Gun permit restrictions tightened: Transnistrian residents excluded under new legislation
Individuals who have not lived in the territory of the Republic of Moldova for at least five consecutive years will be ineligible to obtain firearms permits. This restriction will also apply to residents of the Transnistrian region, as outlined in a draft law that Parliament approved in its final reading on December 12.
According to the document, which tightens the conditions for obtaining and renewing permits for civilian weapons, the ban will not be applied to people residing in localities under the control of constitutional authorities, such as Cocieri, Coșnița, Doroțcaia, Molovata Nouă, Pârâta and Pohrebea in Dubăsari district, in Bender municipality (Tighina), as well as the villages of Gâsca, Chițcani, Zahorna, Merenești and Cremenciug in Căușeni district.
The project also provides for reducing the validity period of the weapon permit from five to three years, and holders will be required to present, upon renewal, proof of completion of a qualification course of at least 40 hours on the handling of weapons.
Some exceptions to this obligation are also provided, including for athletes, shooting coaches, hunters, or certified collectors.
Another provision refers to the mandatory use of the State Register of Weapons, an automated information system that will allow for the complete tracking of the route of weapons and ammunition - from production and import to transfer, repair or destruction.
Also, the European firearms passport is introduced, a document that will allow the legal transport of personal weapons across the territory of the European Union member states, under the conditions established by each state's legislation.
By adopting the new law, the authorities aim to strengthen public safety, prevent the illegal use of weapons and align the Republic of Moldova with European Union standards.
The draft, adopted by two legislatures
During the examination of the draft in the second reading, the plenary session of the Parliament extensively discussed the procedural situation created by the fact that the legislative initiative was voted on in the first reading by the previous legislature, and the final reading fell to the current composition of the Parliament. The deputies pointed out that, under the Parliament's Rules of Procedure, the deadline for submitting amendments had expired, making it impossible to intervene in the text, even if there were proposals for modification.
During the debates, the technical impossibility of drafting new amendments was invoked, even though some deputies claimed that the text could have been improved through additional consultations with experts in the field.
"In the first reading, the project was voted on by the previous legislature. We can only propose new amendments within the deadlines set after the first reading vote. We would have liked to improve this project with amendments from specialists. Still, now we are in a situation where we have to register a new draft law", stated the vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for National Security, Defense and Public Order, Renato Usatîi.
Also, the plenary session raised the need to amend the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament to avoid future situations in which projects left unfinished in a legislature can no longer be adjusted by the new composition.
"Either we establish very clearly that a draft law must be voted on in both readings within the same legislature, or we allow that, if the second reading falls to a new legislature, amendments can be submitted. In the absence of such clarification, we cannot accept amendments without the risk that the Constitutional Court will annul the law", stated the chairwoman of the National Security, Defense and Public Order Committee, Lilian Carp.
Other deputies drew attention to the fact that the full resumption of the legislative procedure would have generated delays and uncertainties for both the authorities and legal gun owners.
“If we start a new procedure, it will take a very long time and will create inconveniences for both citizens and law enforcement agencies. It is better to have a clear law, even if it is adopted without amendments now, than to enter into a prolonged legislative process,” said the deputy of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova, Adrian Lebedinschi.
The parliamentary majority opted to comply with the Parliament's Rules of Procedure, specifying that any procedural deviation could lead to the law being challenged and annulled.
“The Rules of Procedure are obvious regarding the deadlines for amendments. These deadlines have been exceeded, and Parliament must respect its own rules, even when they are not convenient,” said the deputy of the Action and Solidarity Party, Vasile Grădinaru.
The draft amending the Law on the regime of weapons and ammunition for civilian use was approved with the vote of 65 deputies. The amendments will enter into force six months after publication in the Official Gazette.
