In which countries is it legal to freely carry weapons? Is it possible in Russia too?

“You can achieve more with a kind word and a gun than just a kind word,” these words are attributed to the legendary gangster Al Capone. But not only gangsters and other representatives of the criminal world want to have weapons.

Weapons are not so much an offense as they are a defense. In countries where there are many weapons, people are less likely to kill each other, UN statistics show.

There are 195 officially recognized countries on our planet. Of these, barely a tenth supports the right to freely bear arms. We tell you how this system works in different countries.

USA

The Second Amendment of the US Constitution back in 1791, when it was necessary to defend against Indians and potentially protect independence from the British crown, enshrined the right of citizens to bear arms. 2.5 thousand legal acts and laws of individual states make certain adjustments.

The Second Amendment reads:

A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State , the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller case is also important. Then the US Supreme Court officially recognized that the Second Amendment protects the right to use weapons for self-defense.

Additionally, in 2010, the Supreme Court, in McDonald v. Chicago, prohibited states from enacting stricter gun restrictions than federal law. Since the US has a precedent-based system, this put an end to many disputes.

In the United States, you can buy long-barreled weapons from the age of 18, and short-barreled weapons from the age of 21. Giving children rifles and shotguns to celebrate their coming of age is a normal practice.

They buy rifles before. For example, special “small” 5.6 mm Crickets cost about $100 and are designed for children 5-12 years old:

In 43 states, you don't need a license to buy a gun. 46 has no restrictions on the number of barrels. In 44 states, an owner can freely sell a gun to another person.

In most states, only those convicted of a criminal offense or any other charge with a prison sentence of at least 1 year, as well as people with a conviction for minor domestic violence, are prohibited from purchasing weapons. They will not sell the gun to someone who is a fugitive from justice, is mentally disabled, was dishonorably discharged from the military, is on drugs, or has renounced his U.S. citizenship.

In terms of the number of weapons per capita, the United States ranks first in the world rankings. But it is very difficult to say exactly how many guns there are in the country, because there was no requirement to register weapons purchased before the introduction of the NFA (National Firearms Act) in 1982.

There are statistics according to which there are 120 weapons per 100 people , or 393 million for 326 million inhabitants. Surveys show that 43% of households own guns.

All states allow concealed carry of weapons - everywhere except in the areas of schools, courts and other special areas. You can openly carry a gun in about half the states. Permit conditions and prohibitions vary from state to state.

Every year in the United States, guns are used for self-defense more than 100 thousand times. Since the 90s, the number of crimes involving weapons has decreased by 30-40%.

Typically, it is Democrats who champion tightening gun control in the United States, but Americans are in no hurry to disarm. They believe that it is not the weapon that kills, but the person. Therefore, all attempts by the authorities to restore order come down to limiting the availability of automatic weapons (means of mass executions) and more stringent checks of buyers.

The Second Amendment will probably never be repealed. The owners of the 400 million dollar arsenal simply will not allow this.

Rating of countries by the number of weapons in the population

Home > Directory > Lists and ratings > Countries > Rating of countries by the number of weapons in the population

The estimated number of guns per capita by country is published annually in the Small Arms Survey . Which is also reprinted by Wikipedia. Because many people own several firearms and many others do not own any, the following numbers do not reflect the percentage of the population armed with firearms. You should also take into account the characteristics of a particular country. For example, in Switzerland, former employees are encouraged to own guns. And in the USA the right to bear arms is given by the Constitution.

Which countries in the world have the most people owning guns? For many years in a row, the United States has been such a country. Below in the table you can see the total number of weapons in the country and their number per 100 inhabitants. At the same time, all firearms in the hands of civilians, both legal and illegal, are included in the statistics. The latest version of the report on gun ownership in the world sums up the results for 2017 (the report was released in 2018).

Reports: GCFN2017.pdf

See also: ranking of arms importing countries, ranking of arms exporting countries

• 2017
• Map

Yemen

A permit to own firearms is not required here: hunting rifles, revolvers, rifles and even machine guns fall under the 1992 law. Argumentation is a legitimate defense. The result is 52.8 weapons per 100 people .

In general, about 62% of the Yemeni population owns weapons. The civilian arsenal is over 15 million firearms for a population of 28.5 million.

True, to carry weapons in cities, you need a license. Receipt rules depend on the specific city. In rural areas, you can carry weapons freely.

But you need to understand that a revolution took place in Yemen in 2011, and since 2014 there has been a civil war . In fact, the authorities have not really controlled the availability of weapons among the population for ten years.

In the caches of some residents you can find anti-tank guided missiles and armored vehicles. It’s quite easy to buy such things in the country – if you have the money, of course.

Canada

Canadians can buy their first gun at 18 years old. And if children over the age of 12 hunt to feed their family, then even earlier - this is typical for indigenous northern peoples. There are 34.7 weapons per 100 people here .

However, before purchasing you need to obtain a PAL - possession and acquisition license. This document is updated every five years.

PAL will be issued after completing a safety course and passing exams, several interviews and checks. But in general, nothing is impossible.

Regular PAL applies to popular sporting rifles and shotguns. There is also an RPAL license for the purchase of weapons with stricter storage requirements, such as a pistol.

Automatic weapons and some types of military equipment, long-barreled pistols are prohibited for civilians. They will also not sell you guns with more than 5 rounds of centerfire, or pistols with 10 rounds or more.

Following the terrorist attacks in Nova Scotia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has declared more than 1,500 guns prohibited as of May 1, 2022. The ban affected mainly assault rifles and other self-loading weapons, but in general did not deprive citizens of the opportunity to buy and use other types of weapons.

Guns in Canada must be registered. Documents are needed for all guns, including collectibles, sports and hunting ones.

In general, weapons are purchased mainly for hunting and sport shooting . The issue of self-defense in Canada is not so acute.

You can't just carry a gun in Canada. But there are special permits for wearing in the wild - to protect yourself from animals.

