On Thursday, April 30, the Saeima approved in the first reading amendments to the Weapons Law drafted by the opposition National Alliance, which would prohibit the issuance of firearms permits to Latvian citizens who are also citizens of Russia or Belarus, as well as to create a legal basis for revoking permits that have already been issued.
The amendments were supported by 70 deputies in the first reading, while four non-partisan MPs voted against. For the changes to take effect, they must still be approved in two further readings.
The amendments were drafted by the National Alliance, noting that the current legal framework does not provide for a direct ban on issuing a firearms permit to a person who is a citizen of both Latvia and Russia or Belarus.
“This situation is not in the interests of national and public security, as it allows individuals who simultaneously hold citizenship of the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus to legally possess firearms in Latvia,” the drafters of the bill previously explained.
The authors of the bill believe that the amendments will have a positive impact on society, as they will strengthen national and public security and eliminate the existing regulatory loophole.
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