MOSCOW. June 16 (Interfax) - The State Duma on Wednesday passed at the third reading a bill providing for additional grounds to refuse a gun license and raising the legal age of acquisition for several types of firearm.
The law permits the acquisition of a hunting rifle, smoothbore long-barreled self-defense weapon starting from the age of 21, instead of the current 18.
The provision does not apply to those who are former or active duty military personnel, members of state militarized organizations, holders of a military rank, a special rank, or a class rank of justice.
Representatives of small indigenous peoples leading a traditional way of life, citizens whose job involves hunting, and employees of companies with specific charter objectives may acquire a hunting rifle from the age of 18.
A sporting rifle, a smoothbore long-barreled hunting rifle and long-barreled rifle-bore hunting rifle for sporting purposes may be acquired from the age of 18.
The bill also extends the list of grounds for refusal to issue a gun license.
The document bans the issuance of a gun license to a citizen with a sealed or spent record for a serious or very serious crime, for premeditated crimes of medium gravity committed with the use of a weapon, ammunition, explosive substances, explosive devices, or their imitation, specifically manufactured technical devices, narcotic drugs, psychotropic, potent, poisonous, or radioactive substances, or medicinal and other pharmaceutical chemicals.
Nor would a gun license be issued to a person with a sealed or spent record for a premeditated crime related to arms trafficking.
The license ban would also extend to persons with a sealed or spent conviction for a terrorist and/or extremist crime, a crime committed with a view to propagating, justifying, and supporting terrorism, or to any person with a sealed or spent record for a premeditated crime involving violence against a child.
The ban is also proposed for those with two or more convictions, as well as anyone who has faced administrative charges for using drugs or psychotropic substances without a medical prescription or new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances, driving while intoxicated, or handing control of a vehicle to an intoxicated person, before one year has expired from the end of the period during which the person was under administrative penalty.
Legal gun owners will be required to present their weapons for inspection and allow authorized officials to access its place of storage to carry out checks.
Gun owners will be required to report the loss or theft of their weapon to the National Guard.
The bill also bans the dissemination by means of mass media and telecommunications instructions on how to make or convert a weapon illegally.
The acquisition, exhibition and collection of a decommissioned weapon do not require a license, the bill said. The owner of a decommissioned weapon must inform the National Guard within two weeks from the acquisition of the weapon for the purpose of its registration.
The National Guard shall form and maintain electronic registers of licenses and permits to take account of and monitor the circulation of civilian and service-issue firearms in Russia, the document said.