Finland Times

 

File Photo Lehtikuva.

Sales of firearms have gone down significantly since 2007 following tightening of provisions of the Firearms Act, reported the Finnish language newspaper Keskisuomalainen.

 

The report referring to sources in the Arms Dealers’ Association said sales of different types of firearms had dropped by 30 to 60 per cent over the period of 2007-2012.

 

Although there is no concrete statistics for 2013 and 2014, the falling trend in sales remained unchanged in the last two years, said Timo Huikkala, vice president of the association.

 

The fall in sales was seen in cases of both new and used firearms.

 

Huikkala said the reasons behind the sale collapse are the stricter arms law and complications in getting permission to carry firearms.

 

The government tightened the arms law following the November 2007 school-shooting.

 

Sources said the government issued 64,000 permissions to buy firearms in 2007, but, after five years, the number stood at only 37,000 in 2012.

 

They said presently about 670,000 people in the country have permission to carry firearms.

 

Earlier, in November 2013, a report said the number of unregistered pistols had increased significantly in Finland in recent times because of the absence of a licensing procedure following the 2011 introduction of the provision for having mandatory licences to carry starter pistols and shooting blank cartridges.

 

The police said the number of unregistered starter pistols could be between 10,000 and 20,000.

 

File Photo Lehtikuva.

Starter pistols are normally used in sports and dog-related hobbies.

 

In August 2013, the government also disclosed a plan to amend the Firearms Act for stricter monitoring of issuance of licences and use of arms in hunting more strictly.

 

The law will also extend the age limit for procuring arms to 20 years for private users. The amendment proposal is expected to be placed in parliament soon.

 

According to the proposed amendment, licences for handguns would be issued initially for five years on a trial basis and the authorities would make the final decision about issuing permanent licences after reviewing the usage during the trial period.

 

Holders would also need to prove usefulness of forest guns, rifles, airguns and other handguns every five years for continuing to have valid licences.

 

The provision would also be applicable for permanent licence-holders. As per the existing law, a licence remains valid till the death of its holder.

 

The authorities will also examine the aptitude to use firearms before issuing the licences. In this case, licence-seekers will need certificates from shooting experts after performing in shooting clubs.

 

The police may also ask applicants to procure health certificates from physicians as proofs of fitness to get a licence, sources said.

 

The age limit for getting permission to carry handguns would be extended to 20 years from the existing 18, although licences for rifles and shotguns could be issued to younger people.

 

The Firearms Act was last amended in June 2011.