Legal Gun Ownership in Turkey: Regulations, Licensing, and Availability

No firearms share the same legalities in any country as they do in the United States. Just because a country may be awash in firearms or that regulations and laws are not always closely adhered to or enforced does not make them legal. Several countries, including Turkey, have made it much more difficult to legally obtain firearms.

Licensing Requirements for Owning a Gun in Turkey

Individuals who wish to keep a gun in Turkey must first obtain a gun license from the gendarmerie command. After obtaining this license, one can legally buy a gun. There are two types of licenses: a keeping license and a carry license.

Keeping License

The keeping license is generally available to individuals who are over 21 years old and meet health conditions, and do not have a criminal record. This license is primarily for people who wish to keep their firearms in a secure location rather than carrying them.

Carry License

The carry license is typically reserved for individuals in specific professions who need to carry firearms for work purposes. It is important to note that the carry license is significantly more difficult to obtain compared to the keeping license.

Limitations on Serial Firing Guns and Ammunition

It is legal to own manually operated rifles and shotguns in Turkey after obtaining a license. However, serial firing guns such as automatic weapons are prohibited. Ownership of one of these serial firing guns is not only restricted but also highly illegal.

Regarding ammunition, you can obtain a maximum of 200 rounds of ammunition per year from the gendarmerie command. There are no public ammunition stores available for purchase; all ammunition must be obtained from the government.

Gun and Ammunition Stores in Turkey

Gun and ammunition stores are not as common in Turkey as they are in other countries. However, there are establishments selling firearms and ammunition. There has been one mentioned in Istanbul, but they tend to focus more on selling replicas and airsoft/paintball guns. Notable among the few verified gun stores is one located in Urfa.

Turkey has a long history of gun ownership and gunmaking, and many Turks enjoy hunting. Due to the restrictive nature of firearms ownership, most places in the country prefer to sell auto-loading firearms. Instead, they sell manually operated firearms such as pump or single-shot rifles and shotguns.

Turkey's Arms Manufacturing Industry

Turkey's largest arms manufacturing company, Sarsilmaz, is based in Düzce. They may have outlets or display areas where individuals can see and potentially purchase weapons under strict government authorization. However, this information may vary, and it's best to conduct further research or contact local authorities for the most up-to-date and accurate information.