With the new law, we want to prevent persons who are under criminal investigation for crimes punishable by a prison sentence of five or more years from being able to obtain approval for the acquisition of weapons.
Admir Katica, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Canton of Sarajevo, announced this for Fena today, announcing the new Law on the Acquisition, Possession and Carrying of Weapons in the Canton of Sarajevo.
The law will be on the agenda of the CS Assembly on Friday, March 6.
Katica emphasizes that approval will also not be available to those who are under investigation for the committed violence or if, in accordance with the Act on Protection from Domestic Violence, a protective measure has been imposed on them.
Asked for an explanation for the fact that those who have been reported for domestic violence will not be able to hold weapons, Katica said that it is important to emphasize that the proposed legal solutions are mostly related to criminal acts of violence and violent behavior.
“Until now, this area was broadly defined and the law provided that approval for the acquisition of weapons cannot be obtained by persons against whom a criminal investigation is being conducted, even when that investigation is for a non-violent crime. Now we emphasize that approval cannot be obtained by persons against whom an investigation is being conducted for committed violence and an investigation for crimes for which a prison sentence of five or more years is prescribed. Also, I must emphasize this: in order for a person to obtain approval for the acquisition of weapons, he must meet general and special conditions. Until now, the law stated, among the general conditions, that approval can be obtained by a person who, in the last two years up to the date of submission of the application or from the moment of the checks, has not been punished for an offense against public order and peace with an element of violence, an offense prescribed by the Law on the Acquisition, Possession and Carrying of Weapons and Ammunition in KS or an offense with an element of violence prescribed by another law. With the new law, we added that approval will not be given to persons who have been ordered to confiscate their weapons, essential parts of weapons and ammunition, or who have committed a misdemeanor with the characteristic of violence prescribed by another law, or if they have been issued a protective measure in accordance with the Act on Protection from Domestic Violence,” said Katica.
Also, the new law specifies that approval for the acquisition of weapons will not be granted to persons who are found to have circumstances that indicate that weapons could be misused, and especially more often excessive alcohol consumption, consumption of narcotics, and if there are markedly disturbed family relationships.
Pursuant to this law, police officers will confiscate weapons, ammunition and documents even before the initiation of administrative, misdemeanor and criminal proceedings, if it is established or made probable that there are circumstances that indicate that weapons could be misused, and especially more often excessive consumption of alcohol, narcotics or other intoxicants, as well as with the aim of taking urgent measures to protect against domestic violence or for reasons of public safety that cannot be postponed.
Confiscated weapons, ammunition and documents will be kept in the deposit of the Ministry, and if the competent authority does not determine the responsibility of the owner in a misdemeanor or criminal proceeding, they will be dealt with in accordance with the decision of that authority.
“It is important to point out that some of the mentioned changes achieve the harmonization of this law with the Law on protection against domestic violence and violence against women in FBiH, which was adopted last year,” said Katica.
