentenced to more than 12 years imprisonment, may never fulfill this condition.[43] There is a central registry of criminal offenses in the Czech Republic. The criminal integrity is reviewed notwithstanding any possible expungement of the records for other purposes.[44]

  • After being conditionally discharged, the criminal integrity is regained after the probation period ends or in 3 years in special cases
  • After serving less than 2 years or being sentenced to different kind of punishment than imprisonment, the criminal integrity is regained after 5 years
  • After being sentenced for 2 to 5 years, the criminal integrity is regained after 10 years
  • After being sentenced for 5 to 12 years, the criminal integrity is regained after 20 years
  • After being sentenced for more than 12 years (for defined crimes, such as murder, treason, etc.) the criminal integrity is never regained.

Conditional discharge does not count, only the original sentence.

Police may order temporary seizure of firearm license and firearms in case that the holder is charged with any intentional crime, or a negligent crime connected with breach of duties relating to possession, carrying or use of firearms or ammunition.[45]

Personal reliability

A person who verifiably excessively drinks alcohol or uses illegal drugs, as well who was repeatedly found guilty of specified misdemeanors (e.g. related to firearms, DUI, public order, etc.) in the preceding three years, is considered unreliable for the purposes of issuing a gun license. The police has the right to inquire information regarding these issues also from municipal authorities (misdemeanors are dealt with by municipal authorities and there is no central registry related to them).[46]

Losing reliability is caused by:

  • Committing a crime and being conditionally discharged, until the probation period ends.
  • Excessive use of alcohol or addictive substances
  • Committing multiple misdemeanors from specific segments of the law (Regarding Firearms, Explosives, Driving under influence, Czech Republic defense, public order, property and illegal hunting/fishing). Only one transgression in the last 3 years is tolerated. Other types of misdemeanors do not count to personal reliability criteria.

Police may order temporary seizure of firearm license and firearms in case that administrative proceedings against the holder are initiated for committing selected misdemeanors (e.g. carrying while intoxicated, refusing to undergo intoxication test while armed, shooting outside licensed range unless in self-defense).[45]

Obtaining of a license by a foreigner

The law distinguishes foreigners according to their country of origin. For selected foreigners, a license is shall-issue as same as for Czech citizens, while for others it is a may-issue.[47]

  • Shall-issue
    • foreigners from countries of the EU, European Economic Area and Switzerland (in case of their being granted temporary or permanent residency, then also their family members)
    • foreigners from NATO countries
    • foreigners having been granted permanent residency in the Czech Republic and long-term EU residency or long-term residency in other state of EU and longterm residency in the Czech Republic (and their family members, if having been granted long-term residency)
    • persons having been granted international asylum in the Czech Republic
  • May-issue
    • other foreigners (no appeal possible against decision of appropriate police department to deny permit)

Foreign born residents are treated equally in the eye of Czech law (see above), but proof of a lack of criminal record in their country of origin must be provided;[48] persons having residence also in another EU country must provide documentation showing that they are allowed to own a firearm therein.[49] All the documents must be translated into Czech language by a sworn translator.[48]

Foreigners with registered place of residence in the Czech Republic may purchase firearms after obtaining corresponding licenses and permits; persons having residence in another EU country must provide documentation showing that they are allowed to own such a firearm therein in order to be granted a permit to purchase a B category gun.[50]

The written test as well as the practical exam has to be taken in the Czech language. Until 31 December 2011, test-takers were allowed to use a sworn interpreter/translator, but this has since been forbidden.[51][52]

Categories of guns

However obtaining the necessary exemption from police is rather difficult, often also inoperability of the main cannon is required.[53]]] Under the current gun law, guns, ammunition and some accessories are divided into four categories (these should not be mistaken with types of licenses):

