Applying for an Arms License in India

[m24]

Please download the form from here.

Regards

[vikram.dutta]

thanks so much m24.

Regards
Vikram Dutta

-- Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:52 pm --

If your stated "NEED" is Target-shooting. For this, at the very MINIMUM you must sign up with the local rifle club - in Delhi this would be the Delhi State Rifle Association. Not sure what the current fee is. Members of Rifle Clubs applying for a .22 Rifle license (to be used for target practice) have a very good success rate.

Does having NRAI membership help in this case?

Which one of Delhi State Rifle Association(DSRA) or National Rifle Association of India(NRAI) is preferable to get a membership in?

Regards
Vikram Dutta

[Nikhil Bansal]

Can I apply new arms license in Punjab ?
i want to buy new pistol

[goodboy_mentor]

Of course you can apply for arms license, at the licensing authority who has jurisdiction over the place of your residence. Applying for arms license is your legal right. For pistol, in application form you will have to mention NPB pistol/revolver.

[SYED833]

hi all.
if the investigation report for the arms licence reaches the DC after 90 days, is there any rule saying that he should dis-regard it, and call for a new report or worse still- direct me to re apply again? please clarify.
thank you.

[goodboy_mentor]

I do not think there is any rule, but you cannot personally argue with DC. Do not fall into the trap of re-applying. Why does he want you to re-apply? Why should you re-apply? Have you done anything wrong? In my opinion, be very polite and do RTI application and get certified copies of all the work that has been done for your file since the date of application submission. If they still do not wake up, probably you may have to approach High Court after that.

[SYED833]

thanks goodboymentor,
he does not want me to re-apply..i was clearing a doubt,as the section chief of the arms division told me in the DC office that this has happened a couple of times to other licencees..and if he rejects my application, i will follow your sound advise.
brief update--my file has cleared from local police and tahasildar office and is now in SP and RDO office..

[perfectionist]

I have been living in Noida for past 5 years, paying income tax, law abiding citizen working in MNC, has driving license issued at Noida, proof of residences with me, wishing to apply for 12 bore DBBL license. Does anyone know from where I can get the forms etc. in Noida and where to apply. If anyone knows any person who can help me get it done quicker etc. will be all the more helpful.

Dear goodboy_mentor,
Please find the URL of Noida Police below, maybe it will be helpful to you.

http://www.noidapolice.com/index_armsam.php

- Perfectionist

[nvnrjn]

Dear Friends,
I have been following this thread for a while now and am very interested in getting an arms license too.
I am from Coimbatore and the website of my city police http://www.coimbatorecitypolice.com has a separate applications area in it. The arms license application that can be downloaded from this website looks completely different from the Schedule 3, Form A that's available from our topic thread here.
Has the form been changed for everyone across India or is it just my city?
Here's the website.
http://www.coimbatorecitypolice.com/applications
I'm also curious about the license fees details
It lists as
"22 Bore Rifle (low velocity) firing rimmed cartridges, B.L.Gun and Air- Rifle Rs.40 Rs. 20
M.L.Gun, Air Gun, Sword, Bayonet,Dagger Rs.10 Rs.5 and Spear lance"

I didn't know Air-Rifles needed licenses. And Daggers too? Anyone knowledgeable please explain. Also should I use the form downloaded from this website as opposed to the Schedule 3 form A?

Thank you!
Nvn

[goodboy_mentor]

You can use the form, it is the same form only check boxes have been created for the convenience of applicants. You will have to pay the amount of fees as mentioned on website.

If air rifle fails the deal wood test, you need a license. To know what is deal wood test please refer http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 5&start=30

As for the question of licenses for daggers, beyond certain length and thickness license is needed. But strictly speaking as per Constitution and Arms Act, it is unnecessary. One of the Objectives of Arms Act 1959 says: “(a) to exclude knives, spears, bows and arrows and the like from the definition of ‘arms’;" Hence in strict legal sense licenses are not required. But the law has to be followed until the offending provisions are struck down by court.

If you want to get a deeper understanding of your rights under Constitution please read http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 96#p118191 and http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 15#p117785

[Wojo]

Gentlemen, my head hurts reading all of these regulations. I have learned a lot after reading many, many pages here in the Legal section and other sections and could not find the answers to my particular situation and concerns. Please bear with me here as I really don't fit into your normal categories.

I am going to be working in various parts of India starting in 2011 and will be traveling from city to city / state to state as work dictates. I will be working in a security consultant and a business continuity capacity. More then half of my interactions will be with different types of government agencies and infrastructure companies (power, rail, water, etc), as well as financial, hospitality, educational institutions, pharmaceutical and just about anything else in between.

Because of what I am going to be doing, there is a very real threat of LeT, the Mao-ist types or terrorist of the month flavor that may take a dislike that I am helping people and businesses to be prepared for their antics as well as the ones that are encountered on a 'normal' basis. Power outage, rail strikes, weather related disaster, tsunami's, pandemic illness,...all the things people prefer not to talk about. There is a very good chance that some prior military / police types will be working for me in a sales 'adviser' capacity. So, I feel I have a very real need to have a firearm(s) for personal protection.

I would like to know if there is a National firearms license for non-residents who are working in a security capacity? I am going to be having dealings, although not much, with the US Embassies as well. My primary cities will be Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Chandigarh, at least for now. I know that I can't use my trusted and much loved 1911 45ACP or bring in a semi-automatic rifle. If a non-resident can bring in a firearm, my choice will be a .40 S&W semi-automatic pistol and a 12 gauge / bore pump shotgun with a 20" barrel.

