The Prague Mass Shooting is Czechia’s Deadliest. Here’s What to Know About Its Gun Laws
At least 14 people were killed and another 25 injured after a gunman opened fire on Thursday at Charles University in Prague, according to local police. The shooting, in a country where gun violence is rare, is the country’s deadliest in modern history. “It’s a horrible crime, something the Czech Republic has never experienced,” said Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan on Tuesday. International firearm injury prevention organization Gunpolicy.org reports that, in 2019—the last year with available gun violence data on their site—there were 195 total gun deaths in the Czech Republic. In 2018, the number stood at 170, and the year before that, there were 174 deaths. By contrast, the United States has reported more than 15,000 firearm deaths in 2019, excluding suicides, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Gun laws in the Czech Republic are generally lax compared to other European nations, though citizens still have to pass a multi-part test, background check, and health clearance to obtain a firearm. Czech authorities revealed the gunman involved in Thursday’s shooting legally owned several guns. They added that the act was premeditated, calling it a “well thought out, horrible act,” per the AP. Police have not released information about the suspect’s connection to any terrorist organization, or a possible...