Firearm category Type of firearms Requirements to acquire and possess Number[4]
A – Restricted firearms[54]
  • firearms with calibre of 20mm or larger intended for launching munitions,
  • fully automatic firearms,
  • insidious firearms (made or adapted in order to conceal their purpose or to inflict more serious effect, or masked as other objects),
  • firearms made from non-metal elements if they are unidentifiable during baggage control by detection and RTG machines,
  • shooting booby traps,
  • ammunition with armor piercing, explosive, incendiary or other bullet with active charge, with exception of signal projectiles
 1,160
A-I – Restricted firearms
  • automatic firearms which have been converted into semi-automatic firearms
  • semi-automatic firearms, into which an over-the-limit magazine was inserted
  • semi-automatic long firearms that are originally intended to be fired from the shoulder that are fitted with a folding, telescoping or without-tools-removable stock, the folding, telescoping or removing of which can reduce its length of less than 600 mm without affecting functionality
  • air or blank-firing, unless made according to a special regulation
  • ammunition intended for short firearms with expanding bullet
 (Unknown number - category introduced in 2021 as EU Directive implementation / complete grandfathering)
B – Guns requiring permit[55]
  • short repeating or semi-automatic firearms
  • short single or multiple shot firearms
  • rim-fire firearms under 280 mm of length
  • long semi-automatic firearms with magazine capacity over 3 rounds or with a detachable magazine
  • long firearms with non-rifled barrel under 600 mm of length
  • single or multiple shot, repeating or semi-automatic long firearms not mentioned in the previous two bullet-points
  • semi-automatic firearms if they resemble fully automatic firearms
  • signal weapons with calibre over 16 mm
 429,867
C – Guns requiring registration[56]
  • single shot or repeating rimfire firearms longer than 280 mm
  • single, multiple, repeating or semi-automatic long rifles for rimfire or centerfire ammunition or Lefaucheux cartridge not included in B category,
  • air rifles with muzzle energy over 16J, apart from paintball,
  • silencers
  • more than two shot and repeating black powder firearms
  • Gun license
  • Registration
 423,505
C-I – Guns requiring registration
  • originally A, A-I, B, C firearms that were deactivated in line with respective EU Regulation.
  • blank-firing made in accordance with special regulation
  • single or two shot black powder firearms
  • firearms for flobert, 4mm M20 or other cartridge with similar muzzle energy intended for adversarial training
  • gas weapons with caliber larger than 6,35mm, apart from paintball
  • firearms intended for adversarial training with muzzle energy no more than 20J
  • signal firearms with caliber larger than 16mm
  • taser
  • 18 years of age
  • full legal capacity
  • place of residence in the Czech Republic
  • clean criminal record
  • full mental capacity
  • registration
 (Unknown number - category introduced in 2021 as EU Directive implementation / complete grandfathering)
D – Guns available to adults above 18 [57]
  • historical firearms,
  • paintball
  • gas weapons with caliber smaller than 6,35mm
  • blank firing machines
  • deactivated firearms that are not subject to EU Regulation and which were made permanently inoperable
  • cut-away replicas
  • non-active torsos of firearms
  • non-active ammunition
  • firearms not mentioned in categories A,A-I,B,C,C-I,D
 18 years of age N/A

A person must obtain the Gun License (Zbrojní průkaz) to be allowed to own gun of categories A, A-I, B and C.[58] To own a gun in the D category only the age of 18 is required.[59] A, A-I, B, C and C-I category weapon has to be registered within 10 working day with the police after it is bought.[60]

Other
Item Classification Requirements
Ammunition reloading Gun license
Black powder Possession of black powder firearm.
Standard ammunition
  • A, B, C type gun license, or
  • D, E type of gun license and firearm appropriate to use the ammunition
Expanding ammunition for use in long firearm Gun license
Expanding ammunition for use in short firearm A-I
  • gun license
  • shall-issue "exemption permit" (general one-time)
Armour piercing, incendiary, explosive ammunition A
  • A type gun license
  • may-issue exemption (for particular type and number)
Magazines w/ capacity max 10/20 (long/short gun) None
Magazines w/ capacity over 10/20 (long/short gun) "Over-the-limit-magazines"
  • A-I category firearm (only mags for use in the firearm), or
  • shall-issue "exemption permit" (general one-time).
Silencers C category accessory
  • gun license
  • registration
Tasers C-I category firearm
  • 18 years of age
  • full legal capacity
  • place of residence in the Czech Republic
  • absence of felony conviction
  • full mental capacity
  • registration
Laser sights None
Night vision scopes None
Mechanical weapons (bows, crossbows) None
Cold weapons None
Pepper sprays None
Electric paralyzers None

Obtaining firearms
ČZ 75 is the most common firearm in the country[61]

A, A-I, B and C category of firearms may be acquired and possessed only by gun license holders and their transfer must be registered with police within 10 days. A-category firearms may be acquired only for collecting purposes and are subject to may-issue exemption. Each of A-I and B category firearm is subject to shall-issue permitting process. C category firearms can be purchased by any gun license holder.

