Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Czech Lower House Approves Gun Rights Constitutional Amendment

Friday, June 30, 2017

Czech Lower House Approves Gun Rights Constitutional Amendment

Exactly two weeks after the Czech Republic announced that they would challenge restrictive changes to the European Union’s European Firearms Directive in the European Court of Justice, the small nation has once again acted to defend themselves against transnational gun controllers. On June 28, the Czech Chamber of Deputies (the lower house of the Czech Parliament) approved a constitutional amendment to protect Czech citizens’ right to possess firearms and ammunition, with a reported 139 of 200 deputies voting in favor.

Specifically, the proposed constitutional amendment ensures that Czech citizens have a right to keep and bear arms in order to participate in preserving national security.

In an explanatory memorandum that accompanied the proposed amendment, proponents explained the purpose of the amendment and why it is necessary. The amendment’s backer made clear that the change is aimed at preserving civilian firearms possession and to foster an armed citizenry as a part of the country’s overall security framework. This emphasis on national security is important, as it curtails the European Union’s ability to review the Czech Republic’s actions in this field.

In explaining the necessity for such an amendment, the memorandum cites the current security threats facing the Czech Republic and Europe. The memorandum acknowledges the threat that terrorism and asymmetrical warfare pose to soft-targets and the inability of the state to adequately protect against all such attacks. The memorandum goes on to explain that citizens have an important role to play in national security and that the nation’s roughly 300,000 armed citizens (241,229 of whom are licensed to carry) and the state can be allies in this effort. Aside from national security concerns, other portions of the memorandum emphasize the importance of civilian firearms ownership to the right of self-defense and recognize that an armed citizenry can act as a deterrent to criminal violence.

According to BBC, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec, a staunch supporter of Czech gun rights, shared his support for the proposed amendment with the Czech parliament on the day of the vote. Chovanec said, “We don't want to disarm our citizens at a time when the security situation in Europe is getting worse… Show me a single terrorist attack in Europe perpetrated using a legally-owned weapon.” According to Prague.tv, Member of the Chamber of Deputies Jana Černochová correctly pointed out, “forbidding legal ownership of guns is a tactic often used by undemocratic and totalitarian regimes.”

The Czech Republic’s forward-thinking recognition that armed citizens can play an important role in combatting terrorist violence stands in stark contrast with much of Europe. On May 24, the European Union finalized changes to the political bloc’s European Firearms Directive that restrict lawful firearm ownership in the union’s 28 member states. The changes were expedited in response to the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris and include a ban on the civilian possession of certain types of semi-automatic firearms and onerous new licensing and registration provisions.

Under Czech legislative procedure, the proposed constitutional amendment now moves to the Senate, where a three-fifth’s majority is required for passage. Should the amendment pass the Senate, it will then go to Czech President Milos Zeman for his consideration. In July 2016, Zeman expressed his support for civilian gun ownership as a means of combatting violent extremism.

NRA-ILA will continue to follow the Czechs in their struggle to preserve their rights and inform U.S. gun owners of any new developments.

TRENDING NOW
Major Digital Currency’s Terms of Use Prohibit Firearm and Ammunition Sales

News  

Monday, October 20, 2025

Major Digital Currency’s Terms of Use Prohibit Firearm and Ammunition Sales

So much of the energy surrounding the digital currency space has been aimed at bringing forth a new liberty. 

CBS Report: Chicago’s Responsible Gun Owners Wrongfully Arrested, Charged

News  

Monday, October 27, 2025

CBS Report: Chicago’s Responsible Gun Owners Wrongfully Arrested, Charged

The Windy City has its fair share of problems, but a lack of violent criminals isn’t one of them, as anyone who takes a moment to look through local crime news source CWB Chicago knows for a ...

North Carolina: Update on Permitless Carry

Friday, October 24, 2025

North Carolina: Update on Permitless Carry

Last week the North Carolina General Assembly briefly returned from recess and re-referred Senate Bill 50, Freedom to Carry NC, to the House Rules Committee.

NRA-ILA Files Comments on DOJ’s Relief from Disabilities Rulemaking

News  

Monday, October 27, 2025

NRA-ILA Files Comments on DOJ’s Relief from Disabilities Rulemaking

Last Monday, NRA-ILA (ILA) filed comments in response to a proposed rulemaking by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to revive the government’s “relief from disabilities” program for people categorically prohibited from acquiring or possessing firearms. 

Trump Continues Commitment to Gun Owners

News  

Monday, October 27, 2025

Trump Continues Commitment to Gun Owners

We’ve covered the numerous ways in which President Donald Trump has used his office to defend or advance our rights protected under the Second Amendment. 

Taxpayer-Funded Orgs Bankroll Ad Council “Children” and Firearms Propaganda

News  

Monday, October 27, 2025

Taxpayer-Funded Orgs Bankroll Ad Council “Children” and Firearms Propaganda

The idiot box has been living up to the nickname.

NRA-ILA Files Reply Brief Pressing the U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Its Challenge to the NFA’s Restrictions on Short-Barreled Rifles

Thursday, October 23, 2025

NRA-ILA Files Reply Brief Pressing the U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Its Challenge to the NFA’s Restrictions on Short-Barreled Rifles

Today, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) filed a Reply Brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a challenge to the National Firearms Act of 1934’s restrictions on short-barreled rifles in a ...

Urban Crime Spike “the Most Overlooked U.S. Crime Story in Recent Years”

News  

Monday, October 20, 2025

Urban Crime Spike “the Most Overlooked U.S. Crime Story in Recent Years”

It was a standard talking point of the Biden White House that violent crime had dropped by record levels under the Biden-Harris administration, attributed in part to its support of gun control measures.

From Printers to Panic: Everytown Summit on “3D Printed Firearms” Targets Progress

News  

Monday, October 27, 2025

From Printers to Panic: Everytown Summit on “3D Printed Firearms” Targets Progress

Recently, Everytown for Gun Safety hosted a 3D Printed Firearms Summit in New York City with the goal being to “build cross-sector collaboration and chart actionable strategies to stem the tide of 3D-printed firearm (3DPF) related violence.” 

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging California’s Glock Ban

Monday, October 13, 2025

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging California’s Glock Ban

Today, the National Rifle Association—along with Firearms Policy Coalition, Second Amendment Foundation, Poway Weapons & Gear, and two NRA members—filed a lawsuit challenging California’s Glock ban.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.