France passes Article 25 of security law allowing off-duty officers to carry weapons

French parliament on Thursday passed Article 25 of controversial security law, giving off-duty police officers power to carry weapons. According to news ncy ANI, law states that French police officers, who are off-duty, can carry fire weapons to public places, such as malls, atres, schools, etc. 

Article 25 of security law was passed by French Senate on Thursday by a vote of 214 to 121 in favour. It was already approved by lower house of French parliament last vember. upper house of French parliament had begun debating Article 25 earlier this month. Senate reportedly passed Article 25 without making any changes.

debate between supporters and critics

government of French President Emmanuel Macron has said that majority of off-duty police officers in country have already been carrying weapons since 2016, pushing forward argument that law is just formalising phemen. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that police officers can request and take firearms with m even while off-duty, adding that right has existed since 2016.

However, critics of Article 25 argue that law would result in security risk at public places as just anyone with a police identity card will be able to enter premises. But government says that organisers and security in-charge of those places can always deny entry to off-duty police officers with firearms if y want to. 

Earlier in vember, France’s lower house had passed Article 24 of security law, sparking widespread protests across country. Article 24 of law will bar public from taking pictures of police officers, which critics say is often useful to collect evidence for police brutality.

(Im Credit: Associated Press)