The latest tragic events in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, related to the use of firearms by minors, have opened numerous questions in the entire region, such as whether the countries of the region are flooded with illegal weapons left over from the last war and whether these weapons can be handed over to the police without facing criminal charges.
“Citizens can hand over all illegal weapons and explosive devices to the competent police department without any sanctions,” said the Ministry of the Interior of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (MUP HNK).
They reminded that the cantonal MUP, together with the UNDP, carried out and is still carrying out actions and campaigns related to illegal weapons.
They also stated that other agencies involved in the program keep records of weapons voluntarily handed in by citizens, stressing that the Police Department of the Ministry of Interior of the HNK seized 75 weapons from citizens in the past year 2022.
About 21,863 pieces of weapons are registered in the HNK
On the other hand, a person can get permission to carry a weapon if he has a valid reason, if he has not been legally convicted of criminal offenses and if there are no other circumstances that indicate that the weapon could be misused.
“There is a procedure established by law, which is carried out by the Weapons Department in each Police Administration in our canton, according to which, in order to obtain a permit to carry weapons, it is necessary to fill out the Request for Procurement, then present a medical certificate, certificates of non-punishment and conduct of criminal proceedings. This is followed by a verification of the person in the field – at the place of residence and taking an oral exam and practice in accordance with the Law on Weapons in the HNK”, explained the MUP of the HNK.
In the end, they underlined that about 21,863 pieces of weapons are currently registered in the HNK, which refers to short-barreled pistols or revolvers, long-barreled hunting rifles, hunting carbines and combined hunting rifles.
