In the United States, the topic of gun control is one of the most controversial social issues that have plagued our country for quite some time now. From recent mass shootings that have increased over the country during the past couple of years, opposing sides have formed concerning the public that have interest in the topic, whether it be to ban guns completely or second amendment supporters. Nevertheless, the two opposing sides have created a huge argument that is extremely difficult to resolve; however, looking at how other countries feel about firearms may be a source of inspiration.

According to the article “How Germany Approaches Guns” written by Euan McKirdy and published by CNN, precautions have been taken to ensure that mass gun violence, a rarity in Germany, will not happen again. Since Winnenden, a small town in Germany, was plagued by a mass shooting in which 15 residents perished, Germany has been requiring a nation firearms registry, requiring those who legally own a gun to register them with then government. According to the article, Germany, much like the United States, has an extremely high level of gun ownership in the country. In order to document the high level of government ownership, photographers Miguel Hahn and Jan-Christophe Hartung have been documenting the wide range of gun ownership.

According to the article, “The collection seeks to draw comparisons to the much larger and culturally documented American gun culture, they said. On one hand, Germany’s strict gun laws keep firearms largely out of the public eye – and consciousness. But on the other, there are those who seek to replication the United States far more libertarian approach to gun control.” Presenting the content in the most neutral way possible, the two photographers discovered that there are both distinguishable differences and similarities of German and American gun owners. Further according to the article “There are those grateful for the strictures placed on gun ownership, and there are those fighting for their right to expand their presence in the country – to the point of setting up the German Rifle Association, largely based on the National Rifle Association in the United States.”

The diverse range of those who both support and are against gun laws in also present in Germany. According to the article, some Germans regard the American standpoint towards gun laws very highly wising that Germany possessed similar gun laws, while others possesses the exact opposite political standpoint. Furthermore, the photographers discussed that, when photographing gun owners, many were reluctant, as, with all of the media climate against guns or gun ownership, they were fearful of being represented negatively in the media, which, ultimately, resulted in many of the German gun proponents to resist having their picture taken. Another huge factor in many German gun owners not wanting themselves being represented visually with guns is to not be compared with Germanys violent and extremist past, in order to preserve their image as well as the current image of Germany as a whole.