Rising gun crime prompts urgent push for stricter firearm legislation
Moldova’s National Police Chief, Viorel Cernăuțeanu, is calling for a significant overhaul of the country’s gun laws. He argues that civilian access to handguns must be restricted following a series of high-profile armed incidents that have unsettled the public.
"In my view, this sector must be restricted," Cernăuțeanu stated during a broadcast on Realitatea. He emphasized that the psychological trauma of being threatened remains the same for victims, regardless of whether a firearm is lethal or a replica.
The police chief cited recent incidents in the Botanica district and an assault on a taxi driver as primary examples of firearms being used for "coercion and blackmail." He noted that while previous reform attempts faced criticism, the authorities have already begun tightening enforcement.
In 2025, Moldova saw a record number of citizens stripped of their firearm licenses. These revocations were tied to illegal storage, unauthorized carrying, or failure to comply with usage regulations.
Current data show that approximately 27,000 individuals in Moldova possess rifled-barrel handguns. Cernăuțeanu asserts that this category of weaponry has no place in civilian hands, suggesting that alternative, non-lethal means should suffice for self-defense.
As of October 2025, nearly 65,000 Moldovans held gun permits, representing a 5% increase within a single year. The General Inspectorate of Police (IGP) maintains that this upward trend necessitates a more rigorous vetting process to ensure public safety.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
