Press release, 16 June 2016
On 16 June 2016, the Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on Control of Weapons and Ammunition thereby extending the list of holders of the right of ownership of weapons. The amendments were adopted by 60 votes in favour, with 7 votes against and 28 abstentions.
The legislative amendments open up a possibility for members of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union and volunteer serviceman to acquire and possess category B and C weapons and their ammunition.
“Finally, after a year, the Seimas adopted the law giving permission to riflemen and volunteer servicemen to keep a gun at home. The Law is intended for national security purposes rather than hunting, self-defence or sport. Including the national security interest into the Law on Control of Weapons and Ammunition marks a significant historical milestone and serves as a means of deterring a potential aggressor,” said Arvydas Anušauskas, Member of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence.
The amendments provide that category B and C weapons and their ammunition may be acquired and possessed by riflemen who are at least 18 years of age, upon having passed an examination and obtained a permit. For the the purpose of volunteer military service or military service of other active reserve servicemen, category B and C weapons and their ammunition may be acquired and possessed by volunteer serviceman or other active reserve serviceman upon having passed an examination and obtained a permit.
The amendments also provide that not only an officer of a state institution, wearing a uniform, or a person having a weapon for the purpose of professional activities but also a volunteer serviceman or other active reserve servicemen may carry the weapon in a holster and exposed while carrying out their professional duties.
The validity of a natural person’s license to possess and carry a weapon, issued for the purpose of carrying out rifleman, volunteer or other active reserve military service, will be cancelled upon the loss of membership of the Riflemen’s Union or termination (expiry) of the contract of volunteer or active reserve military service.
The amendments will come into effect as from 1 September 2016.
Saulė Eglė Trembo, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, Office of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6203, e-mail: egle.trembo@lrs.lt