A bill seeking to amend the six-decade-old Arms Act and limit arms licence holders to keeping just one weapon, among others, is facing opposition from MPs cutting across party lines. The Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019, introduced in the Lok Sabha also states that from now on a person can apply for just one arms licence.
One of the provisions of the bill states that those who own more than one firearm will have to deposit the rest with authorities within 90 days. The authorities, according to the bill, can either be the local police station or an authority mandated by law. The excess guns will be stored by the authorities and the licensees can access them but at any point, they can possess only one weapon.
The Modi government has also proposed to enhance punishment from 14 years to life imprisonment for the manufacturing, selling, repairing and possessing ‘prohibited’ arms and has proposed a two-year term for those who indulge in celebratory firing at weddings and religious functions. The MPs are particularly against the government’s decision to limit licences and are citing security issues and the ‘sensitive locations’ of their regions.
“Most of the provisions of this bill are necessary but restricting the possession of firearms to just one is not based on reality,” said the Congress’ Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla.
Some MPs with a royal lineage are opposing the provision as they say some of their guns are antiques and prized possessions.
“Many people with licensed arms have inherited them from their families. They are prized possessions,” said the BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harshvardhan Singh Dungarpur, who is a member of the erstwhile royal family of Dungarpur in Rajasthan. “The guns are heritage items and not used altogether. If they are destroyed in the possession of the authorities who will foot the bill?” he asked.
