Poland sees record gun permit surge as lawmakers propose tighter rules

A record number of Poles obtained gun permits in 2025, amid growing security concerns and ahead of proposed legislation that could make access to firearms more difficult and expensive, a Polish daily reported Tuesday.

Interest in gun ownership in Poland has surged since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Most applicants seek permits for sport shooting or for collecting purposes, the paper said.

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According to figures cited by Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, 50,000 new permits were issued last year, pushing the total past 411,000—up from 235,000 in 2020.

The number of registered firearms exceeded 1 million in 2025, compared to just over 380,000 in 2014.

Interest in gun ownership in Poland has surged since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Most applicants seek permits for sport shooting or for collecting purposes, the paper said.

Lawmakers from the centrist Poland 2050 party are now calling for stricter gun laws, which could raise the cost and tighten the criteria for obtaining a permit.

(jh)

Source: PAP