NRAI President asks Amit Shah to exclude rifle shooters from Arms Amendment Bill

National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to exempt shooters from Arms Amendment Bill 2019. Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on vember 29 by Home Minister. Bill decreases number of arms a person is permitted to own, increases penalties in case of offences, and introduces new offences.

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Exclude rifle shooters

Speaking to ANI, Secretary of NRAI said that y have written to Home Minister to exempt shooters from Bill. He added that letter was sent by President of Association.

Under Act, a license must be obtained to acquire, possess, or carry any firearm. A person can obtain a license for up to three firearms (with certain exceptions, such as for licensed firearms dealers).  Bill reduces number of permitted firearms from three to one. This includes licenses given on inheritance or heirloom basis.  Bill provides a time period of one year to deposit excess firearms with officer-in-charge of nearest police station or with a licensed firearm dealer as specified. If owner is a member of armed forces, firearm may be deposited with a unit armoury.  excess firearms will be delicensed within 90 days from expiry of one-year period.

Act punishes acquisition, possession, or carrying of prohibited ammunition without a license, with imprisonment between five and ten years, along with fine. Bill increases punishment to imprisonment between seven and fourteen years, along with a fine. A court may impose a punishment of lesser than seven years, with recorded reasons. 

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Act also punishes dealing in prohibited firearms (including ir manufacture, sale, and repair) without a license, with imprisonment between seven years and life imprisonment, along with a fine. Bill increases minimum punishment from seven years to ten years.  punishment for cases in which us of prohibited arms and ammunition results in death of a person has been revised from existing punishment of death to death or life imprisonment, with fine.  

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(With inputs from ncies)