Montenegro’s Gun Crisis: Public Overwhelmingly Backs Stricter Laws After Mass Shootings

Montenegro is facing a moment of reckoning on gun violence. Two devastating mass shootings in the town of Cetinje, one in August 2022 and another on New Year’s Day 2025 have shaken the nation, ignited street protests and forced a long-overdue national conversation about gun control. In a country where political consensus is rare, a clear majority of Montenegrins now say the laws must change.

The most recent tragedy unfolded on January 1st, when a lone gunman killed twelve people, including two children, in one of the country’s deadliest mass shootings. It echoed the horror of August 2022, when another attacker killed ten people in a similar rampage in the same town. Together, the two events have placed gun violence at the centre of Montenegro’s national debate, cutting across party lines, age groups and social divides.

Polling Shows Broad, Cross-Partisan Support for Gun Reform

New polling from June 2025 reveals near-universal support for stricter gun laws. A full 79% of Montenegrins say they back tighter regulations on gun ownership. Only 7% oppose such changes, while 8% say their support would depend on the specifics. Just 6% remain undecided. This overwhelming support signals a level of unity that is striking in a political environment often defined by polarisation and mistrust.

The demand for reform transcends both demographic and political boundaries. Women, in particular, express stronger support, with 83% in favour compared to 76% of men. Age is also a factor: support is highest among those aged 45–54, where an extraordinary 88% back tighter laws. But even among the youngest voters, aged 18–24, 71% are in favour, a strong majority in any democratic context.

Political affiliations also show broad agreement. Support is near-total among voters for Democratic Montenegro and Albanians Together, both registering 100% in favour. The ruling Europe Now Movement (PES) and the long-dominant Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) also show strong internal support, with 85% of each party’s voters backing tighter laws. Crucially, even among voters for the conservative and traditionally pro-Serbian For the Future of Montenegro (ZBCG) coalition, 71% express support, a clear sign that public safety has trumped political allegiance on this issue.

A Rare Moment of Consensus and a Test of Leadership

Montenegro’s political landscape has been shaped by instability and division since the fall of the DPS-led era. The rise of the Europe Now movement brought promises of technocratic governance and EU-aligned reform but progress has been halting. In that context, the gun crisis is more than a public safety issue, it is a test of whether this government can respond to the country’s demands with unity, resolve and legislative clarity.

The polling leaves little doubt: Montenegrins want stricter gun laws. That consensus spans political coalitions, ethnic groups and generational divides.

Download the data tables for this poll.