ARMS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2019

About:

• The Bill seeks to amend the Arms Act, 1959.
  
  
• License for acquiring firearms: Under the Act, a license must be obtained to acquire, possess, or carry any firearm. The Bill reduces the number of permitted firearms from three to one. The Bill also increases the duration of the validity of a firearm license from three years to five years.
  
  
• Ban on firearms: The Bill prohibits procuring un-licensed firearms, and the conversion of one category of firearms to another without a license. It also allows members of rifle clubs or associations to use any firearm for target practice instead of only point 22 bore rifles or air rifles.
  
  
• Increase in punishment: The Bill increases the punishment to imprisonment between seven and 14 years for carrying of prohibited ammunition without a license.
  
  
• New offences: The Bill adds following news offences –
  • Forcefully taking a firearm from police or armed forces: This is punishable with imprisonment between 10 years and life imprisonment
    
    
  • Celebratory gunfire which endangers safety of others: This is punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both.
    
    
  
  
  
• Tracking of firearms: The central government may make rules to track firearms and ammunition from manufacturer to purchaser to detect, investigate, and analyse illicit manufacturing and trafficking.