C-I category of firearms may be acquired and possessed by a person older than 18, with full legal capacity, place of residence in the Czech Republic, without conviction for selected felonies, full mental capacity. Transfer must be registered with police within 10 days.

D category fiearms are available to anyone older than 18 and are not subject to registration.

There is no limit in the law on the number of owned guns. The law specifies safe storage requirements for those owning more than two weapons or more than 500 rounds of ammunition. Additional safe storage requirements are stipulated for those owning more than 10 and more than 20 firearms.[62]

Possession of a firearm that does not belong to category D or C-I without a gun license (as well as sale, manufacturing, procurement, etc.) is a criminal offense which carries a penalty of up to two years imprisonment (up to eight years in defined cases).[63]

Using firearms and shooting ranges

Shooting is permitted only within licensed shooting ranges or when allowed by special laws, e.g. hunting or self-defense.[64]

Shooting of blank rounds or signal weapons is also permitted in case that it does not threaten life, health and public order.[64]

There are about two hundred places opened for the public.[65] Any adult can visit such a range and shoot from available weapons. A person without a gun license has to be supervised (if younger than 18, then by a person at least 21 years old who has been a holder of a gun license for at least 3 years).[66]

Rules on open and concealed carry
It is forbidden to carry any weapon during a public demonstration. Police sometimes conduct searches for weapons especially in case of parallel demonstrations of ideological adversaries, such as left-wing and right-wing extremists.

Rules on carrying of firearms underwent general overhaul on 30 January 2021, allowing more flexibility for open carry of firearms during special events when open carry is considered customary, e.g. military re-enactment (including movement of units in historical uniforms between reenactment locations) and sports (e.g. biathlon).

  • A, B, C type gun license holders:[67]
    • General rule: Firearms must be transported unloaded and in closed container.
    • Open carry in publicly accessibly areas is possible in case that all of the following conditions are met:
      • firearm is unloaded, and
      • it is done within context of conducting activity that includes shooting or similar handling of firearms and ammunition, the rules of which permit gun license holder to open carry of a firearm, and
      • it is permitted as regards the chosen means of transport; when using public transport, a firearm must always be within a closed container, and
      • it may be considered appropriate under local conditions and within given activity, and
      • it does not disturb public order.
    • Open carry of loaded long firearm is also possible within hunting areas.
  • D, E type gun license holders:[68]
    • Concealed carry: Up to two firearms (loaded, with a round chambered).
  • D type gun license holders working for Municipal Police or Czech National Bank while on duty:[68]
    • Open carry: Up to two firearms (loaded, with a round chambered).

Firearms of D and C-I category (e.g. black powder derringer or gas pistol) must be carried in concealed manner. There are open carry exceptions similar as in case of gun license holders above.

It is prohibited to carry or transport a firearm with silencer installed.[69]

Carrying firearm while intoxicated is illegal and can lead to heavy fines and loss of the gun license.[70] Police often conduct intoxication tests of open-carrying hunters.[71]

The law does not include any "gun-free zones" provisions, apart from general prohibition of firearm carry during protests and demonstrations.[11] Public authorities that enact and practically enforce ban on firearm carrying within their premises are legally bound to provide option for storing a short firearm upon entry (either in a safe compliant with the Firearms Act or with a police officer).[72]

The Czech Republic is a relatively safe country: Prague, with the highest crime rate in the country, still ranks as one of the safest capitals in the European Union.[73] Considering the number of E type licenses issued, there are about 240,000 people who could potentially carry a firearm; however, it is not clear how many regularly do so.[74]

Ammunition and magazine restrictions
Hollow point ammunition may be used in short firearms subject to acquiring a shall-issue "exemption permit" and is unregulated for use in long firearms.

Ammunition may be purchased only by a gun license holder. Owners of historical firearms (D - category) can also purchase ammunition suitable for their firearm without a gun license.

