Lithuanian politicians are proposing a bill amending the Arms and Ammunition Control Law to allow those who have completed initial military training to own automatic firearms. The proposal, supported by lawmakers Laurynas Kasčiūnas and Paulius Saudargas, aims to strengthen national security by allowing a population trained with automatic rifles to be mobilised quickly in case of a security threat. This would be particularly beneficial for small states with limited standing military forces. However, experts warn that looser gun controls could lead to more threats to the public and rob them of their freedom.
Dr. Brian Wood of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) criticised the idea that firearms make people safer as „simply not true.” Automatic weapons can fire continuous rounds or bursts, and have large, easily changeable magazines, meaning they can kill large numbers of people. Former Lithuanian opposition MP, Saulius Skvernelis, warned that legal changes could bring US-style mass shootings to Lithuania.
Saudargas claimed that wider accessibility of automatic firearms would not be a danger to society, citing Lithuania’s culture, mentality, traditions, and security system as sufficient to prevent such tragic events. However, research by the University of Syndey shows that there were 30 gun deaths in Lithuania in 2019, including accidents, homicides, and suicides.
Wider access to automatic weapons increases the risk some may end up in the hands of criminals or terrorists, potentially posing an issue for Lithuania’s neighbours and the wider EU if they are smuggled out of the country.
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Lithuania Planning to Extend Rights to Bear Arms
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