The issue of weapons and ammunition returns to the 47th session of the Security Committee today. The deputies will continue to discuss the government's draft amendments in connection with the adoption of the Arms and Ammunition Act and the Ammunition Act after the first reading, as well as Act No. 119/2002 Coll., on firearms and ammunition (the Arms Act). This is the so-called guarantee committee meeting after the second reading in the Chamber of Deputies.

It should be recalled that this bill (Amendment 119/2002 Coll.) was discussed by the Chamber of Deputies in its second reading on 11 September. It is important to note that this law will cease to apply on 1 January 2026. In its place, a completely new law will come into force, Act No. 90/2024 Coll., which was prepared by Interior Minister Vít Rakušan to incorporate specific security mechanisms into the current law in response to the mass murders at the Faculty of Arts and in Klánovický les. Specifically, the new law addresses the reporting of suspicious transactions by traders to the police. Another new provision is the ability to seize weapons based on the opinion of a public authority (OVM) that a person poses a risk to internal order and security.

Comments on Act 119/2002 Coll. on Firearms and Ammunition

SPD members Zdeněk Kettner and Radek Koten introduced an amendment with two main changes. Firstly, they aim to remove the authorization for the police to confiscate weapons based on the opinion of a public authority, arguing that this violates the entitlement concept that has been in place for nearly thirty years, granting Czech citizens the right to obtain a firearms license. Secondly, they propose allowing the police to deny a firearms license to foreign applicants.

Another group of members, including Pavel Růžička, Jiří Mašek, Hubert Lang, and Defence Minister Jana Černochová, submitted an amendment that modifies and clarifies the process for securing weapons based on the opinion that an individual poses a threat to internal order and security. They specify which authorities may issue such opinions, limiting it to the Police of the Czech Republic, the Military Police, the General Inspectorate of Security Forces, or the Intelligence Service. These bodies are capable of conducting systematic analytical work and are responsible for maintaining security and order. Additionally, the amendment introduces stricter procedural conditions: the opinion must be well-substantiated, and the weapon confiscation can only be enforced for a maximum of 30 days. This period should be sufficient for authorities to assess whether the individual poses a threat or initiate further proceedings, such as revoking the firearms license for violations of legal requirements.

The same amendment also specifies the conditions under which businesses must report suspicious transactions, outlining criteria for assessing a transaction as suspicious. For instance, this could include an illegal attempt to purchase a weapon or ammunition or when the customer exhibits signs of confusion, distress, or other abnormal behaviors. The amendment aims to provide clear guidance for traders to decide whether to report a transaction, as failing to report could result in penalties.

Comments on Act 90/2024 Coll. on Arms and Ammunition

In addition to the discussion on the amendments to Act 119/2002 Coll., MPs will revisit the upcoming meeting of the Security Committee to discuss the government's draft amendment bill. This amendment, which accompanies the already approved Regulation No. 90/2024 Coll. on arms and ammunition, revises relevant procedures and terminology in other legal regulations. The Ministry of the Interior has prepared three further amendments to the government proposal to modify certain key aspects of Act No. 90/2024 before its implementation. Specifically, these include:

1. A proposal to restrict the availability of silencers for short guns.
2. A proposal to reinstate the registration of ammunition in the Central Register of Weapons.
3. A proposal to require doctors to verify in the Central Register whether a patient with a condition that limits their ability to hold a firearms license is currently a license holder.

MPs received these proposals from the Ministry the night before today’s discussion, meaning they have not undergone a broader expert debate. As a result, their impact and effectiveness remain unclear. For example, the reintroduction of ammunition registration raises questions about whether it will increase administrative burdens on firearms license holders, something the current government pledged to avoid in its policy statement. Additionally, the restriction on shot silencers could lead to increased noise pollution near outdoor shooting ranges.

These proposals are quite technical, so it remains to be seen how the Security Committee will address them and whether these measures will genuinely help prevent crimes like those that occurred last December in Klánovice Forest and at the Faculty of Arts.