An averted terrorist plot and up to date shootings in Reykjavík put weapons in Iceland within the highlight, sparking conversations about whether or not the Nordic nation ought to tighten its gun legal guidelines and provides extra leeway to police investigating crimes.
Iceland is famend for its protected society, usually topping lists as one of the peaceable nations on the earth.
Whereas gun violence is uncommon, an alleged terrorist plot and three latest shootings shocked Icelanders.
On 21 September, 4 Icelandic males have been arrested in Reykjavík, alleged to have engaged in producing 3D-printed weapons and to have conspired to make use of these weapons in opposition to unnamed authorities places of work.
In raids final month, police seized dozens of firearms and 1000’s of rounds of ammunition. Two males are presently in police custody, and two have been launched.
The latest headlines have despatched shockwaves by way of Iceland.
“When the information got here out concerning the alleged terrorist plot, you would really feel the alarm in society,” stated Helgi Gunnlaugsson, professor of criminology on the University of Iceland.
“It got here out of the blue; we don’t have a lot of these issues in Iceland.”
Final month’s terror plot arrests come on the heels of a capturing in Blönduós in north Iceland in August that left two individuals lifeless and one particular person injured and two different shootings in February.
It comes amid a surge within the variety of semi-automatic weapons being imported into Iceland. Police figures present there have been 252 such firearms imported in 2020, up from 19 the yr earlier than, two in 2018 and none through the earlier two years.
Excessive gun possession in Iceland
Whereas Iceland is understood for its peacefulness, gun possession is surprisingly excessive in Iceland.
There are an estimated 106,000 weapons held by civilians in Iceland — about one for each three individuals — and many of the weapons are rifles and shotguns somewhat than handguns, in accordance with figures compiled by the Gunpolicy.org database on the College of Sydney.
Armed crime is uncommon and the nation has strict gun legal guidelines: there have solely been 52 gun deaths within the final decade that statistics can be found, and 50 of them have been suicides.
“You must know that gun possession is excessive in Iceland, however the tradition behind it’s linked to looking or collectors,” stated Professor Gunnlaugsson.
“For farming communities, they’ve entry to shotguns, and it’s been part of Icelandic society to have weapons. It’s international to Icelanders to have a gun to guard your self or to level to another person. It’s an alien thought; not a part of the Icelandic mentality, which makes the latest information so surprising,” she advised Euronews.
Shopping for a gun is just not a straightforward course of both, as Icelandic legislation locations strict limits on gun possession.
To acquire a licence for a firearm, candidates should be not less than 20 years previous, go a medical evaluation to make sure they’re mentally and bodily match to deal with a gun and have a clear legal file.
Candidates should get suggestions from two individuals to attend a course on firearms, gun security, and gun and looking legal guidelines.
“You ship a request to the police, and should you go the necessities, you need to attend a seminar, taking part in two lectures, a written examination and a ‘hands-on day’ with an area gun membership,” stated Þórarinn Þórarinsson, a police officer in Reykjavík.
“For those who go this, you get your ‘A’ allow, permitting you to purchase .22 cal rifles and shotguns. After one yr, you possibly can apply for the ‘B’ allow – large rifles and semi-auto shotguns,” he stated.
Authorities desires to tighten gun legal guidelines much more
Regardless of the strict legal guidelines, Minister of Justice Jón Gunnarsson has expressed a need to strengthen gun legal guidelines additional. He’ll submit a proposal of adjustments to the legislation to parliament this autumn.
“Like I’ve repeatedly stated this yr, we’re reconsidering the entire authorized framework for getting a gun licence,” he advised the Icelandic newspaper Morgunblðið not too long ago.
“On the entire, the legislation is kind of strict, and it isn’t a straightforward course of getting a gun licence in comparison with the nations round us. However we’re going over these items, and that is on my agenda as a proposal for the autumn, to vary the authorized framework.”
Some gun homeowners are usually not against additional restrictions.
“For my part, I believe it’s okay to strengthen some legal guidelines and loosen others,” stated Sigurður Ingi Jónsson, from the Skotíþróttafélag Kópavogs capturing membership.
“I’m all for outright banning assault rifles which can be allowed beneath the collector’s licence, however I additionally really feel like proudly owning an air pistol mustn’t have the identical licence as proudly owning a .38 particular or 9mm pistol.”
Arming the police is one other potential space of change.
Icelandic law enforcement officials are presently unarmed when patrolling, and the particular forces should be known as out if wanted as they’re permitted to hold firearms.
Nevertheless, minister Gunnarsson has not clarified whether or not arming common Icelandic law enforcement officials is on the playing cards.
“It’s vitally vital to verify our law enforcement officials are protected to allow them to be the guards of the protection of the residents. We’re this in my ministry, and I’ll make a agency determination on the matter,” he stated.
Officers say there’s a consensus amongst police authorities that the gun legal guidelines want modification, and this work is underway on the ministry of justice.
“Many police forces in Europe are armed on obligation,” stated Criminology Professor Helgi Gunnlaugsson.
“The Icelandic police pressure is just not, however that might change in a single day. We must see what comes out of the investigation of the alleged terrorism plot, and there is perhaps extra of a need to vary the legislation.”
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