Nuclear arms control

The beginning of control over nuclear weapons in the world began almost immediately after the first developments. However, for a long time the countries could not come to an agreement. It was not until 1963 that the first agreement was concluded limiting nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, in space and under water. Then, in 1968, the next treaty was signed, which since 1970 has limited the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world. Despite agreements ratified and signed by most countries of the world. Some countries still have not signed the 1968 treaty - Israel, India, Pakistan and South Sudan.

Some countries are also periodically accused of creating nuclear weapons and developing nuclear programs. Among them, the greatest suspicion falls on Iran, which, despite having signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, according to some experts, is secretly developing a nuclear program. In addition, according to the latest data, at the beginning of 2022, after the conflict between Iran and the United States, Iran announced its withdrawal from the SVDP treaty (a political agreement between Iran and the Group of 5 to limit the development of Iran’s nuclear program).

And that’s all for today about nuclear weapons and countries with nuclear weapons. Add the article to bookmarks and share with friends. See you again on the pages of the Tyulyagin !

• 11
  Shared

Israel

at war since its founding , allows citizens who live in the Palestinian territories to openly carry even assault rifles. In addition, taxi drivers and bus drivers, jewelers and teachers, and representatives of other dangerous, socially significant or monetary professions have weapons.

A license to purchase weapons can be obtained from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Those who have served in military or civilian service can receive a document at 21, other citizens - at 27, non-citizens - at 45. In addition, you need to live in Israel for the last three years and pass a number of checks.

You will also have to take a course in handling weapons and shooting in extreme situations. The exam and paperwork usually takes about 4 hours and 40-70 rounds of ammunition fired. The license is renewed every three years.

Soldiers carry their weapons on and off duty. Girls on the beach in swimsuits and with machine guns are a stern necessity, because you can’t trust anyone with your weapons. Almost all other license holders can also carry their weapons - concealed and open.

In 2022, gun ownership rules in the country were further simplified. Thus, reservists (officers and commanders with training level 07) do not have to return the license and the weapon itself after completing their service. For infantrymen, former police officers and emergency services personnel, licensing procedures have also been shortened.

The measure is designed to increase the number of people who will be able to legally carry weapons. In 2022, there were 6.7 civilian weapons per 100 people , or 557 thousand for a population of 8.3 million.

Minister Gilad Erdan stated:

The more highly qualified civilians who carry weapons, the greater the chance of preventing a terrorist attack, avoiding casualties, or reducing their number.

Indeed, terrorist attacks in the country have been repeatedly thwarted by passers-by, tourists, school teachers and other civilians. With neighbors like Israel, military weapons in capable hands are a dire necessity.

Which countries have nuclear weapons. List of Nuclear Club countries

The Nuclear Club is a generally accepted symbol for countries around the world that have developed, produced and tested nuclear weapons. As of 2022, the nuclear club officially includes 9 countries:

1. USA (1945)
2. Russia/USSR (1949)
3. UK (1952)
4. France (1960)
5. China (1964)
6. India (1974)
7. Pakistan (1998)
8. Israel (1979)
9. DPRK (2006)

In addition to the countries listed, there are a number of states on whose territory there are US nuclear weapons. Information on these data is unofficial, but experts include: Germany, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, Japan and South Korea.

In the past, a number of countries of the former USSR - Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus - had nuclear weapons. However, nuclear weapons were transferred to Russia. In addition, until the early 1990s, South Africa had nuclear weapons, but later they abandoned them.

The only country that has used nuclear weapons outside of military testing is the United States. On August 6 and 9, 1945, the US Air Force dropped two nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Switzerland

Until 2011, perhaps the safest country in Europe required military personnel to have military weapons at home . Then it became voluntary: you can store guns at home or at a local storage facility.

The thing is that the Swiss Guard is formed on the principle of the police. Because of this, it is convenient for reservists to keep pistols, grenades, assault rifles and other weapons at home.

Reservists are issued an automatic assault rifle SIG SG-550 and 50 rounds of ammunition for it. After retirement, you can buy back your machine gun, but it will be converted into a self-loading carbine.

True, if you keep your weapon at home, you will have to regularly participate in shooting practice. Many people are lazy, so standard weapons are sent to storage.

The result of this policy is 27.6 guns for every 100 people . At the same time, 0.54 murders per 100 thousand inhabitants are committed annually in the country. In Russia – about 7 (2017 data).

Self-loading weapons are sold freely. But there are also nuances. For example, once a year the police check how you store it. And if a weapon is stolen and a crime is committed with it, the owner will also be held accountable.

In 2022, in a referendum on new gun control measures common to all EU countries, residents voted in favor of tightening the rules. Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but is a member of the Schengen Agreement, and therefore must comply with European standards.

But for now, conscripts and reservists can carry their standard weapons completely freely. Other residents can obtain permission to do this from the cantonal authorities (in practice, they are issued mainly to private security, but formally everyone has a chance).

In general, in the country, weapons and the ability to shoot them are considered a pillar of national security. And in the Alpine cantons, hunting is very common. And the Swiss authorities, taking this into account, are seeking special conditions from the EU.

New World

Brazil

Created in 1990 along with other members of the CBC Global Ammunition alliance, it is now one of the largest suppliers of small and medium caliber ammunition. Including according to NATO specifications and directly to the US Army. Apparently, the production of pneumatics is far from being in the forefront for Brazilians; even on the official website, it is not listed as a class in the product range, although with some effort you can find and download the catalog.

It does not shine with a particular breadth of offerings - in fact, we are talking about half a dozen models of spring-piston rifles of the “magnum” and “supermagnum” classes. In Russia, all of them are not certified, but they have been pleasing Ukrainian airgunners for quite a long time. The most popular among them are powerful samples with an unusual design - the “Adventure” and “Extreme” series, especially with “chrome” barrels (pictured). In accordance with modern trends, the index “N2” has now been added to the name, indicating a pre-installed gas spring instead of traditional coiled ones.

