The annual rate of homicide by firearm in Moldova is of 0.59 cases per 100,000 people. This is the smallest rate of its kind in Europe. In 1996, 72 people were fatally shot; in 2010 their number fell to 9. In France 142 people were shot to death in the same year, in Netherlands – 33, in the Czech Republic – 18, reports Info-Prim Neo, citing data from gunpolicy.org. The estimated number of weapons in the possession of civilians in Moldova is of 300,000. The country ranks 103rd out of 178 states. There 26,000 registered licensed gun owners. The number of hunting rifles that have been reported by civilians is close to 25,000. Illegally owned guns cannot be counted, but their estimate for Moldova rises to 50,000. The production of small caliber firearms and ammo, or their components, is prohibited in Moldova, except for hunting rifle bullets. State forces own over 182,000 firearms.