Ministry of Home Affairs issues an order No. (54/2023) and approved amending of possession of arms and firearms license form No-16 on January 31, 2023.

The order was issued in December 2022 with the approval from the Union Cabinet meeting no. (9/2022). The Ministry has issued an order dated May 9, 1977 on issuing of licenses, permits, and leasing of weapons owned by the State in accordance with the decree No.55. Depending on the changing situations, the previous order has to be re-examined, making adjustments and amendments have made.

As a result an order on amending possession of arms has issued, the Ministry stated.

According to this order, the types of firearms allowed for possession with a license are, .38 inch and smaller revolver; .38 inch or 9 mm and smaller pistols; 12-pounder and a smaller gun .22 inch and larger hunting rifles; and air guns.

However, the order also stated that full auto firearms are not allowed to be held under license.

Similarly, the types of firearms allowed to be carried with a permit are .38 inches, or a pistol of 9mm and larger ones; rifles. The gun must be registered at the respective townships as a weapon owned by the State.

In addition to the above types of firearms, the Ministry may issue directives from time to time to permit the possession of other types of firearms, it said.

Among the types of firearms those are allowed to be carried with a permit, security forces which are legally formed in respective area for the rule of law and order, militia groups can have the permission to possess rifles and machine guns. Individuals will not be allowed to possess these arms. But for the special cases, if it is necessary to possess arms individually, it must be submit to the Ministry and get for approval, it said.

The order also mentions criteria for gun license applicants such as duties of those who possess firearms, the number of firearms and ammunition allowed to be owned, applying for a gun license/permit; the right to purchase weapons and ammunition from abroad, guns given as gifts and regarding the rights to carry prized guns.

The above order appeared on the social media. Concerning the above order, questions have been asked to news information team of Sate Administration Council but till the morning of February 11, there has been no reply or confirmation.