Gun buyers have been flocking to Lithuania’s stores since the start of the war in Ukraine, with sales increasing up to eight times and applications for gun licences doubling.
Sales have shot up for all categories of weapons, but the largest demand is for handguns used for self-defence and semi-automatic weapons that could also be used in military situations, according to gun sellers.
People at a gun shop interviewed by LRT TV say they were prompted to look for a gun because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“I already have low calibre rifles, but I’ve never used them. But now, there’s war. I cannot even imagine – I’m very scared for my children,” a man told LRT TV.
“I was looking for a gun, but I wasn’t in a hurry. But at a time like this, I think it’s better to sort things out and have [a gun] just in case,” another added.
But not everyone is allowed to buy a gun as potential buyers need to meet health requirements and get a permit from the police. The number of permit applications in February doubled compared to the previous year, based on police data.
“You have to set up a safe and fill in a declaration that you have facilities to store the weapon,” said Audrius Čiupala, head of the Licensing Division of the Police Department.
“If a person decides to buy a gun for self-defence, they have to undergo appropriate training to confirm that they know how to use it,” he added.
Permit holders may own more than one weapon. The Defence and Security Industry Association estimates that, depending on the type of weapon, weekly sales have increased 5-8 times since Russia invaded Ukraine.
“Night vision devices, thermal imaging cameras, bullet-proof vests, militaristic clothing, and military supplies have been sold out in Lithuania […]. Most of the goods have been shipped to Ukraine, but many remain with Lithuanian buyers,” said Vaidas Sabaliauskas, head of the Defence and Security Industry Association.
At the beginning of 2022, some 92,000 people had gun licences in Lithuania. They owned just over 181,000 guns.
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