The government is launching an inquiry that will, among other things, examine whether certain hunters without a Swedish hunting exam may be subject to simpler rules for gun ownership. The process for exchanging firearms will also be reviewed.

The government is moving forward with further changes to Sweden’s firearms legislation. In a new committee directive, a special investigator has been tasked with proposing ways to make the regulations less burdensome for people who legally own firearms, while maintaining the fight against illegal weapons and criminal shootings.

One of the matters specifically highlighted concerns hunters who lack a Swedish hunting exam. The investigator is to consider whether simplified regulations can be introduced for certain individuals in that group. No concrete proposal has yet been presented, and in the directive the government does not specify exactly which hunters would be included.

Distinguishing Regulatory Violations from Illegal Weapons

The inquiry will also review the process of changing firearms. Currently, those who already own hunting or sporting firearms and wish to switch to another must go through a new licensing process. Now, the government wants the investigator to analyze how to simplify this process for legal gun owners.

At the same time, the penal provisions of the firearms law will be further divided. The aim is for the legislation to better differentiate between different forms of firearms offenses and between legal gun owners who commit regulatory violations and individuals who use illegal weapons in criminal activities.

The issue regarding hunters without a Swedish hunting exam is to be addressed more quickly than the other parts. That portion of the investigation must be completed by February 8, 2027, whereas the remainder of the firearms inquiry is to be finalized no later than March 7, 2028.