Editing Right to keep and bear arms (section)

===Europe===

====Czech Republic====

{{quote box|align=right|quote=
The right to acquire, keep, and bear firearms is guaranteed under conditions set by this law.
|source=Article 1 Subsection 1 of [[Gun law in the Czech Republic#Current law|Czech Firearms Act]]
|width=40%}}
{{quote box|align=right|quote=
(1) Everyone has the right to life. Human life is worthy of protection even before birth. <br />(2) Nobody may be deprived of their life. <br />(3) The death penalty is prohibited. <br />(4) Deprivation of life is not inflicted in contravention of this Article if it occurs in connection with conduct which is not criminal under the law. '''The right to defend own life or life of another person also with arms is guaranteed under conditions set out in the law'''.<ref name="Con am3">{{Citation
| last       = 35 Members of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic
| year       = 2019
| title      = Proposal of amendment of Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
| location = Prague
| url        = https://www.senat.cz/xqw/webdav/pssenat/original/92773/77778
| access-date = 29 September 2017
| language   = cs
}}</ref>
|source=Constitutional amendment of Czech [[Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms]] passed in 2021. Most of the Article is preexisting; the last sentence in subsection 4 was newly added.
|width=40%}} {{Main|Gun laws in the Czech Republic}} {{further|History of Czech civilian firearms possession}}

Historically, the [[Czech Crown lands|Czech lands]] were at the forefront of spreading civilian firearms ownership.<ref name="zrizeni" /> In the 1420s and 1430s, firearms became indispensable tools for the predominantly peasant [[Hussite wars|Hussite armies]] whose amateur combatants, including women, fended off a series of invasions of professional crusader armies of well-armored warriors with cold weapons.<ref name="zrizeni" /> Throughout and after the Hussite wars, firearms' design underwent fast development, and their possession by civilians became a matter of course.<ref name="zrizeni" />

Their first firearms regulation was enacted in 1517 as a part of a general accord between the nobles and [[Burgher (social class)|burgher]]s and later in 1524 as a standalone Enactment on Firearms ({{lang|cs|zřízení o ručnicích}}). The 1517 law explicitly stated that "all people of all standing have the right to keep firearms at home" while at the same time enacting a universal carry ban.<ref name="zrizeni" /> The 1524 enactment set out a process of issuing of permits for carrying of firearms and detailed enforcement and punishment for carrying without such a permit.<ref name="zrizeni">{{cite web
 | last = Gawron
 | first = Tomáš
 | title = Historie civilního držení zbraní: Zřízení o ručnicích – česká zbraňová legislativa v roce 1524
 | trans-title = History of civilian firearms possession: Enactment on Firearms – Czech firearms legislation in 1524
 | work = zbrojnice.com
 | date = November 2019
 | url = https://zbrojnice.com/2019/11/01/historie-civilniho-drzeni-zbrani-zrizeni-o-rucnicich-ceska-zbranova-legislativa-v-roce-1524/
 | access-date = 1 November 2019
 | language = cs}}
</ref> Carrying became permitless until 1852, when Imperial Regulation No. 223 reintroduced carry permits. This law remained in force until the [[German occupation of Czechoslovakia|1939 German invasion]].<ref name="zrizeni" />

Since its inception during the Hussite Wars, the right to keep firearms endured over five hundred years until the Nazi gun ban during the [[Occupation of Czechoslovakia (1938–1945)|German occupation]] in the 20th century. Firearms possession later became severely restricted during the [[History of Czechoslovakia (1948–1989)|communist period]]. After the [[Velvet Revolution]], the Czech Republic instituted a shall-issue permitting process, under which all residents can keep and bear arms subject to the fulfillment of regulatory conditions.<ref name="zrizeni" />

In the Czech Republic, every resident who meets conditions laid down in Act No. 119/2002 Coll.<ref name="Firearms Act">{{Citation
| last       = Parliament of the Czech Republic
| year       = 2002
| title      = Act No. 119/2002 Coll., on Firearms and Ammunition
| location = Prague
| url        = http://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2002-119
| language   = cs
}}</ref> has the right to have a firearms license issued and can then obtain a firearm.<ref name="Firearms Act-p8">''Firearms Act'', Section 8</ref><ref name="Firearms Act-p16(1)">''Firearms Act'', Section 16(1)</ref> 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.<ref name="Firearms Act-p28(3)(B), 28(4)(C)">''Firearms Act'', Section 28(3)(B), 28(4)(C)</ref> The right to be armed is statutorily protected.

