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The following two versions need to be merged:
Finland has one of the most liberal attitudes in Europe with regard to personal firearm ownership. The ownership and use of firearms is regulated by the Firearms Act of 1998.
There are over 2 million licenced firearms in Finland. With a population of around 5 million, this gives Finland an per-capita ownership rate of automatic weapons nearly ten times that of the United States, a federation often perceived to have excessive ownership of weapons. However, it must be noted that the firearms are mostly used for hunting which is a very popular sport in the countryside. Gun-ownership in towns and cites is less usual. The gun-related deaths are rare, resulting from the Finnish tradition of using knives and axes in alcoholic, homicidal outbursts of fury.
The right to carry arms is not recognized in Finland. A firearm can only be obtained with a gun licence, which can be obtained from the local police for 27. A separate licence is required for each individual firearm and family members can have a parallel licences to use the same firarm. Firearms must be stored in a secure place. Possessing a gun without a certificate is punishable, however illegal firearms may be turned over to the police without punishment, provided this happens by the individual's own initiative. Some 30,000, mostly ancient, firearms have been collected for destruction or public auctioning this way between 1999-2004. The ancient black-powder firearms made before 1890 are exempt from the license.
To obtain a firearms licence, the individual must have a valid reason to own a gun. Acceptable reasons are: hunting, sports or hobby, profession related, show or promotion or exhibition, collection or museum, souvenir, signalling. Self-protection is generally not a valid need: In practice only private security personnel can be licenced for protection. With the exemption of gun-collectors, automatic firearms and all heavy weapons such as artillery pieces and missile systems are banned from the civilians. However, different organizations of military reservists have organized the obtaining of thousands of semi-automatic assault rifles for national defence activists. This has seemingly had passive support of the government as the rifles are good for military use and decrease the need for defence spending. In case of a crisis such guns would probably be confiscated for military use or used by the reservists themselves in the armed forces.
The firearms certificate can be cancelled if a person has committed a violent or gun- or drug-related crime or broken certificate rules. Also physical and mental problems or reckless behavior are solid grounds for cancelling the certificate.
Gun laws were last changed 1998. At that time flare guns became subject to licensing, and some types of ammunition were specified especially dangerous and therefore practically banned from civilians. In 1999, all existing guns had to be reregistered to update records.
Sound suppressors, a firearm accessory strictly regulated in many other jurisdictions, are also widely available in Finland. Their use is not considered problematic as they are almost never used in crimes. In addition, they reduce the noise pollution that firearms practice could otherwide produce, and reduce hearing injuries in frequent shooters. However, such problems are also not significant in any case, as the shooting ranges are usually quite isolated and shooters use hearing protection.
During the Winter War of 1939, the military rifles owned by the Civil Guard members helped the national defence which badly lacked in resources. The pre-war public interest in the marksmanship also was a significant factor in the successful defence of the Country. However, despite some rumours in Wikipedia, the registration of firearms had no impact whatsoever on the war, as nearly all civilians were evacuated from the areas occupied by the Soviet army. The firearms in the areas were by then in the Finnish military use or destroyed in the burning of abandoned communities by the Finnish army. The guerilla activities in these areas were carried out by regular Finnish Army units. According to Finnish doctrine, these units usually were composed of local reservists who often used their own firearms.
It is useful to note that the Finnish gun-policy is a product of local history and culture and cannot easily be transferred to another country.
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Finnish gun policy:
- There are over 2 million licenced firearms in Finland
- right to own weapons is not considered fundamental
- guns are commonly used in hunting
- gun related deaths are very rare
- 1,000 guns are stolen every year
- estimated 200,000-300,000 guns without license exist
A firearm can only be obtained with a gun licence, which can be obtained from the local police for €27. A separate licence is required for each individual firearm. Firearms must be stored in a secure place. Possessing a gun without a certificate is punishable, however illegal firearms may be turned over to the police without punishment, provided this happens by the individual's own initiative. Some 30,000, mostly ancient, firearms have been collected for destruction or public auctioning this way between 1999-2004.
To obtain a firearms certificate, the individual must have a valid reason to own a gun. Acceptable reasons are: hunting, sports or hobby, profession related, show or promotion or exhibition, collection or museum, souvenir, signalling. Self-protection is generally not a valid need: police and e.g. private security personnel can be licenced for protection.
The need for a firearm must be established, with e.g. a hunting license or by being member of an appropriate club, or a certificate given by employer (usually police, private security or military). Permission for collection may be given only for person certified by state authority. Holders of souvenir weapons are not usually given permission to obtain ammunition.
Especially dangerous weapons, that include rocket and grenade launchers, breech loading cannons, missiles, artillery rockets, automatic weapons and disguised weapons are not permitted. Interior ministry may allow possession of such weapons for purposes of collecting, filming, exhibition or similar. Some ammunition (hollow point handgun ammunition, explosive, incendiary, tracer etc.) also requires a separate licence.
Also tear gas or OC sprays need permission, which is given, if it is shown that it is necessary for personal protection. Permissions are also given for education, training and collectors.
Gun laws were last changed 1998. At that time flare guns became subject to licensing, and some types of ammunition were specified especially dangerous. In 1999, all existing guns had to be reregistered to update records.
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