USA

Yes, formally the American companies are the already familiar Stoeger (part of the Beretta group) and Crosman, but they themselves and their products do not have a pronounced national “flavor”. Nowadays they are truly a product of globalization, and it is no coincidence that we mentioned them in the chapter “Spain and beyond - everywhere.”

On this basis, Beeman Precision Airguns, founded in Santa Fe Springs, California in 1972 by Robert Beeman, is quite close to them. Initially, he works closely with the famous German arms manufacturer, whose products he sells in the USA under his own brand (another one is “Marksman”).

In recent years, budget lines of Biman brand rifles have been manufactured in China at the Shanghai Air Gun factory. According to some reports, the company was recently acquired by a Chinese business, but the headquarters remained in the United States.

"Beeman Silver Kodiak X2" with interchangeable barrels of 4.5 and 5.5 mm calibers

A truly American spirit, perhaps, is present in small companies engaged in small-scale production of heavy-duty airguns. The “BigBore” class (calibers from .30/7.62 mm to .50/12.7 mm), in fact, owes its birth to the USA, where pneumatics have no restrictions at all. While spring-piston rifles from the Old World, including the extremely popular Soviet IZH-60/61 (now MP-60/61), were quite enough for school competitions and general backyard shoot-outs with the younger generation, then for hunting “bigger guns” were required.

Liberal weapons legislation has given rise in the States to a lot of companies and small firms involved in the modernization of various types of small arms. Often they limit themselves to hanging the unfortunate “Arka” with a bunch of “tactical” gadgets, but there are also those who seriously interfere with the design, or even actually create a new class of small arms, as was the case with Ronnie Barrett.

Pneumatics in the USA, for obvious reasons, has fallen into the background, however, in this area, small workshops find their buyers and, accordingly, are not left without bread and butter. As an example, “American Air Arms” (not to be confused with the British “Air Arms” described in one of the previous chapters). In the small range of products, however, you can find the mighty “452 Slayer” shown in the photo below (also available in 308 and 357 calibers) and the 5.5 mm “EVOL Mini”, which is very popular due to its successful design and high quality workmanship. , which also has a version in .30 (7.62 mm).

And more than 20 years ago, Dennis Quackenbush began small-scale production of heavy-duty PCP air rifles under his own brand. In 2012, the family concern launched the 688-joule Quackenbush LA Outlaw .458, which became the most powerful pneumatic at that time, and a few years later, the Quackenbush LA .457 Safari, the muzzle energy of which was already 750 joules.

Quackenbush LA Outlaw .458

The business, which was quite famous among domestic shooters for its “Talons” and “Condors,” also developed almost in parallel. They are produced in classic calibers for pneumatics - .177, .22 and .25, that is, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.35 mm.

However, there is a whole production line of heavy-duty samples under the general name “Texan”, that is, “Texan”. It contains models of “Big Bore” calibers - from .308 to .457, the latter with energy up to 670 joules. True, a number of Texans have recently acquired limited editions of “weak” 25-caliber devices, but they still don’t make a difference.

TexanSS

Well, in conclusion, we cannot fail to mention “The 87 Dragon” by master gunsmith Gary L. Barnes. If you don’t believe me, you can count it yourself, but the caliber is 22 millimeters. That is, according to modern classification, it is already moving from the field of small arms to the category of guns! That's right, in America they love everything big - from cars to aircraft carriers :)).

Czech

The country is part of the EU, but so far the rules here are not as strict as in other European countries. For example, an ordinary citizen can obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon and carry up to two weapons, immediately ready to fire - with cartridges in the chambers.

Czechs consider the ability to legally own a gun to be as much an embodiment of freedom as free elections and freedom of speech. Only the communists and the Nazis introduced bans on all this.

There are 12.5 weapons per 100 people in the country . 807 thousand trunks are registered, fewer are illegal – 516 thousand.

Now there are discussions around tightening the rules: the Czech Republic must comply with EU rules, but does not intend to limit the rights of its citizens. Authorities want to recognize gun ownership as a national security issue. This would take the issue beyond the scope of the EU directive.

Austria

The Waffengesetz Law divides weapons into several categories depending on their danger. Without a firearms license, from the age of 18 you can buy weapons of categories C and D, including rifled barrels, rifles and burst shotguns. Pistols and self-loading weapons are sold from the age of 21 and only with a license.

There are actually a lot of nuances with registration; this is beyond the scope of this article. But, for example, antique weapons made before 1871 do not require a license or registration at all.

The country's arsenal is 30 weapons for every hundred people , or 2.5 million for a population of 8.5 million.

In general, Austria has no reason to defend itself from anyone - it just happened historically . An interesting point: the country does not distinguish between open and concealed carrying of weapons.

If you want to get a pistol, you will have to obtain a Waffenpass permit to carry a weapon and carry it in such a way as not to create inconvenience to others. For example, if you are seen with a weapon in your waistband in a public place, the police may be called.

Denmark

From the age of 16, a Danish resident can obtain a weapons license for hunting and sport shooting. After two years of active membership in a shooting club (but not before turning 21), you can apply for a license to carry

Allowed types are all barrels with a caliber up to 9 mm, as well as some large calibers. The carry permit is renewed every 5 years.

Carrying firearms in public places is prohibited. But there is a concept of proportional self-defense: if you are attacked with a weapon, you can defend yourself with your gun.

There are 9.9 weapons per 100 inhabitants in Denmark . More than half are registered.

Estonia

Since 2001, adult Estonians can buy and carry concealed pistols (smoothbore, pneumatic and gas). A license is issued after passing an exam at a shooting course. They can take it away for committing crimes, for example, if they are caught drunk driving.

Separate requirements apply to collectors. You can store military weapons at home, however, if the collection includes more than eight guns, you will have to equip a weapons room with an alarm.

The legalization of weapons was introduced for safety and has already borne fruit. The staff of the Estonian police was halved, the murder rate decreased five times. Less than 100 people in the country die from gunfire every year. A significant part are suicides.

Latvia, Lithuania and Moldova have introduced similar measures. As a result, the number of serious crimes has been steadily declining.

