Russia changes law to allow for self defense!
MOSCOW, Russia (PNN) - November 25, 2014 - In 2010, it was reported that the Russian Parliament was considering loosening the Russian law on self defense, to allow Russians who legally own firearms to carry them for the purposes of self defense. The Russian Justice Minister, Alexander Konovalov, was firmly against the possibility.
In 2013, it was reported that the Russian organization, The Right to Bear Arms, had only 1,000 members. It was founded by 24-year old Maria Butina.
Now we learn that Russian law has been changed to allow the civil population to carry lethal weapons for self defense. From sputnicknews.com, on November 18, 2014:
MOSCOW, November 18 (Sputnik) - Russia has updated its legislation to allow civilians to carry firearms for self defense, according to an amended decree on lethal weapons that appeared Tuesday on the official database of Russian laws and legal documents.
It is not clear who exactly will be able to qualify to own pistols, however. It is not impossible to obtain a license to own a shotgun in Russia, but a person has to be a shotgun owner for several years before he or she may purchase a rifle.
The change in the law is likely related to a petition submitted by over 100,000 Russians to allow firearms to be used to defend their residences. The petition was submitted for the third time in February of 2014. There are said to be five million legal firearms owners in Russia, though there are many more that own firearms without legal sanction.
The movement to create a right to bear arms is fairly young in Russia, but it has scored a significant victory. It has been reported that the new law only applies to long guns outside the home, in particular circumstances. A Russian correspondent writes that the law does not authorize the ownership of handguns, and that the changes are welcome but minor.
We will be watching for additional information.
