When the government changed the Weapons Act in spring 2023, the gun permits of more than 600 third country citizens were due to expire on March 15. There were the same number of stateless people whose permits could no longer be renewed. The last gun licenses will expire in 2028. Around 3,000 weapons needed to be handed in.

Other third-country nationals have now either sold their weapons or handed them over to the police. On Wednesday, the PPA's Maj. Anneli Annist said 12 people were due to turn them in 32 firearms.

"A time has been agreed with them for the transfer of the weapons and ammunition and, to the best of our knowledge, by the end of the working day tomorrow the weapons will have been deposited," Annist said.

The police contacted people about the law change at the end of last year, she said.

"And at the beginning of the year, we were calling these people individually. And two weeks ago, we made schedules for ourselves, where we agreed on a specific date and time with each person who had not yet brought a weapon, what time they could come to us."

Around 400 weapons have been given to the PPA. Others have been sold on or given away. Levila journalist Lennart Ruuda told ERR he bought a gun from a Russian citizen last summer.

"They were not very happy, of course. Vova was a long-time gun license and gun owner, he also belonged to a shooting club. He said he was loyal to the Republic of Estonia. It was deeply incomprehensible to him why he, a law-abiding citizen who had never had any problems, was now being stripped of his weapons. As he also had a lot of guns, he complained that prices were dropping. That he could not charge a fair price for his second-hand gun, which was in good condition," Ruuda said.

The journalist said he started noticing more online adverts selling used weapons last summer. Currently, the cheapest place to buy a gun is at Kuldne Börs for between €50-€100.

"Prices have still come down. At least for a Glock pistol, which is the most common handgun among the Estonian people. There were also a lot of bargain prices. Dealers have had to bring prices down. There are few buyers," Ruuda said.

The PPA's Anneli Annist said selling a used gun is not easy these days. It is also difficult for people who try to sell a gun they bought 20 years ago. Additionally, a friend with a gun license may not be able to get permission to buy a new gun.

"If they request it, we will also look at how many weapons they already own and why they want it. If they want it simply because a friend will be deprived of a gun, that is not a reason. They still have to justify their purpose," she said.

The PPA will keep the weapons for a year. If the person has not managed to sell their weapon during this period, the police will pay the owner the average market price. What happens to the weapon after that is up to the police.

"The PPA then has the right to dispose of the gun. This can be done by auction. Or, if we think there is no prospect of a sale, it can be destroyed," Annist said.

The government changed the law last year to stop Russian and Belarusian citizens in Estonia from holding weapons after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This affected around 1,300 people.

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