Turkey's legislation tightens gun control, making legal firearms harder to acquire, yet illicit firearms proliferate on the streets

In Turkey, a troubling trend has emerged: an increase in the number of minors gaining access to firearms. According to data from 2022, a total of 3,352 children were prosecuted under the "Law on Firearms, Knives, and Other Tools."

This surge in prosecutions reflects a broader societal debate, with questions about public safety, individual rights, and the role of the state in regulating civilian access to weapons at its heart.

The age breakdown of the cases reveals a concerning pattern. Of the 3,352 children prosecuted, 455 were between 12 and 14 years old, while 2,897 were in the 15-17 age group.

The majority of firearm-related crimes in Turkey involve unlicensed weapons. In fact, 84% of such crimes are committed using illegal firearms. This alarming statistic has led experts to warn that unlicensed weapons far outnumber legal ones in Turkey, contributing to escalating violence.

The debate over Turkey's approach to civilian firearms centres on two contrasting models: individual gun ownership rights versus strict gun control policies, such as those in Japan.

The murder of 15-year-old Hilal Ozdemir with an unlicensed weapon has brought the issue of illegal armament into sharp focus. The tragedy has highlighted the urgent need for action to address this growing problem.

As of June 2022, the total number of licensed firearms in Turkey, including possession licenses, reached 998,237. However, the number of unlicensed weapons is nine times higher, totaling over 25 million illegal firearms.

In an effort to combat this crisis, Turkey has taken several measures. In September 2025, fixed fees for gun ownership and carrying licenses were increased following a presidential decree. Legislation passed in November 2023 introduced serious prison sentences for carrying unlicensed firearms.

Internet-based transactions have made acquiring unlicensed weapons remarkably simple in Turkey, requiring only a few messages to obtain desired models without detection by authorities. To counter this, security forces have been seizing unlicensed firearms in large numbers. In 2024 alone, over 90,000 unlicensed firearms were seized, and action was taken against 100,317 individuals in related cases.

Despite these efforts, the effectiveness of Turkey's approach to addressing the illegal firearms crisis remains to be seen. The minimum age for weapon-related crimes in Turkey has dropped to 12 years old, indicating that illegal firearms are reaching increasingly younger demographics.

Turkey ranks first in Europe and seventh globally for unlicensed civilian firearms. As the debate over firearm regulation continues, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect Turkey's children and ensure public safety.