How strict are gun laws in Laos?
Restrictive
Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Laos is one of 87 countries classified “Restrictive” for civilian gun ownership — 43% 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
- Vietnam
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Cambodia
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Thailand
- Licensed / moderate Handguns are obtainable for sport or hunting, but self-defense alone is not sufficient for a license.
- Myanmar
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- Hong Kong
- Restrictive Handguns are restricted and issued only under license, with self-defense not being a sufficient standalone reason.
- Bangladesh
- Restrictive Handguns are limited to one and require justification, fitting the may-issue or restricted discretion category.
Other laws in Laos
- Death Penalty
- Not used in practice
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
Every law in Laos → · 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.