Montenegro announces gun control measures after deadly mass shooting
Local residents light candles during national days of mourning in Podgorica on January 2, 2025, after a gunman killed 12 people including two children in a shooting rampage that started in a restaurant. - Montenegro began on January 2, 2025 three days of national mourning, a day after a gunman killed 12 people including two children. (AFP Photo)
Montenegro’s government announced sweeping measures on Friday to address the issue of illegal firearms in the country, following a mass shooting in the town of Cetinje, Montenegro that claimed 12 lives earlier this week.
The attack, carried out by a 45-year-old man on Wednesday, began at a restaurant and ended in tragedy, prompting three days of national mourning. The gunman, who later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, had a history of possessing illegal firearms, authorities revealed. Some of these weapons had been confiscated in 2022.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic, addressing the nation after a National Security Council meeting, condemned the widespread availability of weapons. “The availability of weapons is excessive and horrifying, and it cannot be justified by tradition,” Spajic said during a press conference.
The tragedy marks the second mass shooting in Montenegro in under three years and has reignited debates over the country’s gun culture. According to the Small Arms Survey (SAS), a Swiss research initiative, there are approximately 245,000 firearms in circulation in Montenegro, a country with a population of just over 620,000.
To combat the prevalence of illegal arms, the government has introduced a two-month amnesty for individuals to voluntarily surrender unregistered firearms without facing legal repercussions. After the grace period, strict penalties will be enforced under a new law. “There will be no mercy,” Spajic warned.
In addition, the government plans to reassess all permits for legally owned firearms. Current permit holders will need to comply with stricter security and health screenings by January 2026.
Public outrage over the incident has mounted, with protesters gathering outside the government building in Podgorica on Friday. Demonstrators placed 12 flowers on a fence to honor the victims and called for accountability.
The attack has left the country reeling. Montenegro’s Clinical Center reported that three victims remain hospitalized, with one in critical condition.
“The tragedy in Cetinje is a heavy burden for our small country,” Spajic said, as the nation grapples with the aftermath of yet another mass shooting.
