en.rian.ru / By Vladimir Fedorenko / 20:34 24/07/2012 MOSCOW, July 24 (RIA Novosti)
A group of Russian senators presented on Tuesday a report to the Federation Council on reforming the law on weapons, and suggested legalizing possession of handguns for self-defense and other lawful purposes.
The author of the report, the first vice-speaker in the Federation Council Alexander Torshin, said the bill on legalizing short-barreled weapons would be submitted to the State Duma for consideration “only when there will be an understanding that…it’s complete.”
According to the senators’ initiative, Russian citizens over 23 years old who do not have outstanding convictions, mental diseases or drug addiction, will be allowed to buy firearms for self-defense after passing a special training test on using arms.
The supporters of the bill said that it could help to reduce crime rates, since the potential criminals would be aware that their victim could have a gun.
Torshin called the legalization of handguns one of the most efficient means of self-defense when “the state is unable to ensure the safety of life, health and property.”
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