Though Spain is the world’s seventh-biggest exporter of arms in the world, it has one of the most draconian legislative frameworks in the European Union with regard to personal possession. Then there is information on areas with high quotas of guns purchased for target shooting, such as Asturias, where there are four weapons for every 1,000 inhabitants, and Catalonia: two for every 1,000. This happens to be 1,647, with Andalusia accounting for most of them and Ceuta and Melilla being the only two autonomous regions where none are registered. The ICAE inventory also includes other oddities such as the number of crossbows in Spain. Proportionally, however, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Navarre and La Rioja overtake Andalusia, and, when it comes to self-defense, Madrid wins hands down because of the large concentration of people holding public office in the capital. The inventory shows Andalusia to be home to the most weapons, 611,987 – most of these are carbines – while Melilla has the least with 399. Some 8,000 Spanish civilians are authorized to carry a gun for self-defense after providing proof they are at riskīut Spain has another three million registered arms, belonging to 1.1 million civilians, most of whom have ostensibly bought their weapons for hunting, target shooting or as collector’s items.Īn inventory revised by the Central Inspectorate for Arms and Explosives (ICAE) every month records each weapon and its owner’s location. The weapons they carry must be kept hidden at all times. Most of these people are politicians, jewelers, gun-sellers, judges or magistrates, soccer players and former military personnel. Those applying must prove they are at real risk of attack. Fernando – not his real name – is one of almost 8,000 Spanish civilians licensed to carry a firearm for self-defense. It also serves as a constant reminder of the time he was attacked. Not only is it heavy, it means he can’t relax, which rules out going for a drink or to a football match. A jeweler by trade, he was the target of a number of violent attacks several years ago, and was subsequently declared “at risk” and issued a B license by Spanish police – a license that allows him to carry a firearm for self-defense.įernando is not particularly pleased to be carrying this weapon. It is a Glock 9mm and he carries it for protection. Sitting on a terrace having breakfast, Fernando glances around, and then opens his jacket to reveal a small pistol in a brown leather holster. Carlos López, president of the Catalan arms-sellers association.
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