Armenian parliament passes new version of law on regulation of firearms

YEREVAN, Oct. 6. /ARKA/. By a vote of 65, the Armenian parliament passed Wednesday a new version of the law that regulates acquisition, possession and use of firearms by civilians in the second and final reading.

According to the new version, citizens over 21 now are eligible to acquire civil combination or long-barreled firearms, while other types of civilian firearms can be acquired by citizens who are 18 years old after obtaining a police permit.

If a citizen acquires a firearm for the first time, he/she will be required to undergo short-term training rules of safety in handling firearms and obtain a certificate.

Persons who serve in paramilitary organizations and the carriers of service firearms will be exempt from this obligation.

Co-author of the bill, MP Vilen Gabrielyan from the ruling Civil Contract party said that the revised law aims to regulate the circulation and production of civil, service and military firearms.

It introduces new rules of circulation of firearms and ammunition, aimed at improving self-defense and combat efficiency. In particular, the changes assume that a citizen wishing to have firearms must undergo both theoretical and practical training.

Also, the new version abolishes a mandatory requirement that one has to be a member of a hunting association to be eligible for purchasing firearms. The period of validity of a permit to possess and carry firearms is prolonged by five years to 10 years. -0