Voluntarily surrendered guns can be officially registered

Persons who will voluntarily surrender the illegally held guns will be able to register them officially at any police subdivision of the Interior Ministry. The Cabinet approved on Wednesday, February 14, a decision on additional measures to regulate the circulation of firearms and munitions. The decision will allow police bodies to register officially the illegally held guns. The necessity of approving this project was justified by the fact that, according to estimations, the total number of legally held guns is almost equal to the illegally held firearms. Also, it was found that most of guns-involved incidents, especially the murders and serious wounds among the family members are committed using illegally held guns. The authorities think the present project will enable to provide a thorough control by the police bodies both on the firearms without corresponding authorisation and on their holders, who will be registered and permanently verified. The guns will be officially registered if they were not used in committing offences, are not wanted and not dangerous, according to the security parameters. According to Penal Code’s provisions, persons that hold, keep, buy, repair or sell firearms without authorization are held criminally answerable, while those who surrender them voluntarily are exempted from liability. At present, natural persons officially hold about 51700 units of firearms, including about 11500 rifles, 32100 units of smooth-bore guns and over 8000 gas pistols. According to the data from Interior Ministry, in nine months of last year 44 offences were committed with firearms, including 40 with illegally held guns..