Most of offenses are committed with illegally kept arms
- 30.03.2012 18:05
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The largest part of the crimes involving firearms are committed with illegally kept guns. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 20 of the 37 related offenses reported so far this year were committed with arms held illegally. The authorities aim to impose new restrictions as regards gun holding by a bill that is to be passed by Parliament, Info-Prim Neo reports.
In a news conference on March 30, Ion Lisnic, the head of the Arms Control Unit of the Public Security Division, said the bill institutes stricter conditions for obtaining gun permits. Permits will be issued to persons older than 21, not 18 as until now.
Those who will want to get a gun permit will have to attend a theoretical and practical course on firearm handling. Only the citizens of Moldova will be allowed to own lethal arms.
The head of the Police and Public Order Division Marin Maxian said that the Ministry of the Interior is conducting the nationwide special operation “Arsenal” between March 29 and April 6. “The aim of this operation is to identify those who illegally hold firearms, munitions and explosive devices,” he stated.
A number of 77 gun permits have been withdrawn since the start of this year. 92 firearms kept illegally were yielded up voluntarily, while another 49 were taken away by force by the police. In the period, there were reported 15 crimes involving firearms and 33 offenses related to the illegal carrying, holding, purchasing, and manufacture of firearms and munitions as well as 37 incidents with guns.
According to the State Arms Register, over 52,000 private individuals who won over 60,000 firearms are now under police supervision.
