Filenews 2 June 2022
One in three houses in Cyprus has a weapon, whether it is shotgun or military weapon, or both. Our country ranks 5th in the BBC's list for gun ownership, however, here there is a peculiarity: We have been experiencing the occupation since 1974 and that's why the reservists have their personal weaponry in their homes.
According to data cited to "F" by the spokesman of the Police, Christos Andreou, at the moment the registered shotguns are 169,989. There are 112,932 licensed persons in possession of shotguns. However, no one knows how many unlicensed weapons are. As Mr. Andreou explained, some are in possession of two or more shotguns. Regarding the conditions for obtaining the relevant license for possession of weapons, the police spokesman said that there are several safeguards and that the whole issue is governed by strict legislation. Also, the role of the Police is strong, since the Chief of the Force has every right to revoke this license, amend it or suspend it.
According to the legislation, the conditions to obtain a license for possession of weapons are:
>> To have turned 18.
>> He is not considered dangerous to himself after medical advice.
>> He has not been convicted in the Republic of Cyprus for a number of offences such as sexual abuse, kidnapping, arson, etc.
>> Has not been judged as a lunatic.
>> He has not been denied the right to possess/use a firearm.
Also, according to the data in the possession of the Police, in the last 10 years, 18 cases of premeditated murders, homicides and infanticides have been committed using hunting weapons as follows: Nicosia 7, Limassol 4, Larnaca 4, Famagusta 2 and Paphos 1.
But how easy is it to issue a license to possess a shotgun or other weapon for sports purposes? The procedures followed, notes Mr. Andreou, are the same in all cases. In order to issue a hunting license, the applicant must meet the above and must not have been legally exempted from fulfilling his military obligations or have not been deferred from their fulfilment under the provisions of the National Guard Law, for mental health reasons.
- He has not been denied the right to possess or use a firearm by the Board for the Release of Prisoners on Leave. At the same time, in addition to the above, those who have been convicted of the following offences cannot obtain a firearms license:
>> Homicide.
>> Rape.
>> Kidnapping (with the exception of the kidnapping referred to in Section 149 of the Criminal Code Law).
>> Arson.
>> High Treason.
>> Heist.
>> Attitude – participation in an illegal organization.
>> Premeditated Murder.
>> Import, possession, manufacture, storage or transport of explosives, with the exception of possession of hunting cartridges.
>> Attempt to destroy property with explosives.
>> Unlawful importation, acquisition, possession, use of a class A firearm.
>> Unlawful possession, use, possession for the purpose of supplying controlled drugs or psychotropic substances, in accordance with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law and (a) offences set out in the Violence in the Family (Prevention and Protection of Victims) Law and (b) offences set out in the provisions of articles 15, 48, 50 and 52 of the Wild Birds and Game Protection law and committed using a firearm or not.
What about those who are or become not allowed to have a permit?
However, what about those who are not allowed to have a permit? As Mr. Andreou mentioned, after the Police are informed that a person should not be armed by the competent Services, then the process of revoking the license to possess a weapon begins. Mr. Andreou said that there have been meetings on the initiative of the Parliament to change the law so that the owners of shotguns undergo psychological examinations at regular intervals, but no further action was taken.
Thus, a firearms license is revoked
According to the law, the Chief of Police has the authority, after giving written notice to a person to whom he issued a permit, to suspend or revoke such a valid permit, if any of the conditions laid down are no longer met. The authorisation to possess a weapon shall be considered invalid from the date of conviction of the licensee for any of the offences mentioned above, or in the event of deprivation of the licensee's right to possess or use a firearm by order of the Court under Article 44 or the revocation of the certificate of registration of the firearm relating to the firearm licence; in the event that the licensee ceases to be the owner of the firearm related to the license, in case of death, in case of deprivation of the hunting license due to the accumulation of five penalty points and in case of legal exemption from the fulfilment of his military obligations or in case of receipt of a deferral of their fulfilment under the National Guard Law, for mental health reasons.
Since 2017, the Police have been immediately informed through the electronic system of the Prosecutor's Office for convictions of persons for specific offences, so that if they hold a firearms license, they will be removed. Also, the person is placed as a prohibited person to possess a firearm/non-firearm (blacklisted).
The BBC catalogue
In a list published by the BBC, the U.S. is the champion in gun possession, according to the latest data from the Small Arms Survey, a leading research project based in Switzerland for 2018. According to the BBC's list, the first place for gun ownership per 100 inhabitants is the USA, followed by Yemen, Montenegro, Canada and then Cyprus with 36.4 weapons per 100 inhabitants, i.e. more than one in three owns a weapon. It is noted that Cyprus is under occupation, there is the issue of requisition in reserve and that is why all reservists carry a military rifle.
