On Tuesday, 108 members of the Seimas voted for such an amendment, one was against, and 15 politicians abstained.
The Arms and Ammunition Control Law stipulates that in order to obtain a permit for category A and B weapons or to renew them, persons will have to attend a civil resistance course.
“This law is a step towards universal defense, a step in one of the layers of society. Global defense is based on three essential pillars: first, the will to resist, the will to defend, that is patriotism, the heart (…), the second pillar is skill and the third pillar is a place in the defense plan,” said one of the initiators of the amendment, the Seimas National Security and Defense chairman of the committee (NSGK) Laurynas Kasčiūnas.
“Civil resistance courses will certainly help gun owners to better understand their place in the context of armed defense,” he added.
The head of NSGK emphasized that the courses will be free for gun owners.
Another member of the NSGK, former army commander Arvydas Pocius urged gun owners to stock up on ammunition in advance, because when the war starts, it will no longer be possible to do so.
“I really recommend that individuals with firearms licenses purchase both magazines and ammunition right now,” he said.
“Darbietis” Andrius Mazuronis was afraid that the mandatory courses would not be prepared and completed formally. According to him, it often happens that such courses do not add value, but only become a source of livelihood for their organizers.
According to the government, the training of gun owners for civil resistance would cost about 20 thousand per year. euros, and exactly the same number of people would take the course.
According to the information of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, almost 57 thousand people have permits to keep weapons. persons, last year such permits were issued to 8,061 persons – about three times more than in previous years. About 12 thousand annually. citizens are required to extend their existing gun permit.
The law would include a provision that would not require the civil resistance course for marksmen, current and former officers of special status entities, professional military servicemen, volunteer soldiers and other members of voluntary non-regular military service.
Last year, 3 thousand attended the mobilization and civil resistance course. people.
Amendments to require gun owners to take a civil resistance course will take effect next January.
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2024-08-16 09:44:45
