History
The Czech Crown lands witnessed one of the earliest massive use of the firearms during the Hussite wars in the early 1420s and 1430s. The use of firearms, together with Wagon fort, was one of the key features of Hussite war strategy, which defeated five crusades launched against the Reformationists' revolt. One of the guns used by the Hussites, Czech: píšťala, later found its way through German and French to English as term pistol. Another gun used by the Hussites, Czech: houfnice, gave origin to English term howitzer.
After establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918 the country took over the preceding Austrian gun law from 1852. The law was very liberal, allowing to own and carry guns without any formalities, only with restriction regarding their number. This was restricted during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia: Nazis forbid private gun ownership (except for hunting) and imposed very harsh punishments. The liberal situation was returned following the defeat of Germany in May 1945.
The situation changed again after the communist coup d'état of 1948. Although the law allowed for some restricted gun ownership, in reality the authorities were instructed which groups of people could be allowed to own a gun. In 1962 a secret directive was adopted, which was listing the nomenclature of persons deemed loyal enough to be allowed to own a gun. Enactment of 1983 was more liberal, but gun ownership still remained rather restricted. Access to sport guns was easier (sport shooting was encouraged and supported by the state via Svazarm) and the rules for hunting shotgun ownership were relatively permissive.
The new enactment of 1995, after the Velvet Revolution, meant return to liberal times of the First Czechoslovak Republic. Accession to EU required new enactment, which was passed in 2002. The law remained very liberal despite introducing more regulation.
Read more about this topic: Gun Politics In The Czech Republic
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