The country has 5 weapons per 100 inhabitants. 47 thousand units are registered, about 18 thousand are kept illegally.

Brazil

All Brazilians from the age of 25 can own weapons for self-defense and hunting . Only machine guns and heavier weapons are prohibited.

Licenses are issued by the police. Obtaining it will cost $350, renewal every three years will cost about $30.

You can freely carry weapons in rural areas. In cities you need to obtain a separate permit. In practice, this is difficult unless you work, for example, in a security company.

A population of 200 million has 15-18 million weapons in their hands, of which barely half are legal. Per 100 inhabitants – 8.3 units.

In a 2005 referendum, 60% of the country's residents opposed a ban on the sale of weapons and ammunition. But the situation in the country is very difficult. Murders from firearms in Brazil occur every 7-8 minutes. More than 60 thousand people die this way every year.

There are several large arms factories operating in the country. 80% of the production is exported, but a significant portion soon returns illegally to Brazil.

The current president of the country, Jair Bolsonaro, signed a decree in 2022 that simplified the purchase and storage of weapons - the police were prohibited from rejecting most applications for licenses. The decree was soon canceled due to conflicts with other norms, but the president made it clear that he would not back down.

How is the military strength of the world's armies assessed?

When assessing the military power and strength of the army of an individual state, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive and multifactorial analysis. The most authoritative ratings use dozens of different parameters when assessing the armed forces of states. For example, the analytical company Global Firepower takes into account 55 parameters when calculating its military power index. When calculating the index, not only the number of armed forces, regular troops and military formations is used, but also their diversity.

In addition to parameters directly related to the armed forces, the geographic location of the state, climate, logistics, industry and infrastructure, as well as the availability of strategic and natural resources, including their reserves, are also taken into account.

A special place in assessing the power of the armed forces is the presence of nuclear weapons, which have a significant impact on the overall assessment of the army. However, it is worth noting here that a number of ratings do not take into account nuclear weapons due to restrictions on their use in practice. But in the case of global conflicts and world wars, the risk of their use increases and cannot be ignored.

Military associations, allies and alliances also have a direct impact on overall military power. Not the least role in the country’s defense capability is played by the percentage of weapons modernization and the country’s total military budget.

In any case, I believe that comparing the armies of different countries of the world in terms of military might and strength is not entirely correct, since truly determining whose army is stronger can only be determined in practice and on the battlefield, and the number of equipment, troops and the size of the military budget is only theory. Nevertheless, various ratings covering these parameters make it possible to assess the approximate state of the world's armies.

Mexico

The rules are established by Article 10 of the country's constitution and the 1972 federal law. To obtain a permit to own a weapon, there are a number of non-standard requirements. For example, you need to have official housing, a job and a confirmed income, and have a “letter of an honest lifestyle” certified by your employer or the mayor.

The country allows revolvers up to 38 caliber, self-loading pistols up to 9 mm caliber, sports and hunting weapons. There are even more options for rural residents. For example, rifles up to 22 caliber are allowed, as well as shotguns up to 12 caliber with cartridges up to 635 mm long.

The amendments of 1971 and 2004 seriously limited the carrying of weapons in public places: it became not a right, but a privilege. Now you need a separate license, which is issued by the Secretariat of National Defense. It is almost impossible for city residents to get it.

In rural areas this is easier. Local communities here often take up arms in defense against criminal gangs .

Finally, there is exactly one legal gun store in the country. He works at a military base in Mexico City and sells up to 40 weapons a day. At the same time, up to 600 units are smuggled from the United States every day.

There are 12.9 guns per 100 Mexican residents. Of the 17 million units, only 3 million are registered.

Guatemala

The right to bear arms is enshrined in Article 38 of the constitution, adopted in 1985. Only self-loading weapons are allowed, such as shotguns, pistols, rifles, shotguns. The country followed the example of the United States and, like the States and Mexico, enshrined the right in the constitution.

To legally purchase a gun for personal use, government approval is required. The license to carry will have to be renewed for 1-3 years, depending on the type.

About 2 million of the country's 17 million population own weapons, 500 thousand of them legally. There are 12 units per 100 people . But any judge can demand that a resident of Guatemala surrender his weapons, and he will have to comply.

What are nuclear weapons

Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons of mass destruction ever created by man on Earth. The destructive power of nuclear weapons can wipe out entire cities and agglomerations from the face of the planet, resulting in the death of millions of people, not to mention the animal world. The impact of nuclear weapons has long-term negative effects on the environment and on the lives of subsequent generations. The very fact of having weapons of such destructive power carries enormous risks for humanity.

Nuclear weapons are based on the internal use of nuclear energy, which is released during the fission of nuclei of uranium and plutonium isotopes, as well as during thermonuclear reactions of fusion of hydrogen isotopes into heavier ones. During thermonuclear reactions, the energy released is approximately 5 times greater than during a fission reaction. That is why all nuclear weapons are usually divided into nuclear, thermonuclear and combined. The power of nuclear weapons is measured in TNT equivalent. So nuclear weapons using fission reactions reach 100 kilotons, and using thermonuclear fusion reactions up to 1 megaton. Combined ammunition can have a yield of over 1 megaton.

Depending on the place and purpose of the use of nuclear weapons, they are divided into:

• airborne (explosion in the troposphere)
• high altitude (upper layers of the atmosphere)
• cosmic (in circumplanetary or interplanetary space)
• ground (explosion near the ground)
• underground
• surface
• underwater

Nuclear weapons have several damaging factors:

• shock wave
• light emission from a nuclear explosion
• penetrating radiation
• radioactive contamination of the area
• electromagnetic pulse

The creation of nuclear weapons and the development of its own nuclear program requires a high level of technological development from the state, as well as economic development. Nuclear weapons are one of the main criteria for determining the military power of a state. Currently, only a few countries have nuclear weapons.

Iraq

In 2012, the country's authorities relaxed laws on gun ownership, and in 2018 they simplified their carrying. A license is still required, but obtaining one is quite simple - they are issued by local police stations.

