EU strengthens control of the acquisition and possession of firearms

In the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks, in November 2015 the European Commission presented a package of measures aiming to tighten control on the acquisition and possession of firearms in the European Union, improve traceability of legally held firearms and enhance cooperation between Member States, as well as ensure that deactivated firearms are rendered inoperable. The draft law of the EU Firearms Directive was changed to ensure that any firearms which were converted to firing blanks continues to be covered by EU gun control rules.

On 25 April 2017, the General Affairs Council adopted a directive for a tighter control of weapons, which revises and complements existing directive 91/477/ECC.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Control of the acquisition and possession of weapons http://www.europeansources.info/record/control-of-the-acquisition-and-possession-of-weapons/

ESO: Background information: European Commission strengthens control of firearms across the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-commission-strengthens-control-of-firearms-across-the-eu/

---