Thursday, December 21, 2023

Mass Shootings Only Happen In America: Czech Republic Edition

Democrats contend that mass shootings are somehow a uniquely American phenomena. So, in that vein, the Daily Mail reports that "'Ten' dead and dozens wounded in Prague university shooting: Students balance on high ledge as they hide from gunman and terrified crowds flee across tourist spot bridge before shooter 'eliminated'." From the article:

    Ten people have reportedly been killed and dozens injured in a mass shooting at a university in Prague.  

    The lone gunman shot dead 'several people' at Charles University in the centre of the city at around 3pm this afternoon, police said, with local reports saying at least 10 people were killed in the rampage. 

    A chilling image shared on local media purports to show the man dressed in black aiming a rifle at people below while standing on top of a faculty building, with witnesses saying the gunman was picking off his victims one by one. 

    Dramatic video showed terrified crowds of tourists and locals sprinting across the famous Charles Bridge - one of Europe's top tourist sites - after they heard the sickening sound of gunshots in the city.

    In separate footage, people were seen running with their hands raised in the air from the University's Faculty of Arts building in the capital, as armed police officers swooped in. 

    Within minutes of the deadly shooting, elite cops were seen storming the building before the gunman was 'eliminated'. 

 The Czech Republic has fairly strict laws. In order to own or possess a firearm, one must be licensed (and there are 5 different types of licenses depending on the purpose of the ownership). There are age requirements, both theoretical (i.e., knowledge of firearms and applicable laws) and practical exams (weapon handling and shooting), and an applicant must pass a health background check, pass a criminal background check, and be reviewed for "personal reliability". There are also restrictions on the type of firearm that can be owned, magazine size, and, in some cases, the amount of ammunition that can be possessed. Interestingly, the Wikipedia article includes a graph showing a clear decline in homicides coinciding with the rise in firearm ownership. 

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