YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. In 2016, 7212 citizens were issued firearm possession/carry license, Police Lt. Colonel Armen Ghazaryan, head of the licensing and permit unit of the Public Order Maintenance department said.

As of 2016, 35427 hunters are registered in Armenia. Currently 58652 pieces of firearms are registered in law enforcement agencies in Armenia. In the previous year, 166 civilian firearms were voluntarily handed over to Police HQs by citizens.

Gun control in Armenia is regulated under the “Firearm” law, which is regulating all issues concerning possession, acquisition, licensing of firearms. The law has been changed and amended 8 times. The latest changes in the law were made 07.05.2016.  The provisions of the law also regulate the circulation of ammunition.

Weapons considered “civilian firearms” should not be equipped with automatic fire modes and should not have a magazine with the capacity of more than 10 cartridges.

The law also prohibits the issue of civilian and service weapons which resemble other items, firearms modified to fire larger caliber bullets, incendiary, explosive, armor piercing or tracer cartridges, as well as several other limitations concerning gas handguns including revolvers.

The minimum age requirement to be eligible for gun possession is 18. Citizens must apply to law enforcement bodies for a license. Citizens must undergo medical checkups, background checks and provide other documents as requested by the Police.

Law enforcement bodies once again remind that citizens who voluntarily hand over illegal firearms to the police are not subject of criminal liability.