With a license you are allowed to carry self-loading weapons for hunting, self-defense and sport shooting. Automatic weapons - like everywhere else, only for the military, police and intelligence services.

Let us remind you that civil wars have been going on in the country since 2003 . Formally, the war with the banned terrorist organization Islamic State ended in 2022, but conflicts arise regularly.

The number of unregistered weapons in the country is growing. According to 2022 data, this is 7.6 million units per 39 million population, approximately 20 trunks per 100 people .

Top 10 armies of the world according to the Global Firepower index

The rating of the analytical company Global Firepower is one of the most authoritative among similar ratings. Experts evaluate the armies of different countries of the world according to 55 parameters and identify the best of them. The key comparative parameters are: human resources, air force, ground forces (tanks, armored personnel carriers and others), naval forces, strategic resources (oil), level of logistics, financial stability and independence of the state, geographical location and climate. Based on the listed parameters, the Global Firepower company creates its own strength index , which reflects the power of the state’s army. The lower the index and closer to 0.0000, the stronger and more powerful the army.

Based on Global Firepower data, the top 10 countries in the world in terms of the military power of their armies for 2022 include:

1. USA - force index 0.0615. The United States of America is the leader in military budget, in the number of military aircraft and in naval forces. The US is also a leader in modern military technology and robotization of military forces.
2. Russia - power index 0.0639. Russia ranks second in this ranking. It is the leader in ground forces among all the armies of the world. One of the most powerful aircraft. The Navy is actively modernizing.
3. China - power index 0.0673. China is the leader in the number of permanent armed forces - more than 2 million. The second largest military budget in the world. A large number of tanks and aircraft, as well as the high speed of modernization and the creation of new weapons, place China in third place in the ranking.
4. India - power index 0.1065. India, like the top three leading countries, is part of the nuclear club. The country is actively investing in weapons and spending billions of dollars annually to update its army.
5. France - strength index 0.1584. France is the leader among Western European countries in military power. A highly developed domestic military industry, NATO membership, a large number of aircraft and as many as 4 aircraft carriers put the French in 5th place.
6. Japan - strength index 0.1707. It has a highly developed air force and one of the best navies in the world.
7. South Korea - power index 0.1761. A large number of its own armed forces - more than 1 million. High military budget.
8. Great Britain - power index 0.1797. Great Britain has one of the most technically equipped armies in the world. It has two aircraft carriers, about 1,000 combat aircraft, 220 tanks and 76 warships. In addition, the UK is one of the leaders in terms of its military budget.
9. Turkey - strength index 0.2089. A large number of aircraft (more than 1000 aircraft), about 2.4 thousand tanks, as well as an extensive navy and NATO membership allow Turkey to be in the top ten countries with the most powerful armies in the world.
10. Germany - strength index 0.2097. Despite the small number of armed forces, the German army is completely professional. It is armed with about 800 combat aircraft, 430 tanks, and 81 warships.

The full list of the Global Firepower Index is available in the table under the spoiler below:

Full ranking of armies Global Firepower Index

Pakistan

For Asian countries, the legislation here is quite flexible. You can carry a weapon if you have a license; the ban applies only in public places, for example, in schools, hotels, courts, fairs or meetings.

There are also fewer restrictions on the type of weapon: for example, assault rifles are allowed. In general , the country's gun culture is strong , and if you go to the north-west of the country, you will see many people who carry machine guns completely legally.

Per 100 people – 22.3 weapons. In total, there are 6 million legal guns and 38 million illegal ones in the country.

Ranking of armies by military strength from Credit Suisse

In addition to the Global Firepower rating, there are a number of other ratings and lists of armies by military power. Thus, an alternative ranking of the most powerful armies in the world is a 2015 study by Credit Suisse. The report analyzed military forces, tanks, attack helicopters, aircraft, aircraft carriers and submarines for various armies around the world. Based on the analysis, a ranking of the top 20 countries with the strongest armies :

In conclusion, I suggest watching an interesting video about the largest armies in the world in terms of military personnel in different years (1816-2019).

And that’s all for today about the strongest and best armies in the world. Add this article to your bookmarks and subscribe to new articles by e-mail. See you again on the pages of the Tyulyagin !

• 7
  Shared

Philippines

To carry a weapon you need a license. The chance that it will be extradited largely depends on the argumentation and profession.

Licenses are mainly issued to media representatives, bank employees, cashiers, doctors and nurses, engineers, and religious figures. But an ordinary citizen can also receive a document if he proves that it is necessary for self-defense.

There are 3.6 weapons per 100 inhabitants. There are approximately equal numbers of legal and illegal.

What about this in Russia?

Without collecting certificates and permits in Russia, you can buy pepper and gas sprays, gas pistols up to 4.5 mm, stun guns up to 3 kW, knives that do not fall under the definition of edged weapons, pneumatics up to 7.5 J and cold models. The rest is only with permission.

Legal maximum: 2 units of limited-death firearms (firearms with limited destruction - short-barreled ones like pistols and barrelless ones, for example, the Osa travmat), 5 rifled, 5 smooth-bore, 5 pneumatic with a muzzle energy of 7.5-25 kJ.

When buying a knife, you can focus on these requirements:

If you are over 18, you can buy a hunting rifle and other smooth-bore weapons , a gas or traumatic pistol (and the knives and weak air guns mentioned above). Before purchasing, you need to obtain a special license from the Russian Guard: it is called LOPA - (by the letters of the series) for OOOP, LGa for smoothbore, LPa for pneumatics with muzzle energy from 7.5 KJ and LOa for gas pistols, etc.

To obtain a document, you will have to collect certificates (pass a drug test, undergo a psychiatrist examination, a medical examination, obtain certificates 003О-у and 002О-у), take courses and pass an exam - theory and practice of handling weapons. It is also necessary to buy a safe and obtain an inspection certificate from the OLRR of the Russian Guard.

