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Many people only associate guns and gun ownership in a negative way, as the media shows it to our bleary viewing eyes every night on the 6 o’clock news. We hear about the mass shootings, terrorist attacks, random gang violence and the list goes on. Only “bad guys” own guns, or like them. If you are not “pro-gun,” then yes, this can be a startling thing to see and cause fear and panic…but that sells headlines, does it not? Coming from someone that has worked in the newspaper media industry for over 13 years, I can tell you that, yes, negative news sells copies on the newspaper stands in the streets.
There is a quote that I saw online, which I thought, states my views on guns like a bullet to a bullseye: “A gun is a tool, no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it.”
Check out Gun Owners For Safety for a comprehensive rundown on gun owners striving to combat gun violence in the US, while still protecting their Second Amendment.
Now, before you cast judgement on me, since I am very pro-gun, you must know that I grew up around guns. The gun was never a toy, something you played with, or disrespected. I shot my first handgun and .22 Ruger rifles (semi-automatic and bolt action) at the age of 8. Most kids aren’t even allowed to walk home alone from school these days at that age. In Canada, our gun ownership laws and regulations are a sore subject right now and even with our very strict laws, crime is at an all-time high. Our government is taking away guns from legal and law-abiding citizens for no reason. Taking away guns won’t make society safer, as we can see, most of the gun violence in Canada does NOT come from law-abiding gun owners and the guns being used, most of them you could not even get in this country to begin with.
But, enough about our laws and all of the ridiculousness behind it all. This is a post about the amazing country, Czech Republic, or Czechia, their gun laws, rules and how I spent a day shooting some of the craziest guns I’ve ever laid my hands and eyes on. Hello, Mr. Dragunov Sniper à la Soviet Union. Yep, those kind of guns. The big boy guns, if you want to call them that.
Read more: Top Things To Do In Prague
In the Czech Republic, residents can legally own firearms with a license, and the right to keep and bear arms is enshrined in the country’s constitution. Citizens can also carry concealed weapons for self-defense. An armed society is a polite society, so I’ve heard. While gun ownership is relatively accessible in the Czech Republic, there are still strict requirements for obtaining a license, including a proficiency exam, a medical check, and you must have a clean criminal record. Even in a very pro-gun society, such as Czechia’s, there are ongoing debates and some new regulations to strengthen gun safety and traceability, such as introducing mental health checks and barcode tracking. This is mainly due to the (extremely rare) shooting in Prague that claimed 14 lives in 2024.
Now, even though the Czech Republic is home to many gun owners, that can be carrying up to 2 (yes 2) concealed weapons at any given time next to you on the train, on the streets, or even in a restaurant, the country boasts the title as one of the safest countries in Europe.
Now with that being said, here’s the breakdown on the must knows about Czech gun laws and rules:
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Right to Bear Arms: The Czech Republic guarantees the constitutional right to own firearms for self-defense.
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Licensing: To get a firearm license, you must pass a proficiency exam and can only be completed in the Czech language, a medical check, and have no criminal record. Licenses are available for self-defense, professional use, or hunting/sport shooting, which for that purpose, can be obtained at the earliest of 15 years of age.
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Concealed Carry: Citizens with licenses (D and E) can carry up to two concealed firearms for protection. About 260,000 of 316,000 licensed owners carry concealed weapons. That is a huge number of guns on the streets, yet next to zero gun crime is committed in the Czech Republic. And the interest to own more guns and get licensed is growing.
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Recent Changes: In 2024, gun laws were tightened, requiring more frequent medical checks, mental health assessments, and QR/barcode registration for weapons and ammo. This is mainly due to the 2024 shooting that resulted in 14 lost lives.
While firearms are not toys and must always be handled with the utmost respect and responsibility, that doesn’t mean shooting can’t be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Like any skill that demands focus, discipline and precision, shooting offers a unique sense of satisfaction. Whether you’re hitting your first target or improving your accuracy, there’s a real sense of enjoyment to be found in the challenge of mastering this dangerously powerful tool, especially in a safe, controlled environment like a professional shooting range.
When I found out that one of the top rated activities to do in Prague, was to shoot guns, I knew I had to get more information and to book a date. I scoured the internet and came across Shooting Range Prague. It only took me a few moments of poking around on their website to book a package and a date.
After booking your range day, depending on the time of year, you’ll go shoot at an indoor, or outdoor range, get picked up straight from your hotel and dropped back off. Easy peasy! The drive to the indoor or outdoor range typically takes between 35 – 45 minutes. You can book in groups, but single bookings are accepted and can even be booked on the same day if you wish. I was picked up by my driver promptly and I was the only female shooting that day. I was also shooting the most amount of guns too. 😉
You get to choose from packages ranging from 1 gun, to 10 guns and even more if you want. I went for the 10 gun package (payment is cash only at the range and cost me CZK 4,100 / €170) and I shot everything from an AK47 Kalashnikov, to a SVD Dragunov Sniper Rifle and a .44 Magnum Taurus Revolver, oh and did I mention the AR15 (M16) Assault Rifle .223 Remington? Yea, it was the most badass thing I’ve done on a trip. The instructors are educated, former, or active police/military (usually) and are the nicest people ever. Don’t fuck around though, these guys are strapped and ready to act in case you have any dumb ideas.
At the end of your shooting extravaganza, the instructor carefully ensures that every gun chamber is emptied, inspected and secured before allowing you to have a full blown (pun intended) photo shoot with any gun you want. Even though the chambers and guns are cleared and safe, NEVER point a barrel towards anyone, practice trigger finger discipline and act like the gun is still loaded.
Now that you’ve read about my day at Shooting Range Prague and understand their solid safety measures, knowledgeable staff, and the overall controlled setup, what do you think? Is this something you’d try while visiting Prague? If you’re not into guns, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. I won’t judge you, as long as we can respect each other’s views. Personally, I support gun ownership and protection when it’s done responsibly and with the right licenses, background checks and medical clearances. Let’s keep the conversation open and respectful! xo
