Two recent shootings in Reykjavík have put gun ownership in the spotlight, sparking conversations about how many semiautomatic weapons there are in Iceland, if they are too easy to obtain, and the ideology of those carrying and using these firearms.
Iceland is renowned for its safety: it has topped the Global Peace Index for the past 14 years in a row. While gun violence is a very rare event, two shootings in February shocked Icelanders and made headlines abroad. On February 10, a young Icelandic male was arrested by the police following a shooting in the Grafarholt neighbourhood of Reykjavík. The victims were a man and woman, who were transported to the emergency room, where their wounds were treated.
Just three days later, three Icelandic men were arrested after a man was shot and injured on Ingólfsstræti street in downtown Reykjavík. The victim reported the shooting himself and was transported to the ER, where he underwent surgery. The three men were arrested shortly afterwards.
The shootings sent shockwaves through Iceland. “When we had these two shootings, you could feel the alarm in society,” said Helgi Gunnlaugsson, Professor of Criminology at the University of Iceland, in an interview with Iceland Review. “There was heavy media coverage and concern among the public. We don’t see shootings in our society and don’t even really see them in the criminal underworld. It came as a shock to everyone.”
Strict gun licence laws
The type of weapons used in these recent incidents was particularly surprising. According to police, they were semiautomatic rifles, the import of which has been increasing in recent years. In 2016 and 2017, no semi-automatic firearms were imported into the country; in 2018, there were two, and in 2019 there were 19, according to data from the police. In 2020, 252 automatic firearms were imported to the country. The police say that this significant increase is unique, but is explained by the increased interest of collectors.
Obtaining a gun in Iceland is not easy, as Icelandic law places strict limits on gun ownership. To get a licence for a firearm, you must be at least 20 years old, pass a medical assessment to ensure you are mentally and physically fit, and you can’t have a criminal record. Applicants must then get recommendations from two people to attend a course on firearms, gun safety, as well as gun and hunting laws. After passing a written test, you get a smaller shotgun and rifles licence. To get a permit for larger rifles, up to 30 calibres, and semi-automatic shotguns, you must wait an additional year.
Where can you purchase a gun in Iceland?
As in other countries, firearms can be bought and sold online in Iceland, but unlike in other countries, the sale must go through the police. The buyer must apply for a permit, after which a special purchase authorisation is issued, which the applicant shows the seller before the firearm changes ownership. If the seller releases the weapon without going through the police, the authorities will revoke the firearms license and impose a fine. Icelandic police closely monitor the sale of firearms online.
However, it appears that legally obtained guns are not a source of problems, and the guns that have been used for illegal purposes in Iceland are mainly stolen and not purchased, according to police information. “If we take 2020, seven guns were stolen, and there were no collector guns. These were guns for individuals who were to receive firearms and did not store them securely,” said Jónas Hafsteinsson, a police officer at the licensing department, told RÚV.
Is this a trend?
There was concern that the February shootings could mark a trend, as they happened within days of each other. “These shootings struck a deep nerve in our national psyche; it´s alien for us to look at guns as an object to defend yourself with or to point at someone,” said Helgi. “There is always a fear of copycat crimes, but I’m hesitant to say it’s a trend. The incidents occurred in February, and there hasn’t been another shooting since, and now it’s mid- March.”
Officials have tried to calm nerves, stating that there is no immediate threat to society. “In our small, peaceful society, this is a very bad development. But we do not see that their goal is to use weapons against the public; this is a conflict between criminals first and foremost,” Runólfur Þórhallsson, the assistant chief of police, told RÚV in February.
Who are the criminals?
The common denominator in these recent shootings, according to Helgi, is the profile of those involved: young Icelandic males. He believes this should be studied. “The police are seizing more weapons – guns, knives – from young males in Iceland,” he said. “Our specialised police force has been activated more often the last few years – if there are weapons around. That is part of this picture.”
Most of the people involved in the February shootings are known by the police and have a criminal history, said Helgi. “It’s important to understand what’s going on in their minds, what’s happening in their environment so that they think this is how you solve conflicts or arguments,” he said. “It’s important to look at the ideology. These young Icelandic males think carrying these weapons around is important and they are prepared to use them. We need to study what’s happening with young males that are on the margins of society.”
“We who are in the research world, we need to include marginalised young people in our studies. For me, it’s about knowing what kind of social world some of our youngsters are involved in, how they perceive their environment, how they choose to react in arguments. This is something I will have to integrate to some degree into my research,” said Helgi.
Within the Icelandic system, there is more emphasis on responding to crime instead of trying to prevent it, according to Helgi. “You have the police, but it would also be helpful to have other types of agencies approaching troubled youth in a constructive way,” he said. “My research of repeat offenders paints a picture that keeps coming up. They have an unstable family situation, or they may have only one parent, and alcohol and drug problems are coming up early, as well as violence and sexual violence. Our government needs to have some social mechanisms for youngsters on the margins. Iceland is a small society: and we should be in a better position, and guide them to a more constructive way of life.”
