Bill to curb use of firearms

Parliament is today expected to start debating a newly published Bill on firearms, following discussions with collectors and groups involved in the use of firearms in sport.

The Justice and Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement yesterday the proposed regulations would enable the police to curb abuse and simultaneously facilitate the use of registered weapons by bona fide sports-men and antique arms collectors. The proposed changes to the law include a more liberal use of firearms in sport which also encourages sportsmen to take up shooting in ranges from a young age, albeit under professional supervision, the ministry said.

The Bill, in fact, suggests that young shooters may train as soon as they turn 16, even though the category of firearms they may use would be limited.

"It is government policy to encourage this competitive sport," the ministry said, adding that supervised shooting in ranges would automatically reduce the rate of bird shooting.

The Bill should also provide for a wider choice of firearms to be used in authorised shooting ranges, even though the Police Commissioner would have the right to impose a limit to the number of licences issued on a person's name.

Collectors of antique weapons would also get a special licence which defines "antique firearms" as those which have been manufactured up till 1945.