Gun-related deaths reduced after the introduction of stricter laws in these countries

Shortly after a mass shooting in Tasmania, Australia banned rapid-fire rifles and shotguns and tightened licensing rules. Over the next decade, gun deaths dropped by 51%.

A decade of rising gun deaths in South Africa prompted the government to pass new laws prohibiting certain firearms, mandating background checks and tightening licensing requirements, which capped gun ownership numbers.

A mass shooting in 1996 prompted the UK Parliament to further tighten the country's gun laws and ban private gun ownership.* Gun-related deaths fell by a quarter over the decade that followed.

Three mass shootings in three years prompted Finland to overhaul its gun laws in 2011. Gun deaths were already falling, yet there was an additional 17% drop between 2011 and 2019.

After a 2002 shooting by a 19-year-old, Germany's parliament passed gun restrictions for young people, including banning large-caliber weapon sales and requiring psychological evaluation before purchase. It later mandated gun registration and storage security checkups after another mass shooting.

2010 '19 2000 1990 GERMANY 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 April 1, 2003A revamped Weapons Act was enacted April 26, 2002Erfurt schoolshooting,16 killed May 16, 1999Five killed July 25, 2009Weapons Actamended Nov 1, 1999Four killed March 11,2009Winnendenschoolshootings,15 killed July 22,2016Munichshooting,nine killed FINLAND 0 200 400 600 Feb. 11, 2011Firearms Actamended Sept. 23, 2008Kauhajoki schoolshootings, 10 killed Nov. 7, 2007Jokela schoolshooting, eight killed Dec. 31, 2009Helsinki mallshooting,five killed 0 100 200 300 400 UNITED KINGDOM April 2, 1991Following the 1987 Hungerford spree shooting, Firearms (Amendment)Act 1988 came into force Feb. 27, 1997Firearms (Amendment)Act 1997 becomes law March 13, 1996Dunblane schoolmassacre,17 killed June 3, 2010Cumbriashootings,12 killed SOUTH AFRICA 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 October, 20002000 Firearms ControlAct passed 0 200 400 600 800 AUSTRALIA May 10, 1996National FirearmsAgreement established April 28, 1996Port Arthur massacre,35 killed June 4, 2019Darwinshooting,four killed Deaths by firearm: Homicide Suicide Unintentional Mass shooting 2010 '19 2000 1990 Deaths by firearm:Homicide Suicide Unintentional Mass shooting UNITED KINGDOM 0 100 200 300 400 April 2, 1991Following the 1987 Hungerford spree shooting,Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 came into force Feb. 27, 1997Firearms (Amendment)Act 1997 becomes law March 13, 1996Dunblane school massacre,17 killed June 3, 2010Cumbria shootings,12 killed FINLAND 0 200 400 600 Feb. 11, 2011Firearms Act amended Sept. 23, 2008Kauhajoki schoolshootings,10 killed Nov. 7, 2007Jokela school shooting,eight killed Dec. 31, 2009Helsinki mallshooting, five killed GERMANY 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 April 1, 2003A revamped WeaponsAct was enacted July 25, 2009Weapons Act amended May 16, 1999Five killed Nov 1, 1999Four killed April 26,2002Erfurtschoolshooting,16 killed March 11, 2009Winnendenschool shooting,15 killed July 22, 2016Munich shooting,nine killed SOUTH AFRICA 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 October, 20002000 Firearms ControlAct passed AUSTRALIA 0 200 400 600 800 May 10, 1996National Firearms Agreement established April 28, 1996Port Arthurmassacre,35 killed June 4, 2019Darwin shooting, four killed

Note: Additional gun legislation may have been passed that is not visualized here. Deaths reported in mass shootings exclude the perpetrator.

*Does not apply to Northern Ireland