An Interesting Tidbit About Gun Ownership in Iran

One hope coming out of American bombing campaigns in Iran is that, rather than needing to deploy troops to Iran, the Iranian people themselves might rise up and overthrow the tyrannical Islamic theocratic regime.

However, since it is a repressive regime, gun ownership isn’t exactly something just everyone can partake in. They don’t respect any rights, but especially the right to keep and bear arms. That means it’s going to be hard for anyone to take up arms and take out their ruling overlords.

But, as Lee Williams notes, it seems that despite the laws, gun ownership was rising in Iran.

Last year, Iran International, a London-based Iranian news agency, which covers the country with “fearless journalism,” investigated online firearm sales, which are thriving in Iran.

“In one 17,000-member channel, a vendor offered a Glock 17 pistol for 280 million rials ($340), a Makarov for 240 million ($290), and a Turkish-made Colt .45 for 360 million ($440). For higher-end buyers, a Kalashnikov was listed at 1.7 billion rials ($2,070), including a video showing it wrapped in cloth beside two full magazines,” the online magazine reported.

Security was tight on the websites. Payments were made via cryptocurrency, and purchased firearms were left in hidden locations. One seller used a shopping mall. After payment was made, the buyer had two hours to retrieve their purchases.

“The dealers who actually deliver have networks,” a source in Tehran told the website. “They use trusted people. Some even have police protection.”

The website found that while some of the sellers were questionable, there were enough legitimate ones to keep gun sales thriving.

Iranian civilians certainly have a legitimate need to arm themselves. It is difficult to understand the horrors they face under the current Islamic regime. They can be arrested, jailed and tortured on mere suspicion. Their security forces can shoot them dead on the street for no reason without any fear of a legal response.

Just to be clear, these are not lawful sales. These are black market gun sales taking place in the blackest corners of Telegram. They’re conducted as they are because they’re not legal, and that means there are a lot more guns in private hands than we might think.

Yeah, a lot of those are people who are just regular criminals who want no part in political uprisings. They’re out for themselves and their bank accounts, nothing else.

But how many of those guns ended up in the hands of people waiting for a chance to overthrow their government?

No, a $290 Makarov isn’t exactly going to topple the Iranian regime all on its own, but it can be enough to put down one of the regime’s lapdogs and take his equipment. Do that enough, and you’ve got an equipped military force that can take down an oppressive government.

It’s the same logic behind the United States creating the original Liberator pistol for World War II. A single-shot pistol wasn’t about fighting pitched battles, but for taking out a sentry or other isolated target and taking their stuff from them.

On the more domestic front, though, it’s worth looking at this and recognizing that if they can’t stop the illicit gun trade in such an oppressive society, one premised on something other than basic human freedoms, why do you think any gun control law here is ever going to work?

Editor’s Note: The radical left will stop at nothing to enact their radical gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights.

Help us continue to report on and expose the Democrats’ gun control policies and schemes. Join Bearing Arms VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.