A new legislation that will allow individuals to apply for licenses to possess guns and for traders to also sell them has been passed by lawmakers in Rwanda, the New Times reports.
The government has defended the move saying that the legislation on gun acquisition has been in existence since 2009.
According to the Minister for Justice Johnston Busingye there should be no cause for alarm since the process of acquiring a firearm has been made even tighter with the new legislation.
“This is not a new law. It dates way back to 1979, when there was a Ministerial Order concerning arms and which later became law in 1982. In 2009, they were both scrapped and replaced by the current law.
“It’s very difficult for an individual or an institution without security in their obligations to successfully go through the stringent process to own, manufacture or sell guns. It’s not impossible to own one but the level of scrutiny and controls is now even tighter and the possibilities even fewer,” he said.
The New Times also quoted the State Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Evode Uwizeyimana, as saying: “Even if it’s allowed to possess arms, we aren’t going to distribute them like voting cards,” he said.
“We are a country that is fast developing and instead of limiting different things we should move to regulate them,” he added.
The passing of the law was met with mixed reactions from the citizens. A poll on Twitter conducted by The New Times Rwanda showed that 84% of those who participated on the poll were against the idea.
POLL: A draft law on ownership and sale of firearms is being debated in parliament. 👉🏿 https://t.co/RlwY7Bn2ek
Do you think civilians should own fire-arms?#Rwanda
— The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) May 28, 2018
No….for what! The agencies are there and fully trusted! ….there is no NEED!
— RealGMoses (@Th_RealMoses) May 29, 2018
— Patrick Iradukunda (@ippatrick95) May 29, 2018
I agree the possession and business(buying and selling ) of guns , but
Government must ensure that those weapons/guns are kept and used properly (legally & under control ) by the citizen so as not to make Rwanda a war and killing field.— Bim Sahl J. B. SIKUBWABO (@Bim_motiv) May 29, 2018
I ‘personally’ don’t think that our current level of civilization sh’d allow the use of firearms by civilians. If an individual or family is in need of personal protection, they’d rather hire (body) guards from security companies; we have many that can help in this case.
— JCRW⚡ (@JeanClaudeRW) May 28, 2018
About the gun acquisition law
a – Arms are defined as firearms and their ammunition, grenade and other explosives used as arms as well as nuclear, biological, chemical or toxic weapons.
b – Civilians are allowed to possess firearms for hunting, sports, or for self-defence purposes if they meet the conditions described in the law.
c – The Rwanda National Police authorities, who are responsible for issuing gun possession licences, may refuse to grant firearm possession and carriage licence at their own discretion.
d – For a person to be authorised to sell arms, the bill stipulates, they shall submit a request letter to the Minister in charge of the Rwanda National Police and attach copies of their identity card or passport, shall be people of integrity, and be at least 21 years old.
e – Those wishing to sell arms will not have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment equal to or exceeding six months, shall show a safe place where to keep the arms, shall produce a legal commercial registration, and shall commit to not collaborate with terrorist organisations or individual terrorists.
f – The Cabinet will also have to authorise individuals before they can start selling arms in the country.
