New 2015 Amendments to Act - a sham? - ECO TIMES

[SMJ]

Hello Gentlemen,

This is my first major post here so kindly correct me if I have violated any forum rules or posted in the wrong section. There is fantastic news in today's economic times, Mumbai as below:-

WIN_20150114_100757.JPG

[gwattal]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 879286.cms

[goodboy_mentor]

It appears to be old wine in new bottle since it has the following -

"The Centre will, however, ensure that applications for grant of arm licences may be considered only from persons, who may face or perceive grave and imminent threat to their lives, for which the licencing authority will obtain an assessment of the threat faced by the persons from police authorities."

[TC]

GBM there is some good news though.

a) FDI in local production. And more local production of both prohibited and non-prohibited bore weapons
Though we have heard of this in the past in bits and pieces, as a news person I can see more meat in this article.

b) Parliament to pass a new Arms Act bill in 2015.
Now that would be something interesting to watch. Once the Bill gets Presidential consent some changes are bound to take place.

Here's the while text for the benefit of members.

NEW DELHI: It will be soon easier and quicker to get a licensed arm. The Union home ministry has begun work on amending the 55-year-old Arms Act to, "make it in tune with the times" and make the process of granting arms license "simpler and people-friendly", a top home ministry official told ET.

The number of documents required to be supplied for applying for an arms licence will be reduced from nearly two dozen at present and a timeperiod will be fixed in which the government must decide on an application, the official added. At present, there is no time-limit specified within which a person should get an arms licence, triggering numerous complaints of governments sitting on requests for months together.

"The Act is very old. Many representations have been received by the government on the Act. The home ministry will bring the Arms Act Amendment Bill, 2015, in the next Parliament session," the official said. The Arms Act, 1959, and the Arms Rules, 1962, will also be amended to factor in the major policy change in the last budget that hiked foreign direct investment in domestic arms manufacturing from 26% to 49%.

Domestic arms manufacturing in India by private firms is negligible. "Licences to private manufacturers for arms have not been given for a long time. The government wants to open manufacture of prohibited bore as well as non-prohibited bore arms to private parties. The industrial licence regime for private firms is being simplified under the amended rules," the official said.

At present, only 95 private firms have licences to manufacture single or double barrel guns, while three private firms were granted permission to manufacture different kinds of arms after FDI to the extent of 26% was allowed in the sector in 2002. Yet another government official said a national online database of arms licences will also be set up on the lines of the system set up in various states, including Punjab.

"This will enable the Centre to know details of the licenced arm holders across the country," this official said. All District Magistrates will be asked to share with the Centre a comprehensive and complete data base of all licences issued by them, as per the amended rules.

The Centre will, however, ensure that applications for grant of arm licences may be considered only from persons, who may face or perceive grave and imminent threat to their lives, for which the licencing authority will obtain an assessment of the threat faced by the persons from police authorities.

[brihacharan]

GBM there is some good news though.
The Centre will, however, ensure that applications for grant of arm licences may be considered only from persons, who may face or perceive grave and imminent threat to their lives, for which the licencing authority will obtain an assessment of the threat faced by the persons from police authorities.
[/b]

Here's where the 'hitch / glitch' is
The police authorities will find 'n' number of reasons to deny the applicant for a firearm permit / licence
Briha

[aadhaulya]

According to me also, the police have to support the 'threat angle'. Or else every thing remains the same. As far as the documentation goes I feel that till now they wanted the minimum required documentation (based on my personal experience about six months ago only).
The only advantage I see is that they would have a time bound period to accept or reject the application and the applicant would be able to move forward with appeals or court case to solve his problem.

