How strict are gun laws in Russia?
Restrictive
Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Russia 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
- Mongolia
- Restrictive Mongolia requires may-issue permits for all firearm types, including those for personal protection.
- Kazakhstan
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Finland
- Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
- Norway
- Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
- Kyrgyzstan
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Estonia
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
Other laws in Russia
- Death Penalty
- Not used in practice
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
Every law in Russia → · 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.