Speaking on Action 24, Georgiadis linked weapon possession to the Greek revolutionary tradition, arguing that ‘the people of Mani and the Cretans led the liberation struggles precisely because they were armed’.
‘Gun ownership has been a central topic of discussion in the United States for two centuries. They even included it in their Constitution. Is everyone talking nonsense?’ he said.
The minister cited the US as a positive example, despite the country’s record levels of gun violence and mass shootings. According to official data, nearly 43% of violent gun crimes in the US are committed with legally purchased weapons.
Georgiadis clarified that his position represents his personal view rather than the government’s official line:
‘My position on gun ownership is not a government position. The opposition is misrepresenting me. Half of the National Struggles were fought by the people of Mani and the Cretans because they were armed. They were not snowflakes.’
While defending his stance, Georgiadis described the Vorizia shooting as a criminal act, emphasising that the weapons used were illegal and that vendettas must be eradicated through strict registration and control.
Historians criticised his attempt to associate firearms with the success of Greece’s independence movements, pointing out that Mani’s role in 1821 was shaped not only by access to weapons but also by specific political conditions. The region, they noted, enjoyed relative autonomy due to the local Beys’ relations with the Ottoman administration, which allowed residents to organise the uprising effectively.
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