News of gun attacks abroad fuel fear

A survey by Maskína, published on Tuesday, shows that more people are concerned about firearms ownership than before. Almost half, or about 46% of respondents, said they are very concerned about firearm ownership. The number of people with access to firearms in Iceland is increasing.

Áki Ármann Jónsson, chairman of the Icelandic Shooting Association, tells mbl.is that the results of the survey are surprising. He believes that reports of shootings abroad, which have been prominent in the media recently, are fuelling anxiety.

Jónsson says that firearm legislation in this country is strict and strongly focused on safety and education. However, reports of shootings abroad are alarming.

Abroad most shooting attacks take place in big cities. In Iceland the ownership of firearms is highest in the countryside, as the guns are used for hunting.

Nowhere as safe as in Iceland

“Firearm legislation is nowhere stricter in Europe than in Iceland,” Jónsson says. He reiterates that all guns are registered and emphasizes the need to teach the proper handling and use of the weapons. The website of the Icelandic Shooting Association has a number of educational materials.

He points out that there is possibly no safer place to live than Iceland in this regard. “In fact, the system in this country is a model.”