Supplementing regulations on the concept of weapons to suit reality

Presenting the draft law, General To Lam, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security, said that after 5 years of implementing the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Support Tools, ministries, branches, People's Committees and police of units and localities have seriously and effectively implemented it, making an important contribution to protecting national security, ensuring social order and safety, and serving the socio-economic development of the country.

In particular, the management and use of weapons, explosives, and supporting tools are strictly ensured, in accordance with regulations, meeting the requirements and combat readiness tasks of the armed forces and other forces. Propaganda and dissemination of laws are carried out regularly, widely, and effectively.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue chaired and Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai led the discussion session on the draft Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Support Tools (amended).

Over the past 5 years, the whole country has mobilized people to hand over 99,689 guns of all kinds and many bombs, mines, grenades, explosives, weapons, and other supporting tools. The Ministry of Public Security has directed the police of units and localities to fight resolutely and effectively against crimes and violations of the law on weapons, explosives, and supporting tools; over the past 5 years, the whole country has discovered 34,109 cases, arrested 56,027 subjects, and confiscated 4,975 guns of all kinds.

However, the process of deploying and implementing the law has given rise to a number of shortcomings, limitations and problems. In particular, the concepts of weapons, explosives and supporting tools stipulated in the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools have shown limitations, failing to meet the requirements of state management and the fight against crime.

General To Lam, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security, presented the Government's report on the draft law.

Subjects have taken advantage of loopholes in the law to illegally manufacture, store, buy, sell, transport, and use homemade guns, knives, and tools and means similar to primitive weapons. If not promptly prevented and strictly handled, they will potentially cause insecurity and disorder. Therefore, it is necessary to amend and supplement regulations on the concepts of weapons, explosives, and supporting tools to ensure compliance with reality.

The amendment of the law also aims to reform and simplify administrative procedures, create favorable conditions for agencies, organizations, businesses and people; take advantage of foreign resources to support Vietnam in research, production, equipment and use of weapons and support tools...

The Draft Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Support Tools (amended) consists of 8 chapters and 74 articles. In particular, the draft law has amended and supplemented a number of terms to explain concepts in accordance with the content and scope of the draft law, facilitating the application of the law, effectively serving the work of state management and preventing and combating crime.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi presented a preliminary review report of the draft law.

Specifically, adding high-damage knives to the group of primitive weapons, the use of high-damage knives for labor, production and daily life purposes is not within the scope of the law. At the same time, it is stipulated that primitive weapons when used for the purpose of illegally infringing on human life and health are military weapons. Adding shotguns, compressed air guns, compressed air guns to the group of military weapons, the use of these guns for hunting purposes is determined as hunting guns.

In the preliminary review report on the draft law, Chairman of the National Assembly's Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi said that the Standing Committee of the National Assembly's Defense and Security Committee basically agreed with the necessity of promulgating the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Support Tools (amended). The draft law dossier has all the required documents and is eligible to be reported to the National Assembly Standing Committee for comments to be submitted to the National Assembly at the 7th Session.

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly's National Defense and Security Committee proposed to carefully review relevant legal provisions, especially those related to the management, research, production, and trading of weapons, explosives, and support tools to ensure consistency in the legal system. At the same time, review the provisions of international treaties to which Vietnam is a member to ensure compatibility.

View of the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue highly appreciated the process of preparing the project, documents, and procedures to ensure compliance with regulations, which were carefully and seriously prepared. The National Assembly Chairman suggested that it is necessary to study some more contents and continue to review to ensure consistency with the legal system, current laws as well as draft laws under construction such as the Penal Code, Advertising Law, Enterprise Law, Chemical Law, draft Law on Defense Industry, Security and Industrial Mobilization, etc. According to the National Assembly Chairman, the draft Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Support Tools (amended) can be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at a session to meet current management requirements.

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