Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

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Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by Vikram » Thu Jul 28, 2016 2:49 pm

From our own TC.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-new ... VOh6L.html


ON JULY 15, THE UNION HOME MINISTRY brought into force Arms Rules 2016 that not only make getting a firearm licence under the existing Indian Arms Act of 1959 more difficult but also bring air rifles, blank firing guns (which are mostly used by the film industry), certain types of battery-powered batons that deliver electric shock and even paintball guns used in games under the ambit of licence

KOLKATA: In a country where gun ownership laws influenced by the British are considered extremely prohibitive and firearms legitimately owned by citizens and sportspersons are dangerously outnumbered by weapons in the hands of criminals and terrorists, the Centre has made gun laws all the more stringent.

On July 15, the Union home ministry brought into force Arms Rules 2016 through a gazette notification that not only make getting a firearm licence under the existing Indian Arms Act of 1959 more difficult but also bring air rifles, blank firing guns (which are mostly used by the film industry), certain types of battery-powered batons that deliver electric shock and even paintball guns used in games under the ambit of licence.

The move has come as a shock to gun owners, dealers and manufacturers of air guns. Members of gun dealers’ associations in several states told HT that they may move court. The attempt to impose restrictions on air rifles is being viewed as a move influenced by animal rights activists and sustained campaign by BJP leader Maneka Gandhi.

While no licence was earlier required to own air guns and air rifles and even toy shops could sell these, the new rules say manufacturing and selling air rifles will require specific licence under the Arms Act. Also, licence will be required for any air rifle generating more than 20 joules of energy. Though air rifles of .177 caliber — this is standard caliber or bore for all national and international competitions — will not require licence, the restriction on energy (20 joules) will apply to these as well. Air rifles of bigger caliber such as .22 (5.5 mm) will be brought under licence regime and restriction on energy will apply.

“It is nothing but ridiculous to direct licensing of air weapons exceeding .177 bore and asking arms dealers to maintain stock registers etc for air weapons which have nothing to do with firearms. These are used for target practice and families have owned air guns without licence since 1947. The government should amend the rules,” said Ravi Ahuja, general secretary, All India Arms Dealers’ Welfare Council.

“The Union home ministry has even made it mandatory for transport companies to procure a special licence for carrying airguns, firearms and ammunition. This will further affect the gun trade which is already at an all-time low,” said Biswajit Biswas on behalf of Kolkata Arms Dealers’ Association.

“The order on air rifles is strange indeed. One can use a chronograph to measure the velocity of a pellet fired from an air rifle. But while buying an air rifle how will one measure the energy without sophisticated equipment? As far as the some of the other rules are concerned, I welcome the move to increase quota of ammunition for competitive shooters,” renowned shooter and Olympian, Joydeep Karmakar, told HT.

Though the new rules have made certain category of firearms and ammunition eligible for possession by civilians, getting a gun licence is going to be more difficult, feel gun rights activists. “The laws on inheritance are more difficult. Owning your grandfather’s gun is not going to be as easy as it used to be. It seems the goal is to limit the total number of licence holders in the country,” said Abhijeet Singh, founder member of National Association for Gun Rights India (NAGRI) which has been fighting for liberal gun laws for two decades.

“All licence fees have been hiked. It seems these extortionate fees have been formulated assuming that only the rich urban elite own firearms. It seems they don’t realise that the vast majority of gun owners in India own ordinary single/ double barrel shotguns of Indian make, which are worth no more than Rs 5-15,000. For those people paying Rs 3000 as renewal fee is quite difficult,” added Singh.

Section 42 of the Rules says licence for acquisition, possession, carry or use of arms and ammunition will be issued to applicants for theatrical performances and rehearsals for such performances, production of films, production of television programmes, historical re-enactments, signaling for starting races or athletic meets. In short, possession and use of any blank firing gun will require a licence from now on. “Blank firing guns only produce sound and cannot hurt anyone. These should not come under licence. It is not justified at all,” said Ahuja.