High-penetrating (armor-piercing) ammunition is classified as category A.[54]

Hollow point bullets for use in short firearms are classified in A-I category and available subject to shall-issue exemption permit. For use in long firearms, hollow point bullets are treated the same as other types of ammunition.[75]

There are no restrictions on caliber type, however firearms with caliber larger than 20mm (apart from signal weapons) are classified as category A. Special safe storage requirements apply for those having more than 500, 10,000 and 20,000 bullets.[62]

January 2021 amendment of the Firearms Act necessitated by the EU Gun Ban introduced "over-the-limit" magazines, i.e. those holding more than 10/20 rounds for use in long/short firearms. These may be used in a B category firearm subject to shall issue exemption permit; previous owners were grandfathered.[76]

Armament licences

Gun licences equivalent for conducting business with firearms. Divided into 11 types.

  • A – Development or manufacturing of firearms/ammunition
  • B – Repairs, modifications or deactivation of firearms/ammunition
  • C – Firearms/ammunition buying and selling
  • D – Lending and safekeeping of firearms/ammunition
  • E – Deactivation or destruction of weapons/ammunition
  • F – Training in handling and using firearms/ammunition
  • G – Providing security for persons/property.
  • H – Cultural, sports and hobby shooting activities.
  • I – Collecting and displaying firearms/ammunition
  • J – Securing tasks defined by special legal enactments.
  • K – Pyrotechnical Survey (replaced F type gun licence in 2017)

Self defense with firearms
A woman trains real-life defensive gun use scenarios with live ammunition at a video shooting range in Prague, Czech Republic.

There are three main concepts in Czech law which exclude criminal & civil liability based on self-defense. "Utmost necessity" (krajní nouze) may be invoked against a danger other than an attack by another person, such as a raging dog. "Necessary self defense" (nutná obrana) may be invoked against attack by another person, be it a direct assault or a dog ordered to attack. The third concept is called "eligible use of a gun" (oprávněné užití zbraně) and generally may not be invoked by civilians, but rather by police or other officers.[77]

Czech law does not include specific provisions regarding self-defense with use of a weapon. Same rules apply in case of unarmed defense or defense with any type of weapon. The Ministry of the Interior officially recommends carrying non-lethal weapons such as pepper sprays, paralyzers, or gas pistols as means of self-defense.[78] Unlike in most other European countries, Czech citizens have the right to keep and bear firearms for personal protection, for which they must first obtain a shall-issue license.

A number of successful defensive uses of firearms or other weapon is being cleared as legitimate self-defense by authorities every year without raising wider public concern, including for example a 2014 shooting of an attacker by a bartender in Hořovice,[79] or a 2014 shooting of an aggressive burglar in a garage by homeowner in Čimice.[80] However, some cases become rather notable, see Self-defence (Czech Republic)#Defensive gun use cases.

Popularity of guns
PAR MK3 Rifle - locally produced AR-15 derivative popular for home defense as well as sport shooting

Given that firearms possession was banned during German Nazi occupation and then allowed only to those deemed loyal during the Communist regime, the right to be armed is seen as one of attributes of liberty in the country. Together with rapid rise of criminality involving illegal firearms following the Velvet Revolution, this led to fast rise in legal firearms ownership in the country in the 1990s. By 2001, some 3% of population possessed firearms licenses. The number of license holders was falling slightly from this point (faster as regards C licenses, while E licenses remained mostly level) until the 2015 EU Gun Ban Proposal, from which point the number of license holders began to rise again (mostly E licenses).[2] The police recorded a tripling of average monthly applications for firearms licenses by the end of 2015 compared to the beginning of that year.[81]

While the number of license holders started to rise gradually, firearm sales rose even faster in 2015, mostly prompted by the EU efforts to restrict law abiding citizens' access to firearms.[82] Average annual rise in the number of registered firearms amounted to 14,500 guns between 2006 and 2014, there were 54,508 new registered firearms in 2015 alone.[3] Local tendencies generally follow the nationwide trend, however any worsening of security in any given district is often followed by a sharp rise in gun ownership therein. For example, in 2011, after a wave of racially motivated attacks by Romani perpetrators against majority population victims, there was a rise of gun ownership in Šluknov Hook area.[83]

