Indians For Guns

Procuring a firearm may no longer be easy

Debasish Panigrahi, Hindustan Times
[email protected]
Mumbai, September 13, 2010

Perturbed by the liberal allotment of firearm licenses, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has introduced several changes in the norms for granting arms licences to individuals in regard to two categories of weapons — prohibited bore (PB) and non-prohibited bore (NPB). In a circular issued to all


state governments and union territories (UTs) on March 31 this year, the MHA has laid down stricter conditions for acquiring firearms licenses.
As per the circular, the initiative has become imperative in order to “curb the proliferation of arms in the country”.

The circular further states that issuance of PB

weapon licenses, which is decided by the MHA, will be made only on the basis of a terrorist threat perception to the applicant.

The license will be granted subject to recommendations from the district magistrate (DM), the state government, and the police verifying the applicant’s credentials.

The new guidelines also bring back a check on allocation of NPB weapon licenses as there were no norms for acquiring NPB weapons.

But, henceforth, the applicant's ability to handle arms will be a mandatory check along with his antecedent check and threat perception.

One of the most glaring changes in the new guidelines comes with the intent to curb the All India Validity (AIV) of NPB licenses to non-categorised people.

The MHA has asked states to consider the area validity to a maximum of three adjoining states.

Also, some provisions of the Arms Act, 1959, were being misused to allot licenses to people of dubious credentials.

For instance, the licensing authority could grant a license if the police delayed the process of verification of antecedents. However, these delays will now reduce as the police have been advised to send their reports within 45 days.

Moreover, severe restrictions have been imposed on the quantity of ammunition that can be allotted to a licensee.

The total number of ammunition that can be purchased by a licensee (both PB and NPB) has been fixed at 50.

The state governments have been asked to devise a mechanism for reporting the use of ammunition by the licensee.

A record has to be maintained, which would state the date of use of ammunition, place, purpose and the number of bullets fired.

A person’s license can be revoked in case of failure to report any details.

Also, a database on arms licenses both at the state and the MHA level has also been suggested.

SYED833 wrote:what are our options here??practically speaking that is..i am BANG in the middle of this problem.my licence application is under review and this 'ORDER' is messing it all up..and the funny shit is,,my local MLA s brother,who happens to have 4 kidnapping cases and 1 murder case against him, has applied for his licence after i did,and has got his licence granted in one week,but yours truly,a law abiding citizen is running around for 3 months with no end in sight...AND WE DARE TO SAY INDIA IS A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC...

mundaire wrote:

Procuring a firearm may no longer be easy

Debasish Panigrahi, Hindustan Times
[email protected]
Mumbai, September 13, 2010

Perturbed by the liberal allotment of firearm licenses, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has introduced several changes in the norms for granting arms licences to individuals in regard to two categories of weapons — prohibited bore (PB) and non-prohibited bore (NPB). In a circular issued to all



A person’s license can be revoked in case of failure to report any details.

Also, a database on arms licenses both at the state and the MHA level has also been suggested.

Licensing authorities have got tool in the form of MHA circular to harass applicants. Suggestions/Guidelines/Course of Action are needed from Subject Gurus/Masters.

SYED833 wrote:what are our options here??practically speaking that is..i am BANG in the middle of this problem.my licence application is under review and this 'ORDER' is messing it all up..and the funny shit is,,my local MLA s brother,who happens to have 4 kidnapping cases and 1 murder case against him, has applied for his licence after i did,and has got his licence granted in one week,but yours truly,a law abiding citizen is running around for 3 months with no end in sight...AND WE DARE TO SAY INDIA IS A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC...