Gun law in the Czech Republic
[4] Legal accessibility is comparable to those EU and EFTA countries which consider firearms to be primarily tools of individual or collective safety (i.e. Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Baltic states, Finland) and not just sporting instruments (see Gun laws in the European Union).
[9] Additionally, people can join government endorsed advanced shooting training courses with their privately owned firearms and become members of the militia-style Designated Reserves.
Throughout its 600-year history, Czech firearms legislation remained permissive, with the exception of the periods of German Nazi occupation and of the Communist regime.
[11] Mariánská skála in Ústí nad Labem is Europe's oldest continually-open shooting range, established in 1617.
1421 marks a symbolical beginning of the Czech civilian firearms possession due to two developments: enactment of formal duty of all inhabitants to obey call to arms by provisional elected Government in order to defend the country and first battle in which Hussite Taborite militia employed firearms as the main weapons of attack.
[18] The provision is interpreted as guaranteeing legal accessibility of arms in a way that must ensure possibility of effective self-defense[19] and as 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 use of weapons.
Cornerstones of current Czech gun law remain the same since the 1990s: precisely defined requirements that an applicant must meet in order to be granted a license.
At the same time, the issuing authority (police) firearm owners' database is connected to information needed for a background check and red flags any incidents that may lead to loss of license requirements.
If the conditions of age, qualification, health clearance, criminal integrity and personal reliability are met and a fee of 700 CZK (US$ 32.29) per type is paid, the license shall be issued in thirty days.
The doctor may request examination by a specialist in case he deems it necessary to exclude illnesses or handicaps stated in the respective governmental regulation.
or sets obligatory escort when armed (e.g. B – sport shooters with minor psychological issues, or with addiction habits cured more than three years prior to the health check).
[55] A person who verifiably excessively drinks alcohol or uses illegal drugs, as well as who was repeatedly found guilty of specified misdemeanors (e.g. related to firearms, DUI, public order, etc.)
[56] A person may lose reliability by: Police may order temporary seizure of firearm license and firearms in case that administrative proceedings against the holder are initiated for committing selected misdemeanors (e.g. carrying while intoxicated, refusing to undergo intoxication test while armed, shooting outside licensed range unless in self-defense).
[58] Foreigners with registered place of residence in the Czech Republic may purchase firearms after obtaining corresponding licenses and permits; persons having residence in another EU country must provide documentation showing that they are allowed to own such a firearm therein in order to be granted a permit to purchase a B category gun.
[70] A, A-I, B and C category of firearms may be acquired and possessed only by gun license holders and their transfer must be registered with police within 10 days.
[74] Shooting of blank rounds or signal weapons is also permitted in case that it does not threaten life, health and public order.
[82] The law does not include any "gun-free zones" provisions, apart from general prohibition of firearm carry during protests and demonstrations.
[63] Hollow point bullets for use in short firearms are classified in A-I category and available subject to shall-issue exemption permit.
Statistically, the most typical gun owner is a university-educated 45-59 years old male with above-average income who owns three firearms and practices concealed carry for self-defense.
[92] In 2024, 33% of adults were "thinking about" obtaining category E (concealed carry) firearms license, typically for the purpose of personal and family protection.
[92] Czech Republic's strong tradition in firearms manufacturing and competition shooting contributes to generally favorable attitudes to the legality of gun ownership.
[71] Firearms possession was banned during German Nazi occupation and then allowed only to those deemed loyal during the Communist regime.
[2] The police recorded a tripling of average monthly applications for firearms licenses by the end of 2015 compared to the beginning of that year.
[85] Following a wave of terror attacks around Europe, a number of politicians as well as security professionals started urging gun owners to practice carrying of firearms in order to be able to contribute to soft targets protection.
These included, among many others, the President Miloš Zeman, whose wife obtained E license and a revolver,[98] as well as Libor Lochman, Chief of URNA, the country's main special forces anti-terrorism unit.
[100] Unlike elsewhere in Europe, there is a relatively high proportion of semi-automatic firearms in the country, which are generally considered better suited for self-defense.
[101] Police recorded 45 violent crimes (most of them, 17, being "dangerous threats" and 6 homicides - including attempts, mostly intra-family) being committed with legal firearms (A,B,C category) in 2016, down from 71 in 2014 and 51 in 2015 respectively.
When resorting to use of firearms, perpetrators mostly utilize non-lethal free-to-buy D category weapons (see above) that resemble real guns, with 906 such crimes taking place in 2016.
The total number of people shot dead (homicides, police action, self defense), without distinction of legal or illegal source of gun, is recorded by CZSO.
The most notable examples include: There is currently no regulation on other type of weapons such as knives, pepper sprays, batons or electrical paralyzers.
