As if drugs and gambling were not enough, the government and the opposition in July of 2005 unanimously approved a new law relating to firearms calling it the Arms Act 2005: and to be more spiteful, the government decided to bring it into force on the feast of Santa Marija of last year.
I do not know if, like me, you have noticed the profusion of adverts relating to newly opened gun shops around the island. After the mushrooming of gambling houses all over, even close to churches and youth centers, now we have blessed the opening of firearms shops because the 65 Members of Parliament taught it fit to transform the country into an arms haven.
In the beginning, the issue related only to shooting as a sport and to firearms as collectors’ items. But the legislation has now been extended to the point that anyone above 18 years of age can apply for a licence to own a gun.
The situation now is so anomalous that prospective hunters have to wait months to get called for a test to permit them to procure their guns, but if one wants to buy a firearm that is not going to be used for hunting, all that is needed is membership in a target shooting club, a month to get registered, basic training on how to handle a weapon, knowledge of the ramifications of the law and how to store the weapon and the ammunition, and once registered, this entitles a member to buy up to 10 weapons that can range from a revolver to more sophisticated and deadly weapons such as a sniper’s rifle or a sub-machine gun!
It is so unfortunate that what started as discussions to provide new licensing laws to enable collectors, hunters and sportsmen to buy firearms, has now ended as a law that allows Tom, Dick and Harry to buy a firearm without supplying any reason whatsoever. It would be a grave mistake for the Commissioner of Police, who is entrusted with the issue of such licences, not to take a very rigorous attitude when issuing such licenses and the responsibility for our safety rests solely on him and on the Appeals Board.
Strange but true, the new law does not make any distinction between the types of firearm that are chosen and between bona fide collectors and those who buy dangerous firearms, apart from laying down certain conditions which, at the end of the day, still leave scope for abuse.
If the person licensed to sell firearms is by law obliged to keep a register of the firearms sold and transferred, such obligation does not apply equally to the person licensed to keep a firearm. Any person licensed to buy and keep a firearm can sell it, or donate it, or declare to have lost it, without any legal consequences whatsoever.
So it is no wonder that many of us are asking why there was need in this country to liberalise the firearms market. If we boast so much that Malta is still a safe haven, and it is, why the need to make the procurement of firearms so easily accessible? Must there be a firearms shop in every street in Malta and Gozo, on the pretext of market liberalisation? Must everybody over 18 apply for a licence to buy a gun without given any reasonable justification for such purchase?
I have discussed the issue with quite a number of members in the police force and they are all worried about the situation. They can already envisage that this new law will lead into an increase in the circulation of firearms. They cannot understand, and rightly so, how this country has decided to liberalise the firearms market when in other countries they are trying to make the laws more stringent.
We are all concerned how high-powered pistols or rifles can now be imported and sold in this country when there is no purpose for them. As one editorial rightly commented this week, what could be the purpose of one buying a Kalashnikov? As if the problem of juvenile delinquency is not enough, we have now blessed our youths with the opportunity to get a licence to go around armed as if they are carrying their mobile!
Of course there are many firearms in circulation, but the solution was not to make the firearms laws more relaxed but to check the situation and take strong and concerted action against this illegality. If this black market has remained unchecked for so many years, the new laws will not guarantee that the black market will be stopped: on the contrary, it will make the situation more acute in that we now have not only the problem of illegal firearms but also the problem of effective control of the gun laws.
The law on paper tells you a lot about what you should or should not do: but it says nothing as to who is to ensure that you abide by the conditions of your gun licence. Nor does it limit you on what firearm you decide to buy. Nor does it oblige you to state why you want that firearm. Nor does it limit the number of shops selling firearms that can open around Malta and Gozo. Strangely enough, pharmacies are limited in number but firearms shops are not. Even the minimum age of 18 is very low: at 18 one is over-enthusiastic to show off with a firearm. Why are we sending our youths to this hell? Now it is practically free for all and any person who satisfies the conditions, can get a license to buy a firearm.
I find it very strange that none of the organisations working with youths have opened their mouths on this issue. I am sure that the Church is worried about the situation and I hope it will take a stand on the issue, the sooner the better. I cannot see why so far they find no danger in the situation. Our society is very, very worried about the situation and so far we have been given no assurances from the authorities. The Armed Forces souvenir booklet last Saturday boasted of two full page adverts relating to sale of firearms.
We feel utterly disgusted!