A proposal to have the right to keep and bear arms included in the constitution was entered in the Czech Parliament in December 2016.<ref name="Con am">{{Citation
| last       = Ministry of Interior 
| year       = 2016 
| title      = Proposal of amendment of constitutional act no. 110/1998 Col., on Security of the Czech Republic
| location = Prague
| url        = https://apps.odok.cz/veklep-detail?pid=KORNAGNGZSFW
| access-date = 16 December 2016
| language   = cs
}}</ref> The proposal was approved by a vote of 139 to 9 on 28 June 2017 by the Chamber of Deputies. It later failed to reach the necessary support in the Senate, where only 28 out of 59 Senators present supported it (with a constitutional majority being 36 votes).<ref>{{Citation
| year       = 2017
| title      = Právo nosit zbraň pro zajištění bezpečnosti Česka Senát neschválil [The Senate didn't adopt the right to carry a firearm for the purpose of protection of the Czech Republic]
| url        = https://zpravy.idnes.cz/zbrane-senat-pravo-bezpecnost-statu-ustava-novela-fw8-/domaci.aspx?c=A171206_215545_domaci_lre
| access-date = 6 December 2017
| language   = cs
}}</ref>

A new proposal was entered by 35 Senators in September 2019<ref>{{Citation
| last       = Senate of the Czech Republic
| year       = 2020
| title      = Detail historie tisku č. 135 [Detailed history of proposal No. 135]
| publisher  = Senate of the Czech Republic
| location = Prague
| url        = https://senat.cz/xqw/xervlet/pssenat/historie?ke_dni=17.8.2020&O=12&action=detail&value=4471
| access-date = 17 August 2020
| language   = cs
}}</ref> and then approved on 21 July 2021, adding a new sentence, according to which "the right to defend one's own life or the life of another person even with the use of a weapon is guaranteed under the conditions set by the law."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-21|title=The right to bear arms in self-defense is embedded in the Czech constitution|url=https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/right-to-arms-embedded-in-czech-consitution|access-date=2021-07-22|website=Expats.cz|language=en}}</ref> The provision is interpreted as guaranteeing legal accessibility of arms in a way that must ensure the possibility of effective self-defense<ref>{{cite book
	| last1 = Bartošek
	| first1 = Jan
    | last2 = Bačkovská
	| first2 = Milena
	| author-link = 
	| date = 2021
	| title = Zbraně a střelivo
    | language = cs
    | trans-title = Weapons and ammunition
	| url = https://search.mlp.cz/cz/titul/zbrane-a-strelivo/4634451/
	| location = Prague
	| publisher = C. H. Beck
	| page = 209
	| isbn = 978-80-7400-843-6
}}</ref> and as a constitutional stipulation which underscores the individual right to be prepared with arms against an eventual attack, i.e., that courts cannot draw a negative inference from the fact that a defender had been preparing to avert a possible attack with the use of weapons.<ref>{{cite book
	| last = Gawron
	| first = Tomáš
	| author-link = 
	| date = 2023
	| title = Nutná obrana v právní praxi
    | language = cs
    | trans-title = Necessary defence in legal practice
	| url = https://knihovna.usoud.cz/arl-us/cs/detail-us_us_cat-0054718-Nutna-obrana-v-pravni-praxi/?disprec=1&iset=1
	| location = Brno
	| publisher = Václav Klemm
	| page = 30
	| isbn = 978-80-87713-23-5
}}</ref>

====Switzerland====
{{Further|Gun laws in Switzerland}}
{{quote box|align=right|quote=
The right to acquire, keep and bear arms is guaranteed within boundaries of this law.
|source=Article 3 of Swiss Firearms Act
|width=40%}}
The Swiss have a statutory right to bear arms under Article 3 of the 1997 Weapons Act.<ref name=WG>{{cite web |url=http://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classified-compilation/19983208/index.html |title=SR 514.54 Bundesgesetz über Waffen, Waffenzubehör und Munition (Waffengesetz WG) |trans-title=Federal Law on Weapons, Weapon Accessories and Ammunition |publisher=The Swiss Federal Council |location=Berne, Switzerland |type=official site |language=de, it, fr |date=1 July 2016 |access-date=2015-06-10}}</ref>{{refn|group=lower-alpha|{{lang|de|"Art. 3 Recht auf Waffenerwerb, Waffenbesitz und Waffentragen: Das Recht auf Waffenerwerb, Waffenbesitz und Waffentragen ist im Rahmen dieses Gesetzes gewährleistet."}} [Right to acquire, possess and carry weapons: The right to acquire, possess and carry weapons is guaranteed in the framework of this law.]}} [[Switzerland]] practices [[conscription|universal conscription]], meaning each Swiss male between the ages of 19 and 24 is conscripted.<ref>[https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1995/4093_4093_4093/de#art_9 Bundesgesetz über die Armee und die Militärverwaltung, art. 9].</ref> During the draft, they can choose to serve in the [[Swiss army|army]] or the [[Swiss Civilian Service|alternative service]], and, if they choose military service, following a brief period of active duty they will be enrolled in the reserve until 7<ref>[https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2017/810/de#a20 "Verordnung über die Militärdienstpflicht"], art. 20.</ref> or 10<ref>[https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2017/810/de#a19 "Verordnung über die Militärdienstpflicht"], art. 19.</ref> years after their promotion to the rank of private, or an inability to serve, ends their obligation. Until December 2009, these men were required to keep their government-issued [[selective fire]] combat rifles and/or semi-automatic handguns in their homes as long as they were enrolled in the armed forces. Since January 2010, they have had the option of depositing their issued firearm at a government arsenal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chacun peut déposer son arme à l'arsenal dès 2010|language=fr|trans-title=Everyone may deposit their armaments at an arsenal as of 2010|url=https://www.rts.ch/info/suisse/1052760-chacun-peut-deposer-son-arme-a-larsenal-des-2010.html|publisher=RTS Radio Télévision Suisse|date=30 December 2009|access-date=2 February 2025}}</ref> Until September 2007, soldiers received 50 rounds of government-issued ammunition in a sealed box for storage at home; after 2007 only about 2,000 specialist troops are allowed to keep the military-issued ammunition at home.<ref>{{cite news|title= Soldiers can keep guns at home but not ammo |publisher=[[Swissinfo]]|date=27 September 2007|url=http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/search/Result.html?siteSect=882&sid=8470114}}</ref>

In [[Swiss referendum, February 2011|a referendum in February 2011]], voters rejected a citizens' initiative that would have obliged members of the armed services to store their rifles and pistols on military compounds and required that privately owned firearms be registered.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12441834 |title=Switzerland rejects tighter gun controls |date=13 February 2011 |newspaper=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref>
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====Ukraine====
{{Further|Gun law in Ukraine}}

The right to keep and bear arms in Ukraine was expanded to include open carry by all citizens on February 23, 2022,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-02-23 |title=Ukraine MPs vote to give permission for civilians to carry firearms |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-mps-vote-give-permission-civilians-carry-firearms-2022-02-23/ |access-date=2022-09-14}}</ref> in response to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine by Russia]]. The move to expand the right to carry arms for all citizens of Ukraine was viewed as highly popular by Ukrainians.<ref name="Ukrainians Take Up Arms in Self Defense – Reason – J.D. Tuccille">{{cite web |last1=Tuccille |first1=J. D. |title=Ukrainians Take Up Arms in Self Defense |url=https://reason.com/2022/03/02/ukrainians-take-up-arms-in-self-defense/ |website=Reason |date=2 March 2022 |access-date=11 March 2022}}</ref>
-->

