Poland is witnessing an unprecedented surge in gun ownership, with firearm licenses hitting record levels. More Poles are arming themselves than at any point since the fall of communism.
In 2023 alone, authorities issued 40,900 gun permits, continuing an upward trend that began in 2022—the year Russia invaded Ukraine—when permits jumped to 37,400. Previously, the country averaged just 10,000 new licenses annually. By early 2024, nearly 930,100 Poles legally owned firearms, doubling the total from 2017.
Criminologist Prof. Brunon Hołyst attributes this spike to growing concerns over personal and national security, particularly due to the war in Ukraine. However, security expert Jerzy Dziewulski argues that the trend began over a decade ago, thanks to relaxed regulations. “Owning a gun boosts a guy’s ego, especially when his buddy has one,” he added.
Most Poles obtain firearms for collecting or hunting. Lawyer Andrzej Turczyn explained that collectors must meet specific criteria—joining an association, maintaining a clean criminal record, and passing either a police exam or obtaining a Polish Sports Shooting Association license. This route remains the simplest way for an average citizen to acquire and keep a firearm.
Despite skyrocketing gun ownership, Poland has not experienced a surge in gun-related crime. In fact, the country remains one of the least armed nations in Europe per capita. Critics often compare this trend to the United States, which has the highest private gun ownership rate and significant gun crime, particularly in urban areas with high concentrations of Black populations. Statistics show that African American males commit over half of U.S. homicides, followed by higher-than-average rates among Hispanics, while Asians have the lowest rates.
Elsewhere in Europe, Sweden has seen an uptick in gun crime alongside rising immigration. With Poland’s immigration numbers climbing, questions arise about whether firearm-related crimes could follow. However, if patterns hold, any increase in gun violence may stem not from legal gun owners but from foreign criminal networks trafficking illegal weapons.
