How strict are gun laws in Botswana?
Highly restrictive / banned
Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
Botswana is one of 51 countries classified “Highly restrictive / banned” for civilian gun ownership — 25% of the 202 with data. (Also searched as firearm laws.)
Source
- Last checked
- 17 September 2026
- How it was classified
- Read directly from the source’s own table, without interpretation.
Nearby countries
- Zimbabwe
- Licensed / moderate Handguns are obtainable under license, but self-defense alone is not explicitly sufficient for a license.
- Namibia
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- South Africa
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- Eswatini
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- Lesotho
- Restrictive Lesotho requires a good reason for firearms, with handguns limited to revolvers and long guns to shotguns.
- Zambia
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Other laws in Botswana
- Death Penalty
- Retained / in use
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Every law in Botswana → · How strict are gun laws around the world? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.