‘Restrictive’ Gun and Ammunition Controls Failed to Prevent Copenhagen Attack

Denmark has some of the most stringent gun controls in the world, yet numerous people were shot and some killed Sunday at the Field’s shopping mall in Copenhagen.

Danish police confirmed multiple people were shot at the mall and that “several” have been killed, Breitbart News reported.

Police inspector Søren Thomassen said, “We know that there are several dead…[and] several injured,” according to the Associated Press.

The University of Sydney’s GunPolicy.org categorizes Denmark’s gun control as “restrictive,” and they note that “the right to gun ownership is not guaranteed by law.”

Moreover, Denmark requires would-be gun owners to first get a license from the government. Only licensed individuals may own or transfer a gun and ammunition. Also, even with a license individuals can only purchase ammunition that matches the firearm(s) they own.

The acquisition of a firearms license requires a criminal and mental background check and the individual seeking the license must show “genuine reason” to own a gun.

All privately owned firearms must be registered with the government, and Danish gun controls include “written specifications for the lawful safe storage of private firearms and ammunition by licensed gun owners.”

Other gun controls include requiring an individual to get “special authorization” to own handguns and/or semi-automatic firearms categorized as “assault weapons.”

Update 07/04/22: During a press conference, police indicated, “The weapons used in the Field [shopping centre] were legal, but the accused was not in legal possession of them”, Danish newspaper Berlingske reported.

AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio and a Turning Point USA Ambassador. Follow him on Instagram: @awr_hawkins. Reach him at awrhawkins@breitbart.com. You can sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange.