Three
people died and three were critically injured
after a gunman opened fire at one
of Denmark’s biggest malls, in Copenhagen, Sunday. One person, a 22-year-old
man, has been arrested by authorities who are yet to rule out the incident as
an “act of terrorism”. The mall shootout comes at a time when the United States
has been discussing and debating gun legislation amid a wave of shootings across
the country. The Copenhagen shooting has given immense fodder to Conservatives
to guard against strict gun laws. For a long time, Republicans have believed:
gun laws don’t work.

Also read | Police confirm several deaths at Copenhagen shooting near Harry Styles concert venue

“Shooting
in Copenhagen Denmark where guns are BANNED? Oooooh child I can’t wait for the
Left to explain how this happened,” wrote Republican congressional nominee
Lavern Spicer on Twitter, responding to the shooting. The 56-year-old Spicer, a
cosmetologist once, is running for office to represent Florida’s 24th
Congressional district.

The
question raised by the GOP leader is because of Denmark’s own restrictive gun
laws. Guns in Denmark are regulated by the country’s Ministry of Justice and
the European Commission. According to Denmark’s gun law regulations, civilians
are not allowed to carry automatic weapons. Semiautomatics and handguns can be
procured but only with special authorisation. Further, gunowners can only buy
ammunition for the guns they own.

Also Read | Copenhagen world’s ‘safest city?’ A look at Denmark gun laws

Additionally,
gun owners in Denmark are required to show reason why they wish to possess a
gun. Such reasons often include gun collection or hunting. People below 18
years of age cannot buy guns in Denmark and authorities are required to do a
thorough background check including on criminal history and mental health prior
to approving gun ownership.

The Danish
state maintains a record to licensed civilian gun owners who are allowed to
possess, sell or transfer firearms or ammunition.  

Gun control
has always been a touchy subject in the United States where Conservative
Americans see regulations around guns to be a violation of the Second Amendment
to the US Constitution. The stranglehold of the National Rifle Association
(NRA) in gun legislation also resists greater government control on guns.
However, gun violence is rife in the United States. A total of 45,222 people
died from gun-related injuries in the US in 2020, the latest year for which
data available, according to a Pew Research Centre report.