Ukrainians are being offered permission to own and carry firearms: details of the bill

The Verkhovna Rada included bill No. 5708 on the right to civilian firearms, authored by Igor Fris, in the agenda of the fourteenth session.

The Judicial and Legal Newspaper writes about this.

The document was adopted in the first reading back in February 2022, and more than 700 amendments were submitted for the second reading.

Now, its re-submission for consideration may indicate a high probability of final adoption.

Classification of weapons

The bill proposes to introduce five categories of civilian firearms:

• A – automatic weapon;

• B — smooth-bore short-barreled (traumatic);

• C — short-barreled firearms (except traumatic);

• D — long-barreled smoothbore;

• E — long-barrel thread and combined.

A Unified State Register of Weapons is also being created, to be maintained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. All weapons transactions will be permitted only after they are included in the register.

Who can obtain a gun owner’s license?

The right to bear arms will be granted to capable citizens of Ukraine, foreigners and stateless persons permanently residing in Ukraine if they:

• have no medical contraindications;

• do not have any criminal convictions that have been expunged or removed;

• were not brought to administrative responsibility for a number of offenses during the year;

• have not been deprived by the court of the right to own weapons and are not under sanctions.

State bailiffs may temporarily restrict debtors’ right to use weapons.

What weapons will be banned?

Civil appeal will be prohibited for:

• weapons that cannot be detected by metal detectors;

• recycled or illegally modified weapons;

• weapons with removed markings;

• calibers exceeding the limits established by law;

• grenade launchers, mortars, artillery systems and ammunition for them;

• armor-piercing, explosive and inflammatory ammunition;

• insert rifled barrels for smoothbore guns;

• traumatic weapons of caliber less than 6 mm;

• cartridges for short-barreled weapons loaded with shot or buckshot.

It is also prohibited to transfer weapons as collateral, and to load traumatic weapons with anything other than rubber or similar non-lethal projectiles.

When will it be possible to use weapons?

The weapon will be allowed to be used for:

• raising an alarm;

• calling for help;

• neutralization of an animal that poses a threat to a person.

Hunting with someone else’s weapon will only be permitted in the presence of its owner or an authorized employee of the hunting grounds.

Carrying weapons

In general, carrying weapons will be prohibited. Exceptions:

• owners of categories C, D, E – can carry weapons in the storage area, while hunting, during shooting and competitions;

• Category B holders – may carry weapons in any place except in weapons-free zones;

• Persons awarded Category C weapons will also have the right to carry them.

Significance of the bill

Bill No. 5708 creates a comprehensive system for civilian weapons circulation, introducing state control and clear rules for storage, carrying, and use. If adopted, it will be the most extensive reform in the area of weapons circulation in the history of independent Ukraine.