Guys it is good we are submitting grievance at the link mentioned in this forum, but let me remind you some people had earlier submitted grievance stating something similar to liberalizing Arms Licenses to "Tax Payers", this has been clearly answered and rejected by MHA in the the proposed draft for draconian amendments to Arms act, hence I would request all, including those who have submitted the grievance earlier at that link and those who have not, in addition to objecting to the proposed draft by sending hard copies and emails, can do it again as the proposed draft in itself is an altogether a new and fresh grievance for all citizens. All you have to do is copy/paste the objections to draft written very precisely in a legal way by mundaire at
http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 3&start=93
For the information I have submitted the grievance and following is the text for everyone, who can just copy/paste at
http://grievance.nic.in/Netizen/arpgn.asp after selecting Ministry of Home Affairs:
I am writing to you regarding the Draft Arms & Ammunition Policy No.11026 16 2009 Arms, which has been posted on Home Ministry's website soliciting comments from the general public. My feedback on the proposed amendments is as follows
I strongly object to the very basis for the proposed amendment under Para 3 stating Proliferation of arms and ammunition in the country disrupt the social order and development. The proliferation of arms, whether licensed or illegal, vitiates the Law and Order situation. Holding of sophisticated arms by the conflicting parties directly contributes towards lethality of violent acts. Therefore, in principle, proliferation of arms needs to be curbed. In this context, there is a compelling need to review the provisions of Arms Act Arms Rules with regard to grant of arms licences for possession of arms and ammunition by individuals and manufacture of fire arms in the country.
The reason for the proposed amendment itself is based on faulty premises
i That all firearms are evil. ii That firearm owners are prone to violence and that firearm related crime is a clear & present danger to our society. iii That the state machinery is sufficiently able to protect the life & property of all citizens and that they have no need to acquire arms to defend themselves.
iv That citizens do not have an inalienable right to protect their life and property.
This is at variance to the data available that supports the following facts:
i That the vast majority of firearms used in violent crimes are illegal, a fact that is supported by data published by the National Crime Records Bureau, for e.g. in the year 2007 12.68% of murders were committed using unlicensed firearms, only 1.79% of murders were committed using a licensed firearm. Also a majority of these illegal firearms are either illegally trafficked into the country or are firearms that have been pilfered or snatched from security personnel. In fact a Naxal leader was once quoted as stating that 90% of the arms in use by the them were stolen/ snatched from the police. Does the MHA suggest that we disband the police, because it is the single largest source of arms to Naxals
ii The overwhelming number of murders committed in this country are committed using means other than firearms, a fact that is supported by data published by the National Crime Records Bureau, for e.g. in the year 2007, 85.53%of all murders committed were using means and weapons other than firearms . It is clear that strict gun control policies do nothing to curb violent crime, a point made even more evident by the statistics mentioned below.
iii The need of the hour is not stricter gun laws, but better policing and enforcement of existing criminal laws combined with more armed law abiding civilians. Furthermore a large number of the firearm related deaths occur in troubled areas like J&K and the North East etc. A fact that completely glosses over the statistics as well as the incompetence of the State in providing our citizens with a secure environment to live and raise their families in.
iv As per trends in crimes from 1953 to 2007 published by the National Crime Records Bureau, during this period we witnessed a 229.7% increase in murders, a 733.8% increase in rapes, a 423.9% increase in kidnapping & abduction, a 191.9% increase in riots and a 230.5% increase in other cognizable crimes. The need for an average citizen to take measures to protect himself and his family is now more than ever.
v Under IPC, CrPC as well the Arms Act itself has more than sufficient provisions to prevent and or penalise the misuse of arms, what is needed is better enforcement by police and not draconian amendments to the Arms Act, such as the ones currently being proposed.
Since the ground for the proposed amendment itself is faulty, there is no need to go ahead with this, and come up with liberal Arms & Ammunition policy to enable all citizens to defend their lives.
