The topic of civilian gun ownership in Turkey, particularly the number of licensed and unlicensed firearms, has been a point of contention. According to Umut Foundation President Prof. Dr. Ayhan Akcan, there are approximately 36 million unlicensed firearms in the country, sparking widespread debate. This figure is based on their research and analysis of data from various sources, including police and gendarmerie operations and post-mortem reports.
Licensed Firearms in Turkey:
Prof. Akcan also states that Turkey has about 4 million licensed firearms. This means that for every licensed firearm, there could be up to nine unlicensed firearms.
Unlicensed Firearms:
The claim of 36 million unlicensed firearms, which Akcan refers to as “illegal” or “unlicensed,” is a significant increase from past estimates. For example, in 2017, the independent research organization Small Arms Survey (SAS) estimated the number of unlicensed firearms in Turkey to be around 10.7 million. However, more recent discussions suggest a potential rise in unlicensed firearms.
Global Perspective:
Globally, Turkey ranks lower in terms of the number of firearms per capita. The specific number of firearms per civilian in Turkey varies depending on the source, but Turkey is not among the highest in this regard. Countries like the United States, Switzerland, and Yemen are typically ranked higher in terms of civilian gun ownership per capita.
In summary, Turkey is facing concerns over the increasing prevalence of both licensed and unlicensed firearms, with estimates of unlicensed guns being a central point of ongoing debate.
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