Europe’s Gun Owners Mobilizing After EU Proposes Stronger Gun Control

posted on April 7, 2016

After November’s Paris attacks, the European Commission proposed a new set of gun-control regulations that would, among other things, ban semi-automatics and institute a tracking system for firearms bought online. “The question of firearms is not limited to terrorist attacks,” a commission spokesperson said. “This directive is … about firearms and public security.”

In response, Europe’s gun owners are mobilizing like never before. A petition started by a Belgian sport shooter has attracted nearly 317,000 signatures, due to support from hunters’ associations, manufacturers and pro-gun groups like Firearms United, a grassroots group started in 2013, which also spearheaded an email campaign targeting “faceless and unelected Eurocrats wanting to take our guns.” Meanwhile, Brussels group FACE is organizing conferences and in-person meetings with lawmakers. 

Despite the well-established futility of trying to stop crime by targeting the law-abiding, the proposal will probably move forward in some form. However, it seems the burgeoning pro-gun movement is already having an effect on the debate: “As always, we in the Commission are open to improvements to the text,” a Commission spokesperson said.

Latest

The Armed Citizen
The Armed Citizen

The Armed Citizen® May 16, 2025

True stories of the right to keep and bear arms

David Kopel Talks About What’s Really Behind Mexico’s Lawsuit

Mexico all but extinguished the constitutional right to arms for its citizens and now it is seeking to do the same to America’s.

Gun Skills | Training Grip Strength

It is imperative to balance the strengthening of your hands to best embrace this constitutional freedom and to avoid any injuries in the process.

Gun Review | Beretta 92XI

Fans of both the 1911 and the iconic Beretta 92 are going to find a friend in this introduction.

Americans Are Taking Their Safety Into Their Own Hands

Across the country, Americans are waking up to something citizens of this nation have long known: You need to be your own first responder.



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.