If I am working in a security function, would I still be limited on how much ammo I can bring in? I'm not looking to have thousands of rounds, but having a 100 to 200 of each would give me a better sense of security. I will have a very secure office in Mumbai that will be my registered place of business for my Indian operations.

If you chose to contact me directly, I understand that some of the answers are sensitive and feel free to do so at [email protected]

Cheers,
Wojo

[goodboy_mentor]

Gentlemen, my head hurts reading all of these regulations.

You are not alone, all law abiding citizens of this country are also feeling the same way. Only criminals, terrorists etc. are happy to see the citizens disarmed by the stupid regulatory laws Arms Act 1959 and Arms Rules 1962.
Gun rights in India are guaranteed by the constitution, but a whole morass of bureaucracy and political policies have subverted this right. I have tried to explain the presence of RKBA in Constitution of India in detail at http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 85#p117785

I would like to know if there is a National firearms license for non-residents?

The Right of Self Defense and RKBA are embedded in Article 21 of Constitution to all persons(including non citizens) I quote the said Article 21 below:

21. Protection of life and personal liberty.—No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.

Possession of firearms is regulated under Arms Act 1959 and Arms Rules 1962. In order to not offend the Article 21, nowhere in Arms Act 1959 or Arms Rules 1962 any prohibition is made for non citizens. Hence to comply with Article 21, Arms licenses are issued on basis of residency and not on citizenship in India. A foreign national not residing in India cannot get an arms license, but a foreign national residing in India can get an arms license. The Gujarat High Court has also issued a writ to the Licensing Authority to grant arms license to a citizen of Kenya. For the judgment you can refer http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/436661/ Hence legally speaking you can get a firearm license, but since procedures have been made very cumbersome, lacking any clarity and further aggravated by corrupt bureaucracy, it is exceedingly difficult of even for ordinary citizens to get an arms license.

For getting a National firearms license, you will have to apply to the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi. Other option is to apply for State level license at the office of licensing authority having jurisdiction over your place of residence, once you get the license, apply for increasing the area validity to cover all India. The usual time for issue of arms licenses in India for ordinary and honest citizens takes between 6 months to 2 years, unless you are some politician of ruling political party or "something" in bureaucracy or someone "close" to these people. Once you purchase firearms after obtaining arms license, if you want to sell/transfer/gift the firearm, you will have to apply to get permission from licensing , by giving a 45 day notice period.

who are working in a security capacity?

There is no separate provision in Arms Act 1959 for those working in security capacity as private individuals or private organizations. Government organizations working for security are completely exempt from Arms Act 1959.

If I am working in a security function, would I still be limited on how much ammo I can bring in?

As per Arms Rules 1962 Sections 32 tourists can be issued arms license and can bring in arms and ammunition with them. As per Arms Rules Section 17 Travelers can get an arms license even prior to their arrival into the country. Reference: http://www.abhijeetsingh.com/arms/india/laws/rules/
The type and quantity of arms and ammunition that can be brought in or held under license, depends on as mentioned on license. Maximum arms per person allowed is 3 as per Arms Act 1959. There is no hard and fast rule for ammunition, in India some people have yearly quota of as low as 25 cartridges per year, target shooters etc. may have 12,000 cartridges per year. Those covered under diplomatic immunity are exempt from Arms Act 1959, example: Security staff of President Obama when he was in India. This permission is given by Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi. If you want specific and professional legal guidance you may contact mmspandian via PM on this website. He is a lawyer who is very much familiar with Arms Act 1959 and Arms Rules 1962, he practices law in Supreme Court, New Delhi, he also is a member of Chennai Rifle Club, his family also has a gun shop in Chennai.

[renjith]

Hi am new to this community i hav a great passion about guns.i am a member of a rifle club in kerala.I would like to take a 12bore SxS shotgun.As am a member of a rifle club wil i get the license for a db if i applied to the same.?Coz shotgun is not using in our club.I dont hav any criminal backgrounds or any cases in my name.Other than this is there is any chance for the rejection of my application?.

[goodboy_mentor]

Hi am new to this community

Welcome to IFG, you will enjoy this forum. Do not hesitate to post.

As am a member of a rifle club wil i get the license for a db if i applied to the same.?

Are you saying that you want to get an arms license, on the strength of being a member of some rifle club but not on the strength of the fact that RKBA is a human right, is also your fundamental right that has been guaranteed by our Constitution?

1) If your choice is on the strength of being a member of some rifle club, then you have:
a) to fight
b) go by a difficult path, that will progressively become even more difficult and be at the mercy of the whims and fancies of bureaucrats.

2) If your choice is on the strength of the fact that RKBA is a human right, is also your fundamental right, that has been guaranteed by our Constitution, then you have:
a) to still fight
b) Constitution will stand by you in your fight

Choice is yours. If you decide to go by choice number 2, then please read and understand: http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 85#p117785

“When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.” - Thomas Paine

[drifter]

Guys,

I had applied for a 12 gauge DBBL license in July, to inherit a gun belonging to my uncle. I was called for my interview 2 weeks back, I had a look at my file and at all levels till the commissioner they had certified "not recommended" the reasons being I do not have a threat on my life, no wealth or property also the station inspector had filled out that I don't know how to shoot guns!. Now if I need my license the issuing authority wants me to become a member at the rifle range at a cost of Rs 1 lakh, the problem being at the range I cannot use a shotgun because we don't have a shotgun range only a rifle and pistol range.

reg,
drifter.