Strict Gun Control Powerless Against Copenhagen ‘Terror’ Attacks

Denmark’s strict gun control laws proved impotent to stop two weekend shootings which Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt described as “a cynical act of terror.”

According to the UK Guardian, the first of the two shootings took place at 3:30 pm on February 14, and the second came shortly after midnight. In total, two civilians were killed and five police officers were wounded. PET intelligence head Jeds Madsen said the gunman may have taken his cue from “militant Islamist propaganda issued by [ISIS] and other terror organizations.”

We saw this same thing in Paris, where strict gun control laws were no hindrance to the terrorists who struck Charlie Hebdo headquarters, gunning down civilians and police officers alike.

The Sydney School of Public Health’s GunPolicy.Org lists Denmark’s gun regulations as “restrictive.” For example, “the acquisition, possession, and transfer of each privately held firearm” must be recorded and “retained by an official register.” Ammunition sales are also registered/recorded.

Moreover, to own a gun in the first place, you have to be a “licensed gun owner,” because gun ownership is “a right not protected by law.” Part of getting that license includes justifying your need for firearm, and that is followed by stringent criminal background and mental health checks, among other things.

GunPolicy.Org lists France’s gun regulation as “restrictive” as well, yet attackers in neither country were stopped by gun control measures.

On January 19, Breitbart News reported that French police admitted gun control was hurting their ability to perform as law enforcement officers and said they wanted to go from a lax policy on firearms to one more focused on armed readiness. The Associated Press reported that this change included a request to issue police “more” guns and “heavier” guns.

In at least one town in France—Beziers—police have already been issued larger guns, images of which have been placed around the town to send a message to would-be attackers and criminals.

Perhaps France and Denmark could also reconsider the way their gun control regulations make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves when under a criminal assault or terror attack.

Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.