Riigikogu backs government on EU Firearms Directive
The Riigikogu’s National Defense Committee decided on Monday to support the positions of the government on the EU Firearms Directive, chairman of the standing committee Marko Mihkelson told the Baltic News Service.
At the end of January the government decided not to support a proposal to amend the directive. The proposal called for the addition of converted semiautomatic firearms along with other types of weapons to the list of class A firearms.
The Ministry of the Interior said it considered it important to preserve the directive’s clause that allows member states to make exceptions. This clause gives member states some leeway in the matter of acquisition and possession of weapons that generally are prohibited for civilian use, but necessary for national defense.
Another proposal that also fell short suggested that the possibility to collect class A firearms should be restricted.
The government decided in January to withhold support for proposals to ban semiautomatic firearms and restrict the possibility of collecting class A firearms. At the same time, the government supports tightening control over the use of firearms and the proposal to include deactivated firearms in the scope of the directive. It is also in favor of defining a common term for weapons permits, and of adding the requirement that applicants pass a medical test.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn