Sweden to Ban AR-15 Rifle: Government to Amend Gun Laws

The AR-15 rifle will be banned for hunting, according to Ekot. The Tidö parties have agreed on the ban, which is expected to be announced at a press conference on Monday.

– This is excellent, says Leif GW Persson.

Individuals who own an AR-15 will have two years to sell it. If they do not sell the weapon within that period, the state will confiscate it, providing full compensation.

The semi-automatic weapon has been commonly used in mass shootings in the USA and was also used in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. In Sweden, the issue of banning the AR-15 became relevant after the mass murder in Örebro, where ten people were shot dead, although the weapon was not used in that incident.

The proposal to ban the weapon has caused division within the Tidö parties, with several top members of the Sweden Democrats opposing the ban. Richard Jomshof resigned from his position as chairman of the Justice Committee because the government wanted to change the gun law.

“My criticism is primarily that it is a hasty and emotional decision that lacks grounding in our respective parties. I stand by that,” he wrote in connection with his resignation.

GW on the Ban

Leif GW Persson welcomes the news that the AR-15 rifle will be banned for hunting.

– This is excellent, he says, continuing:

– There is no reason to use such weapons for hunting. I see risks that are not compensated by any kind of advantage. Everything in Sweden is about combating serious organized crime, yet such weapons have been allowed for hunting.