====United Kingdom====
{{See also|Firearms policy in the United Kingdom|Self-defence in English law|Offensive weapon#England and Wales}}
{{quote box
| align = right
| quote = That the Subjects which are Protestants may have Arms for their Defence suitable to their Conditions and as allowed by Law.
| source = [[Bill of Rights 1689]]
| width = 40%
}}
In the [[United Kingdom]], there is no automatic right to bear arms,<ref name="SydneySchoolOfPublicHealth2015">{{cite web|last1=Alpers |first1=Philip |last2=Wilson |first2=Marcus |last3=Rossetti |first3=Amélie |last4=Salinas |first4=Daniel |url=http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/united-kingdom |title=United Kingdom – Gun Facts, Figures and the Law&nbsp;– Gun regulation, Right to Possess Firearms |publisher=Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney|date=2015-04-29 |access-date=2015-05-13}}</ref> although citizens may possess certain firearms on obtaining an appropriate licence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/firearms-law-guidance-to-the-police-2012 |title=Guide on firearms licensing law |author=Home Office |website=GOV.UK |date=April 2016}}</ref> Ordinary members of the public may own sporting rifles and shotguns, subject to licensing, while [[handgun]]s, [[Automatic firearm|automatic]] weapons, and [[Semi-automatic firearm|semi-automatic]] weapons other than [[Rimfire ammunition|rimfire]] rifles in [[.22 calibre]] are illegal to possess without special additional conditions.<ref name="SydneySchoolOfPublicHealth2015"/><ref>{{cite journal| last =Kopel| first =David| title =It isn't about duck hunting: The British origins of the right to arms| journal =Michigan Law Review| issue =6| pages =1333–1362| publisher =Michigan Law Review Association| year =1995| volume =93| doi =10.2307/1289883| jstor =1289883| url =http://www.guncite.com/journals/dk-dhunt.html| access-date = 7 April 2013| url-access =subscription}}</ref> All licensed firearms must be stored securely (locked) and separate from their ammunition when not attended. [[Firearms regulation in the United Kingdom#Airguns|Regulations for airguns]] are less stringent and air pistols with a muzzle energy not exceeding {{cvt|6|ftlbf|J}} and other airguns with a muzzle energy not exceeding {{cvt|12|ftlbf|J}} do not require any certificates or licensing, although the same storage requirement applies.

The first serious control on firearms was established with the passing of the [[Gun politics in the United Kingdom#Firearms Act 1920|Firearms Act 1920]],<ref>{{cite web|first=John |last=Pate |url=http://www.dvc.org.uk/dunblane/pistolsact.html |title=Dunblane Massacre Resource Page&nbsp;– Pistols Act, 1903 |publisher=Dvc.org.uk |date=1903-08-11 |access-date=2012-05-22}}</ref>{{self-published inline|certain=y<!--personal website-->|date=April 2025}} handgun restrictions being added in response to the 1996 [[Dunblane Massacre]] in which 18 people died.

Historically the English [[Bill of Rights 1689]] allowed:
{{blockquote|That the Subjects which are [[Protestants]] may have Arms for their Defence suitable to their Conditions and as allowed by Law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMarSess2/1/2/introduction/data.htm|title=Bill of Rights [1688]|website=www.legislation.gov.uk}}</ref>}}

Since 1953, it has been a criminal offence in the United Kingdom to carry a knife (except for non-locking folding knives with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 centimetres) or less) or any "[[offensive weapon]]" in a public place without lawful authority (e.g. police or security forces) or reasonable excuse (e.g., tools that are needed for work, or [[Bow and arrow|bows and arrows]] used for sporting purposes). The cutting edge of a knife is separate from the blade length. The only manner in which an individual may carry arms is on private property or any property to which the public does not have a lawful right of access (e.g., a person's own home, private land, the area in a shop where the public have no access, etc.), as the law only creates the offence when it occurs in public.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act |year=1953 |chapter=14 |section=1|act=Prevention of Crime Act 1953}}</ref><ref name="cps.gov.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offensive-weapons-knives-bladed-and-pointed-articles|title=Offensive Weapons, Knives, Bladed and Pointed Articles |publisher=Crown Prosecution Service |access-date=2019-08-23}}</ref> Furthermore, [[Criminal Justice Act 1988]] Section 141 specifically lists all [[offensive weapon]]s that cannot technically be owned, even on private property, by way of making it illegal to sell, trade, hire, etc. an offensive weapon to another person.<ref>{{cite legislation UK |type=act |year=1988 |chapter=33 |section=141 |act=Criminal Justice Act 1988}}</ref>

Furthermore, the law does not allow an offensive weapon or an ordinary item intended to be used or adapted for use as an offensive weapon to be carried in public before the threat of violence arises. This would only be acceptable in the eyes of the law if the person armed themselves immediately preceding or during an attack (in a public place). This is known as a "[[weapon of opportunity]]" or "instantaneous arming".<ref name="cps.gov.uk"/>