How many weapons you plan to buy, the number of licenses you need. You will have to pay a state fee for each one. It is profitable to submit an application and pay through government services - they will provide a 30% discount, pay 1,400 rubles instead of 2 thousand.

■ For OOOP ■ For hunting long-barreled smoothbore weapons and pneumatics ■ For rifled weapons

The license is valid for six months: if during this time you did not manage to buy a weapon, you will have to issue the document again.

When you buy a weapon, you can get a ROH - permission to store and carry. Through government services - 350 rubles instead of 500. ROCha is valid for 5 years.

To purchase a rifled weapon, you will have to wait at least 5 years after receiving a smoothbore license. Or receive the title of Master of Sports in shooting. What if it turns out faster?.. In any case, you will have to collect certificates again, obtain a purchase license, permission to store and carry.

But if you are not an athlete, you can only buy long-barreled rifled weapons (the same Saiga carbine) and store it in a safe at home. Moreover, you will have to prove that you are a hunter - present a hunting license.

Athletes are also allowed pistols and revolvers. But they will have to be stored only in a sports club.

But an ordinary Russian citizen will not be able to legally buy an assault rifle or a submachine gun. Such guns are only for law enforcement agencies and the army.

Buying a weapon without a license is as dangerous as selling it. For illegal smoothbore or LLCO they can give up to 15 days , and also impose a fine of 3-5 thousand rubles . Weapons and ammunition will be confiscated.

You can carry a long-barreled smoothbore (for example, a hunting rifle) around the city only separately from the magazine and/or cartridges. It is allowed to load it at a shooting range, at a shooting range or while hunting.

A magazine can be inserted into injuries and other OOOPs, but the cartridge should not be in the chamber. The weapon must have the safety on, if it has one.

Finally, you cannot carry weapons with you to rallies, churches, bars, restaurants, shopping centers and other public places. Neither hidden nor open. There are ambiguities in the legislation on this matter, but it is better not to risk it.

If you are found in possession of a knife that an expert examines recognizes as a bladed weapon, or you violate other rules for storing limited-edition guns, long-barreled smoothbore guns or ammunition for them, this is Article 20.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation: it faces a fine of 500 to 2 thousand rubles. For more serious offenses, they can be given up to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to 80 thousand rubles (Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Drunk people cannot carry even a legal firearm - a fine of 2 thousand to 5 thousand rubles , the weapon can be confiscated.

At the same time, there are 12.3 weapons per 100 people in the Russian Federation - 10 times less than in the United States. In total, there are at least 17 million units in the country, of which 6.6 million are registered.

Galloping across Europe... and Asia

Türkiye

Models from Turkish manufacturers are very popular among Russian pneumatic fans, primarily powerful and fairly budget rifles...

"Hatsan MOD 135 Vortex QE Carnivore"

... and literally before our eyes, this segment was invaded by its fellow countrymen, who, as a rule, also previously specialized in hunting rifles - “Kral”, “ATA Arms” and others.

"Kral N-07" in various versions

The overall level of quality is, let's say, not too high. Okay, still good old “Hatsan”. Over the past decades, this company has done quite serious work, and the existing problems are probably known to everyone, as are the ways to eliminate them, and you can simply ignore those that cannot be eliminated :)). Although it would be better to be more careful regarding new products (on the topic on our public VK page, read the post with the characteristic title “To hell, to hell!” the young barons shouted,” or Is it worth buying “Hatsan SpeedFire”).

But no matter how one feels about the “features” of the products of this Turkish company, known perhaps to all airgunners, it is impossible to deny creativity to the Khatsanovites. Until recently, the brand was synonymous with powerful, but not very high-quality “fool shooters”, popular only among novice shooters, especially teenagers, but in recent years the quality has become noticeably better, and the range of models for every taste and color is rapidly expanding.

True, the traditional attention to powerful designs remains characteristic of developers. It was “Hatsan” that brought to the market the unique 7.62-mm spring-piston (!) “Carnovore”; it was also the first of the mass producers with its 400-joule “Hercules” 45 caliber to bravely invade what was once completely controlled by a couple of American yes South Korean “small-volume” companies in the segment of large-caliber pneumatics (see “Hatsan” air rifles of the “Big Bore” class).

And now, meet “ Hatsan Harpoon ”.

The first air launcher in the history of the company, of course, was created on the basis of one of the PCP rifles. Fortunately, there are dozens of them in the Hatsan product range. It was not possible to accurately identify the “source” - it looks a bit like both the Blitz and the Hercules Bully... Although, judging by the colossal muzzle energy of hundreds of joules, it was the latter that acted as the prototype of the Harpoon, because it was the Bully " is a bullpup version of the Hatsan Hercules class of heavy-duty Big Bor rifles.

It's more difficult with beginners. For them, all models are new, even if we are talking about clones of samples from other manufacturers, and, accordingly, there is no experience at all in the production of pneumatics. With all the ensuing consequences (see “Turkish pneumatics: a united front“).

Spain and beyond - everywhere (“Gamo” and clones)

The products of Europe's largest specialized weapons company from Barcelona ("Gamo Air Rifles"), as well as the American-Italian "Stoeger" (see "Stoeger Air Rifles") and again the largest, only in the USA, are extremely in demand now. renamed “Velocity Outdoor” (see “Where Crosman pneumatics are made”).

The latter mainly produce rifles based on the design of the most popular to this day “Gamo Hunter 440”, the so-called “Gamo-clones” (common among other manufacturers), however, the modern and sometimes very nice appearance is original and mostly does not have nothing in common with the ancestral one.

Here, as an illustration for comparison:

Without exaggeration, the legendary “ Gamo Hunter 440 ”, which has been in production for 20 (!) years, and its descendant “ Gamo Socom Tactical ”

And this is Stoeger Atac.

And finally, " Crosman Trail NP Elite Stealth Wood "

Returning to the topic of the previous chapter, having a well-functioning firearms production in Turkey, he nevertheless organized the production of his pneumatics in China. Probably not by chance. Crosman, by the way, also produces most of its products and components in China.