Interestingly, influenced by American laws the Home Ministry has made an attempt to create ‘gun-free’ zones in the country. Section 46 of the Rules says the owner or occupant of a property may submit an application to have the premises declared a ‘Firearm Free Zone,’ stating reasons and giving proof of capability to maintain the restriction.
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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by mundaire » Thu Jul 28, 2016 3:52 pm

Excellent article TC! :clap: (y)
Cheers!
Abhijeet

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by SMJ » Thu Jul 28, 2016 5:39 pm

Brilliant TC (y) A much needed article from a strong print media paper highlighting such a draconian proposal.

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by auram » Thu Jul 28, 2016 6:56 pm

Nerf guns are air weapons ?? too, shooting foam bullets. Do we require license for that to ? Since over .177 require air weapons (air guns .22) require a license, the elite/mega foam darts are may be almost a cm in diameter .....???????

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by RoyalSingh » Thu Jul 28, 2016 9:49 pm

That's a Great Representation of common Indian's reaction to Government's Doctrine of ever increasing sanctions.
May be we need to make a proper representation challenging such autocratic moves.
I am a bit new here, could some one please throw some light on functioning of NAGRI.

Regards
Royal Singh

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by AgentDoubleS » Fri Jul 29, 2016 8:05 am

TC,

As always, a brilliant article!

Cheers,
SS

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by TC » Fri Jul 29, 2016 5:35 pm

Vikram, thank you :) Always a pleasure.

Abhijeet, thanks but the war has just begun for some. :)

SS, thank you brother :)

Cheers

TC

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by ebenezer » Fri Jul 29, 2016 6:10 pm

Hats off TC. Brilliant article.
Ebenezer

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by TC » Mon Aug 08, 2016 5:15 pm

ebenezer wrote:Hats off TC. Brilliant article.
Ebenezer
Thank you brother. Appreciate the appreciation from a fellow comrade :)

Cheers
TC

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by mooppan » Mon Aug 08, 2016 5:33 pm

Finally a much needed warning shot. Well explained article wrt the content.

Ranjith Raghavan.

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by madhuankitha » Tue Aug 23, 2016 2:54 pm

good article, what a explanation, thank you for sharing this nice post,

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by jatindra Singh Deo » Wed Aug 24, 2016 9:32 am

This a great article TC , hits the nail on the head and covers all our point !! True the battle has just begun and ll not give up without a fight !

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by goodboy_mentor » Thu Aug 25, 2016 2:33 pm

The REAL reason why the Government wants firearms laws to be tougher and more tougher can be read in the (Retd.) Supreme Court Justice Katju Commission Report available here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8812&p=243496#p243496
"If my mother tongue is shaking the foundations of your State, it probably means that you built your State on my land" - Musa Anter, Kurdish writer, assassinated by the Turkish secret services in 1992

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by TC » Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:26 pm

Thank you gentlemen.

Cheers
TC

GBM,
That's a great input. Wish you had shared this with me earlier :)

Cheers
TC

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Re: Firearm laws get tougher, even airguns need permit -Hindustan Times

Post by goodboy_mentor » Fri Aug 26, 2016 10:44 am

TC wrote:GBM,
That's a great input. Wish you had shared this with me earlier :)
Well I was also not aware of this report at that time. :) While browsing the internet using some unusual keywords for search stumbled upon this report. Similarly had stumbled upon a very important catena of Supreme Court judgements that say "the right of self-defence is a very valuable right, serving a social purpose and should not be construed narrowly." In other words it means that any legislation that has implications with right of self defense like Arms Act 1959, it's Rules or Notifications must pass this test "the right of self-defence is a very valuable right, serving a social purpose and should not be construed narrowly.". This judgment related matter can be read here viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24511&start=120#p243291

I am sure there shall be many more occasions when the above report of (Retd.) Supreme Court Justice Katju Commission and the opinion of Supreme Court in catena of judgments can be shared with the public via all forms of media. The crimes of unlawful police firings, murder, rape, dacoity, kidnapping, house breaking at night are happening almost with clock work regularity and precision. And in almost all these incidents, the victims are unarmed and unable to exercise their human right of self defense due to perverse and prejudiced implementation of Arms Act 1959.
"If my mother tongue is shaking the foundations of your State, it probably means that you built your State on my land" - Musa Anter, Kurdish writer, assassinated by the Turkish secret services in 1992

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