In 2017, 1,683 new licences were issued for carrying weapons, 397 more than in 2016. There now are more than 300,000 Portuguese that are fully authorised to have such weapons at home.
The number of citizens who obtained new licenses last year increased 31% compared to 2016.
Figures from the Public Security Police show that more than 500,000 Portuguese are allowed to carry and use weapons: about 300,000 are allowed them at home under lifetime licenses that were obtained between 1949 and 2006. A further 227,000 people are authorised to have weapons, whether for hunting, personal defence or for shows.
Of the Portuguese who are licensed to have weapons, 167,000 have hunting licenses, which allows them to travel across the country with their weapons.
PSP data also reveal that more guns have been destroyed so far this year than last year. As at July 9th, 2018, almost 30,000 weapons had been destroyed compared to 27,535 in the same period last year.
The number of weapons seized by the PSP in the first five months of the year was 1,073, compared to 218 last year.
