Weapons and Regulations. FACE welcomes the European Commission's firm reaction against terrorism by supporting adequate control of firearms, including justified and balanced restrictions on their acquisition and possession.
At the same time, any legislative proposal allegedly aimed at combating terrorism should refrain from unduly restricting the rights of legal users.
Therefore, FACE asks the European Commission to respect the rights of hunters and sport shooters, who represent the largest group of legal and responsible civilian firearms users in the European Union and who are among the most intensely controlled and law-abiding social groups in the EU.
FACE endorses several aspects of the Commission proposal, including improving the traceability of firearms, decommissioning standards and better information exchange between Member States, which are necessary to adequately protect EU citizens. However, FACE doubts that measures that make it more difficult for hunters and sport shooters to acquire legal firearms in the European Union will prevent criminals and terrorists from obtaining illegal weapons and committing atrocities.
The Weapons Directive is the legal instrument that regulates the legal acquisition and possession of firearms in the EU. Under current regulations, only people who have a good reason for the acquisition or possession and do not pose a danger to themselves or others have the right to own a firearm. In this sense, the main objective of the Weapons Directive is to guarantee the functioning of the internal market.
FACE stresses that there is no link between the legal possession of civilian firearms for hunting and shooting and the occurrence of criminal and terrorist behavior. Furthermore, legal weapons have not been proven to fuel the illegal market, as has sometimes been suggested.
On the contrary, the terrorists involved in the Paris attacks illegally obtained the automatic assault rifles from the EU black market or outside the EU. Consequently, and logically, efforts to combat terrorism must be aimed at preventing terrorists, extremists and criminals from obtaining such illegal firearms, not at law-abiding citizens who are already subject to strict and burdensome licensing models. and thorough checks.
FACE doubts that standardized medical checks will prevent criminals from obtaining firearms from illegal sources. Furthermore, by imposing these rules, the EU hinders the competences of the Member States.
FACE criticizes the inclusion of semi-automatic firearms that "look like" automatic firearms in the prohibited weapon category. The criterion is unclear, and is subjective and disproportionate and requires Member States to confiscate at enormous cost firearms which have the same technical characteristics as other Category B firearms, which are already subject to licensing.
FACE also challenges the Commission's proposal to ban the private sale of firearms legally acquired by means of distance communication. This definition has implications for any sale between the parties and could have a profound impact on the fundamental freedom of EU citizens and their right to equal treatment.
FACE instead welcomes the proposals to combat illicit trafficking by giving the authorities the right tools to limit the circulation of illegal firearms and improve border controls. However, the European Commission must ensure the full implementation of the European Weapons Charter throughout the EU, guaranteeing the right to free movement.
The European Card, issued by the authorities of a Member State of the European Union to persons legally authorized to acquire and use a firearm, is the tool that validly and effectively allows the connection of a legal firearm to the its owner while traveling within the European Union.
(November 24, 2015)
FACE - Federcaccia