Background & Purpose

The government wants to modernize the existing weapons legislation to make it clearer and safer. The goal is to balance the needs of hunters and sport shooters with the need to prevent illegal weapon use.

Proposals & Debate

The proposal includes banning new permits for specific semi-automatic rifles used for hunting and animal culling. It also suggests simplifying storage rules and adopting EU-wide standards for transporting weapons across borders for sporting purposes.

The Decision

The parliament approved the new law, which replaces old permit systems with a new oversight process and clarifies criminal penalties for illegal weapon possession.

Does this affect you?

  • Hunters: Must adapt to new restrictions on specific semi-automatic rifles used for hunting and culling.
  • Sport shooters: Benefit from easier rules when traveling within the EU with their competition weapons.
  • Gun owners: Will experience a shift from fixed-term permit renewals to a new, ongoing oversight process.

In Practice

  • New permits for certain semi-automatic hunting rifles will no longer be issued.
  • Storage rules for weapons will become more flexible for owners.
  • Sport shooters and hunters will benefit from simplified EU rules when traveling with their equipment.
  • Five-year permit renewals for handguns and fully automatic weapons are replaced by a continuous oversight system.