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Czech lower house approves amendment to firearms law

Xinhua, May 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Czech Chamber of Deputies (lower house of parliament) approved on Friday a draft amendment to the law on firearms, which tightens rules for legal holder of guns in the Czech Republic.

The validity of firearm licenses are to be shortened from the current 10 years to the proposed five years.

Czech government initiated the amendment in reaction to the shooting tragedy that occurred in Uhersky Brod, where a local 63-year-old gunman killed eight people and himself with his legal gun in February 2015. The man had psychological troubles for a long time, and he shot the people in a randomly chosen pub.

According to the amendment, the police will have the right to detain a legal firearm from its owner in the person's dwelling without a court order under certain conditions.

Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec said that this rule is intended to protect human lives. According to him, the police will be authorized to use the right only in special situation.

The draft amendment also deals with the conditions under which gun licences are granted and extended and with the rules for registering and storing ammunition.

This amendment is yet to be approved by Czech Senate. Endit