More legal firearms do not lead to more murders in Europe

Firearms are the most deadly weapons in common use. So you would expect that the more there are, the more murders are committed with them. But Katharina Krüsselmann did not find such a link when she compared studies on firearm use in Europe. She says this is in part because the murder rate is extremely low in many European countries, which makes small differences difficult to measure. In Europe, there are 3,000 firearm deaths each year. And European countries have strict rules and public information campaigns about safe weapon possession.

So why not let anyone buy a firearm in the shops if the number of murders won't rise anyway? That would be jumping to the wrong conclusion, says Krüsselmann. 'I didn't find that higher firearm availability is associated with fewer homicides. So we cannot say that more firearms make a country safer.'

Female homicide victims

Krüsselmann did find a relationship between legal firearm possession and female homicide victims. 'In some European countries, such as Finland and Switzerland, people hunt a lot more and there is a culture of having a firearm at home. In a conflict between partners or ex-partners, people grab a weapon that is close to hand.' In those countries that is a firearm. This emphasises the importance of strict legislation and public information campaigns about safe weapon use, she says.

Illegal firearms

To reduce firearm violence, prevention measures should be country-specific, says Krüsselmann. In some countries, firearm homicides are more common at home whereas in others, such as the Netherlands, they are associated with organised crime.

She also thinks research on firearms and their use in Europe should look at non-fatal shootings too. That would give a clearer picture of firearm violence and help develop effective policies to prevent it. It is difficult to get a full picture. In the Netherlands, for instance, the great majority of firearm homicides are carried out in the criminal underworld, with an illegal weapon. These weapons are often out of the authorities' sight.

Make Europe safer

In addition, firearms often change hands beyond country borders. And it is easy for criminals to go to other European countries. Firearm violence should therefore continue to be researched at the European level, says Krüsselmann. More insight and data are needed on firearm use in different countries. That will help identify trends and respond quickly to changes. 'We have to look at what exactly is happening in each country and respond so we can make Europe even safer.'

Text: Dagmar Aarts

• gun violence
• murder
• public order
• security
• violence

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