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Gibraltar — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns (both licit and illicit) held by civilians in Gibraltar is

2017: 1,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The estimated rate of private gun ownership (both licit and illicit) per 100 people in Gibraltar is

2017: 4.101

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 206 countries, Gibraltar ranked at No. 1992

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of privately owned guns in 206 countries, Gibraltar ranked at No.1162

Government Guns

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Gibraltar are reported to have 6003 firearms

ImpactsDeath and Injury

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Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Gibraltar, annual homicides by any means total

2010: 14
2009: 0

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

In Gibraltar, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2010: 3.464

ProductionGun Industry

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Regulation of Firearm Makers

In Gibraltar, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence5

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

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Firearm Exports

In Gibraltar, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law6

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Small Arms Exports (US$) - Customs

ChartThe annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Gibraltar is reported by Customs to be US$

2018: 5,0007
2014: 1,000

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Firearm Imports

In Gibraltar, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law6

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Small Arms Imports (US$) - Customs

ChartThe annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Gibraltar is reported by Customs to be US$

2021: 2,109,0008
2020: 46,000
2019: 104,000
2018: 131,000
2017: 42,000
2016: 40,000
2015: 71,000
2014: 66,000
2013: 26,000
2012: 55,000
2011: 16,000
2010: 11,000
2009: 68,000
2008: 17,000
2007: 1,000
2006: 5,000
2005: 16,000
2004: 4,000
2003: 7,000
2002: 13,000

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in Gibraltar includes the Firearms Act No. 1958-109

Firearm Regulation Authority

Guns in Gibraltar are regulated by the Commissioner of Police10

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Right to Possess Firearms

In Gibraltar, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law11 12

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Restricted Firearms and Ammunition

In Gibraltar, civilians are not allowed to possess automatic and noxious weapons13

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Regulation of Automatic Weapons

In Gibraltar, private possession of fully automatic weapons is prohibited13

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Regulation of Semiautomatic Assault Weapons

In Gibraltar, private possession of semi-automatic assault weapons is prohibited13

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Gun Ownership and Possession

In Gibraltar, only licensed gun owners10 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Minimum Age for Firearm Possession

The minimum age for gun ownership in Gibraltar is 17 years14

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Gun Owner Background Checks

An applicant for a firearm licence in Gibraltar must pass a background check which considers mental15 and criminal16 records

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Gun Owner Licensing Period

In Gibraltar, gun owners must re-apply and re-qualify for their firearm licence every 3 years17

Firearm Registration

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Gun Dealer Record Keeping

In Gibraltar, licensed firearm dealers are required18 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority

Gun Sales and Transfers

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Regulation of Dealer Gun Sales

In Gibraltar, dealing in firearms by way of business without a valid gun dealer’s licence is unlawful5

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Penalty for Illicit Firearm Possession

In Gibraltar, the maximum penalty for unlawful possession of a firearm19 is 3 months imprisonment or a fine of 1000 pounds20

MeasuresInternational Controls

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Gibraltar is not a Member State of the United Nations21

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list22 Gibraltar as a Participating State

BackgroundSustainable Development Goal Profile

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About SDG 16

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals set by the United Nations to be implemented by all member states by 2030. Adopted in 2015, they outline a vision of development in which peace and security are an integral part. SDG 16,23 which seeks to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,” includes targets and indicators focused on reducing violence (Target 16.1) and the proliferation of illicit arms (Target 16.4). The indicators – or measurement criteria – of these targets include the number of victims of intentional homicide (Indicator 16.1.1), the number of conflict-related deaths (Indicator 16.1.2), and the number of illicit firearms collected and traced (Indicator 16.4.2). In light of these targets and indicators, GunPolicy.org provides granular national data pertaining to homicides, gun homicides, conflict deaths, disarmament efforts, and marking and tracing.

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Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Gibraltar, annual homicides by any means total

2010: 14
2009: 0

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

In Gibraltar, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2010: 3.464

Disarmament

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Destruction and Disposal Policy

In Gibraltar, it is state policy24 to destroy surplus, collected and seized firearms rather than return them to the secondary arms market

Link
Global Peace Index

To see where Gibraltar ranks, select the Link icon to open an external web page at the Global Peace Index, and then click on Gibraltar on the map or in the "Select Country" menu on the right of the web page

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2018.‘Civilian Firearms Holdings, 2017.’ Estimating Global Civilian-Held Firearms Numbers.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,18 June. (Q13434)Full Citation

2.

GunPolicy.org.2022.‘Calculated Ranking.’ Estimating global civilian-held firearm numbers..Geneva:GunPolicy.org,30 June. (Q15876)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2018.‘Law Enforcement Firearms Holdings, 2017.’ Estimating Global Law Enforcement Firearms Numbers.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,18 June. (Q13435)Full Citation

4.

UNODC.2020.‘Intentional Homicide Victims.’ dataunodc.un.org (web site).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,1 January. (Q13355)Full Citation

5.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 9: Penalties.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16239)Full Citation

6.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 31: Firearm Imports and Exports.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16237)Full Citation

7.

International Trade Centre (ITC).2022.‘Exported values (2002-2021).’ Trade Map.Geneva:International Trade Centre (ITC),31 August. (Q16040)Full Citation

8.

International Trade Centre (ITC).2022.‘Imported values (2002-2021).’ Trade Map.Geneva:International Trade Centre (ITC),31 August. (Q16041)Full Citation

9.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 1: Short Title.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16235)Full Citation

10.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 4: Firearm Licensing Certificate.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16246)Full Citation

11.

Sherman, Amy and Tom Ginsburg.2014.‘Gun Rights in National Constitutions.’ Marco Rubio Says Second Amendment Is Unique in Speech to NRA.Miami, FL:Miami Herald (PolitiFact Florida),29 April. (Q8507)Full Citation

12.

Zachary Elkins, Tom Ginsburg and James Melton. 2013. ‘U.S. Gun Rights Truly Are American Exceptionalism.’ Bloomberg (USA). 7 March. (N422) Full Citation

13.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 18: Prohibited Weapons and Ammunition.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16245)Full Citation

14.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 20: Sale to Young Persons.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16242)Full Citation

15.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 21: Limits on Sales.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16238)Full Citation

16.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 22: Criminal Background Checks.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16241)Full Citation

17.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 4: Firearm Licensing Period.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16243)Full Citation

18.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 14: Dealer Record Keeping.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16240)Full Citation

19.

GunPolicy.org. 2015. ‘Penalty for Unlawful Firearm Possession.’ Definition and Selection Criteria.
Sydney School of Public Health, 22 January. (G93) Full Citation

20.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 3: Penalties.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16236)Full Citation

21.

UN.2013.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York, NY:United Nations General Assembly,7 April. (Q290)Full Citation

22.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation

23.

United Nations.2017.‘Relevant Targets & Indicators.’ Sustainable Development Goal 16.New York NY:United Nations Statistics Division,6 July. (Q14093)Full Citation

24.

Gibraltar.1958.‘Article 30: Court Ordered Destruction.’ Gibraltar Firearms Act No. 1958-10.Gibraltar:Gibraltar,31 July. (Q16244)Full Citation