250,342 out of 307,372 (2020) gun owners have self-defense licenses, which permit them to carry concealed firearms for protection (any B or C category firearm, not only pistols). Following a wave of terror attacks around Europe, a number of politicians as well as security professionals started urging gun owners to actually carry firearms in order to be able to contribute to soft targets protection. These included, among many others, the President Miloš Zeman, whose own wife obtained E license and a revolver,[84] as well as Libor Lochman, Chief of URNA, the country's main special forces anti-terrorism unit.[85] While there are no statistics as regards how many E license holder actually do carry firearms in general, there are places known for high concealed carry rate, such as Prague Jewish Quarter.[86]

Unlike elsewhere in Europe, there is a relatively high proportion of semi-automatic firearms in the country, which are generally considered better suited for self-defense. The most owned firearms in the country are CZ 75 Compact and Glock 17.[87] Other popular guns include 1911 clones and semi-automatic rifles made by Czech manufacturers, especially vz. 58 and AR-15 (of which there are 5 domestic manufacturers). There are relatively fewer revolvers, mostly from US manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson and Colt, or Czech producers ALFA and Kora.[61]

Incidents and gun crimes
Number of legally owned firearms in the Czech Republic (in thousands) and total number of victims of intentional homicide by any object[88]
Selected crimes and perpetrator's weapon of choice (2018)

It is generally not common for licensed gun owners to commit violent crimes with their guns, and most of the gun crimes are committed with illegal weapons that are beyond the control of the law.[89] Annually, police investigate about 500 cases of illegal arming (with or without direct connection to committing other crime).[87]

Police recorded 45 violent crimes (most of them, 17, being "dangerous threats" and 6 homicides - including attempts, mostly intra-family) being committed with legal firearms (A,B,C category) in 2016, down from 71 in 2014 and 51 in 2015 respectively. Meanwhile, illegally possessed firearms (A,B,C category) were used in 71 violent crimes (9 murders) in 2016. When resorting to use of firearms, perpetrators mostly utilize non-lethal free-to-buy D category weapons (see above) that resemble real guns, with 906 such crimes taking place in 2016.[90] Apart from simple threats, the most common crime committed with firearms is robbery. Out of 1.500 robberies recorded in 2016, 153 took place with use of D category free-to-buy non-lethal weapons, 24 with illegally possessed firearms and 3 with legally possessed firearms (out of over 900,000 legally owned firearms).[90]

It is important to note that Czech police records completed and attempted homicides in the same category. The total number of people shot dead (homicides, police action, self defense), without distinction of legal or illegal source of gun, is recorded by CZSO. CZSO recorded 7 gun related assault deaths in 2016, 9 in 2017 and 5 in 2018.[91]

In 2018, police recorded three homicides with legally held firearms including attempts of which one was subsequently ruled self defense and the other was ruled manslaughter with only a probation sentence, leaving a single criminal murder.[92]

Overall, legally held firearms are implicated in about 3.5% of murders including attempts while 7% of the adult male population owns one (adult males are responsible for about 90% of murders in the Czech Republic).[93]

Occasionally, crimes with legally owned guns do happen. The most notable examples include:

  • 2001 shooting of three policemen who were called by a woman claiming she was being attacked by her husband. On the scene, the policemen were negotiating with the husband who was threatening to commit suicide with his legally owned .38 revolver. When the situation seemed about to be peacefully solved, the hysteric wife ran into the room. The husband thereafter shot three policemen (two mortally) and committed suicide.[94]
  • 2005 "Forest Killer", who was planning to go on a killing spree in Prague Metro. As part of his preparation, the former policeman randomly murdered two hikers in a forest and another person four days later in another forest about 200 km from the first killing with his legally owned Glock. Police captured Kalivoda a week later, thus preventing further murders.[95] Kalivoda was sentenced to life imprisonment. While in prison, he committed suicide in 2010.[96] Being a former policeman, Kalivoda had passed a difficult psychological evaluation as part of the police selection procedure.[97]
  • 2013 Raškovice shooting, where a 31-year-old schoolteacher invaded house of one of his students, aged 17, with whom he had allegedly been previously intimately involved, and shot the student and her grandparents, using various legally owned firearms (with caliber .22, .38 and .45). The perpetrator had passed psychological evaluation ordered by his general practitioner before getting gun license. He was sentenced to 27 years imprisonment.[98][99][100]
  • 2015 Uherský Brod shooting, the second mass murder committed with a firearm in the country's peacetime history, in which a deranged individual murdered 8 people (same death toll as Olga Hepnarová's 1973 vehicular murder). He was a holder of a gun license and legally owned both of the guns he used in the shooting. Previously, he and his wife committed misdemeanors against public order, which would have allowed police to revoke his license.[101] The first mass murder with use of a firearm in modern (post 1993) Czech history happened in 2009 in Petřvald with four victims and the third happened in 2019 in Ostrava with seven people shot dead; both were committed with illegally held handguns.[102]

General attitudes to guns

Those who [legally] carry guns are the most polite citizens. We don't take part in brawls, we don't quarrel on the street, we don't drink & drive even with the lowest amount of alcohol in blood, because so little may be sufficient to lose the gun license and being forced to sell the gun.

— Stanislav Gibson, director of Lex, a Czech firearms owners' lobby association[61]

The gun law in the Czech Republic is quite liberal. It is mostly caused by the fact that after the fall of communist regime people wanted to regain their rights to keep and bear arms and these needs resulted in passing quite liberal legislation in 1995, which surpassed the previous restrictive communist enactment. The law became widely accepted and led to quite massive civilian arming. Especially many businessmen felt the actual need to obtain a firearm because the times shortly after the Velvet Revolution are known for the rise in organized crime often related to the economic transformation in the early 1990s.[103]

The biggest attempt on restricting firearm ownership happened in 1999, Minister of the interior Václav Grulich proposed a new law, compliant with the EU requirements, which would severely restrict gun ownership by requiring the membership in a sports club for sports license and proof of "danger to life" for concealed carry permit and self-defense gun ownership. However, the proposal sparked opposition in the Chamber of deputies, the main concern being immense corruption potential in the proposed "may issue" doctrine, and the proposal was rejected by all parties in the chamber, except for Social Democrats, the party of Grulich himself. 5 years earlier, a similar motion was proposed by Zdeněk Trojan, a deputy for ČSSD, in a form of amendment to a government proposed firearms act (the one that was enacted in 1995) but found very little support and was rejected.

Sport shooting is the third most widespread sport in the Czech Republic (after football and ice hockey)[61]

Due to falling crime rates, fewer people felt the need to carry a firearm for protection after 2000. This trend however changed in 2015 following the European migrant crisis and November 2015 Paris attacks. Gun advocacy groups argue that there is no point in banning guns because criminals will get guns no matter how tight the law is.[61] At the same time, however, the rules are deemed to be restrictive enough to prevent criminals from easily obtaining firearms, while allowing upstanding citizens to own them for personal protection. For example, in 2010, Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik, incited by a BBC documentary which described Prague as "being the most important transit site point for illicit weapons in Europe", found himself unable to obtain any in the country when preparing for the 2011 Norway attacks.[104][105][106] Similarly, a Polish terrorist obtained guns illegally in 1200 km distant Belgium, despite living mere 70 km from the Czech border.[107] Also, the fact that Czech Republic has a strong tradition in firearms manufacturing and competition shooting contributes to generally moderate attitude to gun control.[61]

Obligatory psychological testing for gun owners is a common subject of discussion, but it has always been rejected. Gun advocates point out that the nature of the tests and the parties responsible for them are not clear. It is also pointed out that it is unlikely that any psychological testing would reveal a potentially dangerous individual, because some famous killers in the past were members of the military or the law enforcement and passed very difficult psychological testing successfully.[97]

About a fifth of members of the Czech Parliament are holders of gun license; some of them are believed to conceal carry also within the parliament grounds (parliamentarians are not required to pass gun check on entry unlike other staff or visitors).[108]

Other types of weapons

There is currently no regulation on other type of weapons such as knives, pepper sprays, batons or electrical paralyzers. These items can be freely bought and carried.[78] Similarly as in the case of firearms, it is prohibited to carry these weapons to court buildings, demonstrations and mass meetings.[109] The Ministry of the Interior officially recommends carrying non-lethal weapons such as pepper sprays, paralyzers, or gas pistols as means of self-defense[78]

The Czech penal code defines "weapon" as "anything that may make an attack against the person more severe".[110] Although there are no restrictions on possession and carrying of weapons, their use in commission of a crime is punishable by stiffer sentences. For example, blackmail carries six months to four years imprisonment, but blackmail with a weapon carries four to eight years imprisonment.[111]

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