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Scotland — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

For combined British figures and legislation, see 'United Kingdom'

StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Scotland is 280,0001

Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Scotland is 5.51 firearms per 100 people

Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Scotland ranked at No. 1052

Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, Scotland ranked at No. 931

Number of Licensed Firearm Owners

The number of licensed gun owners in Scotland is reported to be 74,5573 4

Rate of Licensed Firearm Owners per 100 Population

The rate of licensed firearm owners in Scotland is 1.425 per 100 people

Number of Registered Firearms

The number of registered guns in Scotland is reported to be 210,7993 4

Rate of Registered Firearms per 100 Population

The rate of registered firearms per 100 people in Scotland is 4.015

Number of Privately Owned Rifles

In Scotland, the number of rifles in civilian possession is reported to be 71,8604

Number of Privately Owned Shotguns

In Scotland, the number of shotguns in civilian possession is reported to be 138,9393

Number of Privately Owned Handguns

There are reportedly 5666 handguns in civilian possession in Scotland

Government Guns

Routine Arming of Police

In Scotland, police officers on routine patrol do not carry a firearm7 8

Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Scotland are reported to have 20,7349 firearms

ImpactsDeath and Injury

Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Scotland, annual homicides by any means total

2011/12: 9010
2010/11: 101
2009/10: 82
2008/09: 9910 11 12
2007/08: 115
2006/07: 120
2005/06: 95
2004/05: 137
2003/04: 109
2002/03: 125
2001/02: 11311 12
2000/01: 107
1999/00: 123
1999: 12813 12
1998: 100
1997: 95
1996: 135
1995: 137

Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2011/12: 1.710
2010/11: 1.9
2009/10: 1.6
2008/09: 1.910 11 12
2007/08: 2.2
2006/07: 2.3
2005/06: 1.9
2004/05: 2.7
2003/04: 2.2
2002/03: 2.5
2001/02: 2.211 12
2000/01: 2.1
1999/00: 2.4
1999: 2.413 12
1998: 1.9
1997: 1.8
1996: 2.6
1995: 2.6

Gun Homicides

ChartIn Scotland, annual firearm homicides total

2011/12: 514
2010/11: 2
2009/10: 2
2008/09: 214 15
2007/08: 4
2006/07: 8
2005/06: 8
2004/05: 8
2003/04: 2
2002/03: 3
2001/02: 515
2000/01: 3
1999/00: 5

Rate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.105
2010: 0.04
2009: 0.04
2008: 0.04
2007: 0.08
2006: 0.16
2005: 0.16
2004: 0.16
2003: 0.04
2002: 0.06
2001: 0.10
2000: 0.06
1999: 0.10
1994: 0.1916

Handgun Homicides

ChartIn Scotland, annual handgun homicides total

2011/12: 217
2010/11: 218
2009/10: 019
2008/09: 120
2006/07: 121
2005/06: 322
2004/05: 123
2003: 024
2002: 025
2001: 126
2000: 127
1999: 028
1998: 129
1997: 530

Rate of Handgun Homicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of handgun homicide per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.045
2010: 0.04
2009: 0.00
2008: 0.02
2006: 0.02
2005: 0.06
2004: 0.02
2003: 0.00
2002: 0.00
2001: 0.02
2000: 0.02
1999: 0.00
1998: 0.02
1997: 0.10

Long Gun Homicides

ChartIn Scotland, annual long gun homicides total

2011/12: 217
2010/11: 018
2009/10: 119
2008/09: 020
2006/07: 221
2005/06: 222
2004/05: 123
2003: 124
2002: 025
2001: 026
2000: 127
1999: 428
1998: 329
1997: 130

Rate of Long Gun Homicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of long gun homicide per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.045
2010: 0.00
2009: 0.02
2008: 0.00
2006: 0.04
2005: 0.04
2004: 0.02
2003: 0.02
2002: 0.00
2001: 0.00
2000: 0.02
1999: 0.08
1998: 0.06
1997: 0.02

Gun Homicides (Other)

ChartIn Scotland, annual gun homicides (other) total

2011/12: 117
2010/11: 018
2009/10: 019
2008/09: 020
2006/07: 121
2005/06: 022
2004/05: 023
2003: 024
2002: 025
2001: 026
2000: 027
1999: 028
1998: 029
1997: 030

Rate of Gun Homicide (Other) per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of gun homicide (other) per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.025
2010: 0.00
2009: 0.00
2008: 0.00
2006: 0.02
2005: 0.00
2004: 0.00
2003: 0.00
2002: 0.00
2001: 0.00
2000: 0.00
1999: 0.00
1998: 0.00
1997: 0.00

Suicides (any method)

ChartIn Scotland, annual suicides by any means total

2011: 52731
2010: 569
2009: 568
2008: 569
2007: 517
2006: 542
2005: 547
2004: 606
2003: 560
2002: 636
2001: 609
2000: 648
1999: 637
1998: 649
1997: 599
1996: 597
1995: 623
1994: 624
1993: 615
1992: 569
1991: 525
1990: 535

Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of suicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2011: 10.035
2010: 10.90
2009: 10.94
2008: 11.01
2007: 10.05
2006: 10.59
2005: 10.74
2004: 11.93
2003: 11.07
2002: 12.58
2001: 12.03
2000: 12.80
1999: 12.56
1998: 12.78
1997: 11.78
1996: 11.72
1995: 12.21
1994: 12.235 32
1993: 12.08
1992: 11.19
1991: 10.33
1990: 10.53

Gun Suicides

ChartIn Scotland, annual firearm suicides total

2011: 933
2010: 16
2009: 10
2008: 13
2007: 8
2006: 10
2005: 12
2004: 11
2003: 10
2002: 12
2001: 9
2000: 16
1999: 18
1998: 24
1997: 15
1996: 15
1995: 34
1994: 19
1993: 29
1992: 18
1991: 20
1990: 20

Rate of Gun Suicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of firearm suicide per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.175
2010: 0.31
2009: 0.19
2008: 0.25
2007: 0.16
2006: 0.20
2005: 0.24
2004: 0.22
2003: 0.20
2002: 0.24
2001: 0.18
2000: 0.32
1999: 0.35
1998: 0.47
1997: 0.30
1996: 0.29
1995: 0.67
1994: 0.375 34
1993: 0.57
1992: 0.35
1991: 0.39
1990: 0.39

Handgun Suicides

In Scotland, annual handgun suicides total

2010: 135

Rate of Handgun Suicide per 100,000 People

In Scotland, the annual rate of handgun suicide per 100,000 population is

2010: 0.0135

Long Gun Suicides

ChartIn Scotland, the number of long gun suicides is

2011: 536
2010: 635

Rate of Long Gun Suicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of long gun suicide per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.0936
2010: 0.1135

Gun Suicides (Other)

ChartIn Scotland, annual gun suicides (other) total

2011: 136
2010: 635

Rate of Gun Suicide (Other) per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of gun suicide (other) per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.0136
2010: 0.1135

Unintentional Gun Deaths

ChartIn Scotland, annual unintentional shooting deaths total

2011: 136
2001: 037

Rate of Unintentional Gun Death per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of unintentional shooting death per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.0136
2001: 0.0037
1994: 0.0238

Unintentional Long Gun Deaths

In Scotland, annual unintentional shooting deaths by long gun total

2011: 136

Rate of Unintentional Long Gun Death per 100,000 People

In Scotland, the annual rate of unintentional shooting death by long gun per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.0136

Gun Deaths from Undetermined Cause

ChartIn Scotland, annual shooting deaths in which the cause remains undecided total

2011: 336
2010: 335
2001: 137

Rate of Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of unknown-cause shooting deaths per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.0536
2010: 0.0535
2001: 0.0237
1994: 0.0439

Long Gun Deaths from Undetermined Cause

ChartIn Scotland, annual deaths by long gun in which the cause remains undecided total

2011: 136
2010: 235

Rate of Long Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of unknown-cause long gun deaths per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.0136
2010: 0.0335

Gun Deaths (Other) from Undetermined Cause

ChartIn Scotland, annual deaths by firearm (other) in which the cause remains undecided total

2011: 236
2010: 135

Rate of Gun Death (Other) from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 People

ChartIn Scotland, the annual rate of unknown-cause gun deaths (other) per 100,000 population is

2011: 0.0336
2010: 0.0135

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in Scotland includes the Firearms Act 1968 (see United Kingdom)40 and the Firearms (Scotland) Rules 198941

Firearm Regulation Authority

Guns in Scotland are regulated by the Chief Officer of Police42 43

Gun Owner Licensing

In Scotland, only licensed gun owners42 43 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

Genuine Reason Required for Firearm Licence

Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in Scotland are required to prove genuine reason to possess a firearm44 45

Gun Owner Background Checks

An applicant for a firearm licence in Scotland must pass background checks which consider mental, health and criminal44 45 records

Reference Required for Firearm Licence

In Scotland, third party character references for each gun licence applicant are required46

Firearm Registration

Civilian Gun Registration

In Scotland, the law requires6 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

Gun Dealer Record Keeping

In Scotland, licensed firearm dealers are required47 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority

Gun Sales and Transfers

Regulation of Dealer Gun Sales

In Scotland, dealing in firearms by way of business without a valid gun dealer’s licence is unlawful47

Storage and Transport of Guns and Ammunition

Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - Private

Firearm regulations in Scotland include42 43 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of private firearms and ammunition by licensed gun owners

Collection, Amnesty and Destruction Programmes

Destruction and Disposal Policy

In Scotland, it is state policy48 to destroy surplus, collected and seized firearms rather than return them to the secondary arms market


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