At Gamo, the entire production cycle, including the development of new designs, is carried out exclusively at enterprises, in design and engineering departments, practiced by most competitors. True, not forgetting the scale of the overseas arms market, the Spaniards could not do without a subsidiary based in Florida, tailored to the preferences of American buyers. However, they are not alone here, as we will see in the example of now German competitors.

Germany

Noticeably more expensive products from German manufacturers have been and remain very popular among fans of high quality, and most importantly, technical characteristics that allow them to be used even for sports disciplines, including the most complex Field Target. We talked about them in the articles “Diana air rifles” and “Weihrauch air rifles with under-barrel cocking”.

"Weihrauch HW 97K Black Line-STL"

Interestingly, manufacturers of high-end rifles, including Diana, Air Amrs and Wairuah, have never favored the lower hook. That’s why we didn’t practice scramjet engines either; you can’t install them on the central hook. The technical level of the weapon made it possible to do just fine without additional modifications, although not so long ago the Dianovtsy did bend to the changing world by releasing the N-TEC series with a pre-installed proprietary gas spring.

Recently, the Germans have paid attention to a much more massive segment of the market, in demand among buyers with not too thick wallets. Having experience in locating production in China, Diana, apparently, organized the production of its newest models 250 and Stormrider there, and Weihrauch, based on the popular HW 100, created a noticeably simplified and, of course, cheaper Weihrauch HW 110" (“New budget air rifles from leading manufacturers”).

"Diana 250"

Another well-known German company produces pneumatics under many legendary brands from Smith-Wesson and Ruger to Beretta and Browning. In fact, these are very close (as far as possible) copies of real firearms to the original. First of all, we are talking about gas-cylinder models; in the spring-piston segment, with the exception of the Colt M4, the model ranges are classic “air” models.

Among the latter there are both quite traditional models and, say, the “Walther LGV” model range - one might say, a unique change, built according to a complex but effective “glass” scheme, characteristic of rifles with under-barrel and side cocking. In terms of shooting characteristics, the LGV and the LGU “grenade launchers” that appeared later are in no way inferior to the same “Weirauchs”.

Walther LGV Master Pro

PCP rifles, on the other hand, have clear signature features, and some, like the newest Walther Reign, have very impressive designs that may not be to everyone's taste.

Like the Spanish Gamo, the company has an overseas branch, Umarex USA, Inc. It was there that the most powerful production air rifle to date, the 1000 Joule Hammer (pictured below), was recently created. In general, it’s understandable, since such 50-caliber (12.7 mm) monsters are illegal in the vast majority of other countries on the planet. Alas…

Great Britain

Until today, I sincerely believed that British manufacturers of air guns were represented by Air Arms and the legendary BSA, now a division of Gamo. And hello to those - this year a certain “Brocock Air Rifles”, it turns out, is celebrating its 30th anniversary!

Founded in 1989 in Birmingham, which in the 16th century became one of the leading centers for the production of small arms in Britain, in 2014 the company, which had just found a new owner in the person of the famous Italian ones, moved to Staffordshire for a new one.

Brocock Air Rifles now specializes exclusively in pre-inflated rifles. Let’s briefly talk about the newest 2022 model “Concept Lite” (pictured), which has just gone on sale. The Lite concept is positioned as a “modular weapons platform.”

Well, in fact, it is: half a dozen universal Picatinny rails provide ample opportunities for various kinds of “body kit”, the stock (by the way, folds to the left) is fully compatible with that of the AR15, the handle is also easily removed and, if desired, changed to something “author’s” " In general, a tactical specialist's dream :)).

Concept Lite is available in three main pneumatic calibers - .177 (4.5 mm/24 J), .22 (5.5 mm/41 J) and .25 (6.35 mm/54 J). Moreover, in all variants the magazines carry 10 charges.

Update June 2022 . “Brocock Air Rifles” was also able to master an air pistol, naturally with pre-pumping. Yes, not simple, but gold... in general, quite worthy of the title of one of the most powerful in this class. Read more about the Brocock Atomic XR (photo below) in the article New models of air guns. Part 2.

Well, returning to the beginning of the chapter, I can’t help but quote a photo of a gorgeous creation from Air Arms - the legendary spring-piston “ TX200 ” (click to enlarge and enjoy the picture :))

Sweden

The relatively young (founded in 1999) Swedish company has now become one of the leaders in the industry and is known to shooters on all continents except Antarctica. The level of engineering, quality of workmanship and materials also determine the corresponding cost, but this does not particularly affect the popularity of the devices.

The not very wide product line includes some very original models. For example, "Impact MK2":

In the basic 4.5 mm caliber its capacity is 38 (!) bullets, and in the 22, 25 and 30 - 28. Why not a machine gun?

But, as the traveling salesmen say, “that’s not all.” Inside the solid, plump false barrel there is the actual rifled barrel, and it is precisely this that is made interchangeable. There are options for all of the above calibers and with different lengths, from 500 mm in .177 to 700 mm in the “Impact Sniper Edition” version. When moving from league to league :)), in addition to the barrel, the rammer is replaced, of course, the magazine and that’s all.

However, this is not the first time that FX Airguns has demonstrated such an approach. Moreover, a couple of years ago, it began producing KIT kits, first for the Verminators, and then for the Ranchero pistol, which included just a special “sub-caliber” barrel and... a set of arrows. That is, the buyer received a classic rifle with pre-pumping and a kind of “pneumatic crossbow” in one bottle:

Slovenia

A small company from Slovenia, RTIArms, produces only two models (in various versions) of PCP rifles, intended also for benchrest, with clearly “religious” names - “ Priest ” and “ Prophet ” ( pictured). ).

Both in appearance and in basic performance characteristics, they are very similar, however, if the Prophet is available only in 177 and 22 calibers, then the Priest is available in all the main ones for pneumatics - from the classic .177 (4.5 mm) to the Big Bore. 30 (7.62 mm) - with muzzle energy from 24 to 90 joules.

