The Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha and is underway for discussion.
Purpose of the Bill
It is proposed to amend the Arms Act, 1959. Accordingly, a Bill, namely, the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019, has been, inter-alia proposed—
(i) to define new offences and prescribing punishment for them, such as for taking away firearms from police or armed forces, involvement in organised crime syndicate, illicit trafficking including smuggled firearms of foreign make or prohibited arms and prohibited ammunition, use of firearms in a rash and negligent manner in celebratory gunfire endangering Human life, etc.;
(ii) to enhance the punishment for existing offences like illegal manufacture, sale, transfer, etc.; illegal acquiring, possessing or carrying prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition; and illegal manufacture, sale, transfer, conversion, import, export, etc., of firearms; and
(iii) to enhance the period of arms licence from three years to five years and also to issue arms licence in its electronic form.
*Please follow the link to read the Bill — THE ARMS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2019