Newsletters
Individual gun ownership in Türkiye is approaching 40 million firearms as recent deadly incidents reignite debate over whether current legal penalties effectively deter gun violence, according to officials and advocacy groups.
The discussion intensified following Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc's announcement of planned legal reforms after a fatal shooting during a wedding procession in Trabzon's Caykara district and a road rage incident in Istanbul's Eyupsultan district.
Statistics show that 65% of crimes committed with individual weapons involve firearms, with 84% of firearm-related crimes using unlicensed weapons. Legal experts and advocacy groups say current penalties appear deterrent on paper but face implementation problems.
Speaking to Türkiye daily, Ayhan Akcam, president of the Umut Foundation, said, "Wedding teams should be assigned to outdoor events. A special tip line should be established against aerial gunfire incidents, and awareness should be increased with public service announcements."
"Individual gun ownership in Türkiye has approached 40 million, and this needs to be prevented. Existing laws must be fully implemented in traffic as well," he noted.
Legal expert Tolga Aydemir welcomed Minister Tunc's announcement about increasing penalties but said it would not be sufficient alone. He identified enforcement of sentences as Türkiye's primary problem.
"The shortening of prison sentences through reductions strengthens the perception that 'you can get out anyway,'" Aydemir said, adding, "Supervised release should not be applied, especially for crimes involving violence and threatening public security."
Aydemir emphasized the need to prevent weapons from becoming symbols of power, particularly among young people, stating, "It is essential to remove weapons from being a symbol of power and to explain to young people, especially, that violence is a crime. Educational campaigns, media responsibility, and preventive measures by law enforcement are of critical importance."
Mustafa Atici, whose 15-year-old son Emir Yusa Atici was killed by a stray bullet in Trabzon four years ago, said perpetrators still have not been found.
"We have been waging a legal struggle for four years. There are major problems in the implementation of penalties. The right to life should not be this cheap," Atici said.
The Justice Ministry's proposed regulations will define road blocking in traffic as an independent crime.
Those who illegally block roads will face one to three years imprisonment, even without using force or threats. When additional crimes occur during road blocking, separate penalties will apply for each offense.
Celebratory gunfire at weddings, engagements and military send-offs will face heavier sanctions.
The penalty for firing weapons in residential areas will increase from six months to three years imprisonment to one to five years.
Blank-firing guns will also be included in the crime scope, carrying six months to three years imprisonment.
Penalties will double when committed during public events.
1 min read
1 min read