Regards

[mundaire]

Got directed to this article in the Economic Times by IFG member amit888_2000, the headline sounds very positive as does the initial bit of the article. As you read through it though, you begin to realise that this is nothing but one more sinister attempt at ramming through far reaching changes to the Arms Act which would in effect make it next to impossible for an ordinary citizen to every own a firearm! Read the last paragraph which repeats verbatim what we have been fighting against for the past 5 years (amongst other things) - need to prove "grave and imminent threat". Article posted below, please draw your own conclusions.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 879286.cms

Owning a licensed gun to be easier & quicker now, Home Ministry begins work on amending Arms Act
By Aman Sharma, ET Bureau | 14 Jan, 2015, 03.29AM IST

NEW DELHI: It will be soon easier and quicker to get a licensed arm. The Union home ministry has begun work on amending the 55-year-old Arms Act to, "make it in tune with the times" and make the process of granting arms license "simpler and people-friendly", a top home ministry official told ET.

The number of documents required to be supplied for applying for an arms licence will be reduced from nearly two dozen at present and a timeperiod will be fixed in which the government must decide on an application, the official added. At present, there is no time-limit specified within which a person should get an arms licence, triggering numerous complaints of governments sitting on requests for months together.

"The Act is very old. Many representations have been received by the government on the Act. The home ministry will bring the Arms Act Amendment Bill, 2015, in the next Parliament session," the official said. The Arms Act, 1959, and the Arms Rules, 1962, will also be amended to factor in the major policy change in the last budget that hiked foreign direct investment in domestic arms manufacturing from 26% to 49%.

Domestic arms manufacturing in India by private firms is negligible. "Licences to private manufacturers for arms have not been given for a long time. The government wants to open manufacture of prohibited bore as well as non-prohibited bore arms to private parties. The industrial licence regime for private firms is being simplified under the amended rules," the official said.

At present, only 95 private firms have licences to manufacture single or double barrel guns, while three private firms were granted permission to manufacture different kinds of arms after FDI to the extent of 26% was allowed in the sector in 2002. Yet another government official said a national online database of arms licences will also be set up on the lines of the system set up in various states, including Punjab.

gunninggunning.jpg

"This will enable the Centre to know details of the licenced arm holders across the country," this official said. All District Magistrates will be asked to share with the Centre a comprehensive and complete data base of all licences issued by them, as per the amended rules.

The Centre will, however, ensure that applications for grant of arm licences may be considered only from persons, who may face or perceive grave and imminent threat to their lives, for which the licencing authority will obtain an assessment of the threat faced by the persons from police authorities.

[kshitij]

Dont know how accurate the reporters information about the supposed changes being made to the act is.
In any case, if it is even remotely true that the government is willing to make changes, isnt it the right time for us to voice our opinions.

[aadhaulya]

[Biren]

This clause "Threat Perception" is the real hindrance. Earlier licensing authorities merely on advisory "Threat Perception" created nuisance now if the current gov wants to added it to rules or act then the amendments are nothing but sham. Is it possible to lay hands on draft amendments so to get a clear picture?

Rgds
Biren

[goodboy_mentor]

Draft amendments are supposed to be put up on MHA website and some leading newspapers.

The government wants to have monopoly over violence and the tools of violence. But the Constitution does not strictly want this. Since it does not want government to have monopoly over tools of violence that is exactly why there exists corresponding fundamental duty of citizens to "protect" and "defend" the State under Articles 51A(c) & (d). Protection and defense of the nation is done with arms, firearms, ammunition and explosives and not bare hands. Hope the readers are able to understand this important fact. I have already explained this in following post http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 67#p220067

[ckkalyan]

This could be the tricky part, if made into law:

The Centre will, however, ensure that applications for grant of arm licences may be considered only from persons, who may face or perceive grave and imminent threat to their lives, for which the licencing authority will obtain an assessment of the threat faced by the persons from police authorities.

It could potentially be even worse than the existing laws!

[ckkalyan]

MODS - aren't these two about the same topic?

The current one and New 2015 Amendments to Act - a sham? http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22947

[mundaire]

MODS - aren't these two about the same topic?

The current one and New 2015 Amendments to Act - a sham? http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22947

Threads merged.
Sorry gentlemen, my bad! I should have checked to see if there was already a thread on this topic before starting a new one

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[jatindra Singh Deo]

Probably we should eagerly await the draft bill if at all they make it available for public opinion and make a concerted effort to drive home our points and concerns or alternately NAGRI may make a representation to the home or the concerned minister ,this is the right time !