Both rifles are quite interesting and worthy of separate consideration, which, alas, is not the topic of this article. But you can note, for example, such an interesting option as an EXTERNAL pressure regulator (sold separately).

It is equipped with two pressure gauges showing the pressure in the flask itself and the user-set value, as well as a filling port and a regulator that allows you to change it from 80 to 200 bar using a hexagon. Barrels and, accordingly, calibers also change quite simply, and in accordance with modern trends, there is also a special barrel designed for throwing crossbow arrows.

Japan

The extremely strict weapons legislation of the Land of the Rising Sun is not very conducive to the development of the “pneumatic” industry, perhaps with the exception of Airsoft. In the classic segment, probably, only products are known that are quite nice, well made, but completely toy samples.

Daisy MFG Model 10

China

Here, comrades, you can talk a lot and for a long time, but you can limit yourself to stating the fact that, despite the weapons legislation being as tough on ordinary citizens as in Japan, the Celestial Empire has in recent years turned into one of the leading manufacturers of pneumatics. However, as in many other industries.

True, Chinese industry was initially much more militarized than in the occupied Yamato Country, for example, (now Shanghai Gong Zi Machinery Manufacturing Co. Ltd.) was created back in 1957. And with the transfer of many European and overseas industries to China, true prosperity began here. First of all, copying foreign designs, albeit with a different quality, and bringing them to the market under a variety of names.

In principle, this policy continues today, another thing is that the level of production has increased noticeably in comparison with the 80s and 90s; the experience of Stoeger, Crosman and even the German Diana described in previous chapters is further confirmation of this . For more details, see the articles “Chinese air rifles” and “Powerful air rifles: the Smersh R4 rifle.”

"XTSG XT-303", aka "Shanghai QB36-2", aka "Hammerli Hunter Force 900", aka "Umarex Browning Leverage", aka "Smersh R9"

South Korea

, which now produces its products under the Seneca brand, is known primarily and mainly for PCP rifles of the Big Bor class - powerful large-caliber hunting models. The main market, for obvious reasons, is the American one, although the good old “Sumatra” and “Dragon Claws” can also be found among Russian fans of such devices.

Not so long ago, a very original sample was added to them - “Seneca Recluse 500cc Ultimate Hunters Combo”. This is nothing more than a 9mm “Sam Yang Recluse” .357, only capable of actually shooting crossbow bolts of its own “Air Bolt” (see “Arrows for pneumatics”). And another new product is the 12.7-mm “Seneca Double Shot” (pictured below) - not only is it a double-barreled shotgun (!), it’s also an air shotgun (!), which, of course, works great with regular .50 lead bullets.

Products from another, undoubtedly industry leader, South Korean, cover all existing “pneumatic” niches - from the amateur 4.5 mm to the powerful large-caliber “BigBore”. Along with the highest user characteristics, many of them stand out, to put it mildly, by their original appearance, which has little in common with the smooth lines of classic rifle stocks.

Here is the photo of the “Sniper X2”, available in calibers from .177 (4.5 mm) to the great “Fiftieth”, that is, .50, or 12.7 mm:

And now - “Rainstorm” in the bullpup version, whose top bar is limited to 9 millimeters:

India. Survival game

Five years ago, an updated weapons law “Arms Rules 2016” was released in India, equating a significant part of “air rifles” to firearms. Simply put, license-free pneumatics are now available only in a caliber of no more than 4.5 mm and with a muzzle energy of no more than 20 joules, everything else is strictly subject to permits issued with the appropriate procedures, as well as all the restrictions and sanctions imposed on firearms for violation of the law.

As a result, pneumatics (as well as firearms) found themselves in a rut; in a country with a population of one and a half billion, there were only two (!) manufacturers left, producing just over a dozen models, mostly spring-piston (in the photo SX200 “Minerva”).

Unfortunately, after the adoption of amendments to the domestic Law “On Weapons” and amendments to Articles 222 and 223 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, something similar awaits us. Read about all this, as well as about the model ranges of Indian air guns and ammunition for them, in the article “Convenient pneumatics were invented by the Indians...”.

Indonesia. Unknown pneumatics: Jaya Air Rifle rifles

It turns out, comrades, Java is not only a brand of cigarettes and motorcycles, but also an island in Indonesia :)), where the headquarters of the armory is located. She specializes in air rifles - in Malay “senapan angin”, by the way. Moreover, spring-piston ones are completely absent from the range, and a significant proportion of pre-inflated pneumatics are not pure PCP.

Thus, the “Gejluk” production line comes in the “Dual Power” version (pictured “Gejluk Pasopati”) and is capable of working with both compressed air and pumped CO2. In the latter case, of course, the speed indicators are noticeably lower.

Many, many years ago something similar was discussed at Hansa regarding the CZ200T. The topic did not receive any special continuation. But Indonesians seem to be enthusiastic about such devices. Moreover, rifles are used not only for recreational shooting, but also for exterminating pests, including pigs (!) and monitor lizards. Oh how!

If you wish, you can get acquainted with the company’s products on its official websites https://www.jayaairrifle.com and https://www.senapanangin.co.id. Unfortunately, there are no English versions, and the machine translation from Malay is somewhat unclear.

Total

Gun laws most often have either a strong historical basis or dire necessity. In African countries, where photos of children armed with machine guns are often sent, there are a minimum of legal weapons. In Somalia, on average, there are 12 weapons per 100 inhabitants - approximately the same as in the Russian Federation.

And in general, all countries will grow and grow until the USA. 120 guns per 100 people is strong.

Buying and storing a weapon is usually one story (and license), carrying it is a completely different story. Even in those countries where everything is relatively simple with the purchase of weapons, they are prescribed to be used mainly for home defense.

Carrying weapons in public places is most often prohibited. But in Israel they did the opposite, and this became the basis of national security.

Finally, an interesting graph: in the USA, with its accessible weapons, the number of murders per 100 thousand population is consistently lower than in the Russian Federation:

(
172 votes, overall rating: 4.79 out of 5)