Short-barreled arms legalization proposed by senator
Alina Lobzina - Moscow News - themoscownews.com - 7.25.12 - JRL 2012-135

Short-barreled arms legalization, proposed by Senator Alexander Torshin on Tuesday, was frowned upon by the country's top officials and saw a mixed reaction from the Russian media.

file photo
At the presentation of an expert report "On reform of Russian arms legislation," the first deputy speaker of the Federation Council said that allowing Russians to keep short-barreled weapons could give the budget a lucrative revenue of 1 trillion rubles ($30.5 billion) within the next five years.

But neither economic gains, nor Torshin's other argument that armed Russians would make for a "kinder" society, could convince the Kremlin, according to Izvestia's sources in the Kremlin administration. Public opinion has also been not on Torshin's side, according to poll results.

Boosting the arms industry

The report, prepared by a team of analysts headed by Torshin, said the measure could become an spur for design by Russian gun manufacturers, and that in a couple of years, Russian short-barreled arms would be able to compete on the international market.

Selling licenses for arms possession for 500 rubles ($15) per item will also bring 2.5 billion rubles ($76.2 million) into the budget every year, the report read.

The group covered by the new legislation, which is yet to be written and submitted for consideration, will be people 23 years old and over with a monthly income of 25,000 rubles ­ altogether 23 million people.

People with a criminal record as well as those registered as suffering mental disorders or from drug use will not be eligible for arms possession, Torshin said. Currently, 6 million Russians already possess long-barreled guns legally, according to the report.

Little support

"Legalization of short-barreled arms is a pressing necessity that corresponds to the demands of modern society," Torshin said at Tuesday's presentation, although public opinion polls demonstrate the opposite.

A survey carried out last year by the independent Levada Center uncovered that only 13 percent of Russians would approve legalizing arms possession to increase personal safety. In 2001, the number was 16 percent.

One of the few groups that repeatedly spoke in support of short-barreled arms legalization was Russian nationalists. Anti-corruption blogger and prominent opposition figure Alexei Navalny, known for his backing of right-wing movements, has also supported the idea.

Smiling armed Russians

Torshin, featured in the annual ranking of Russia's most prominent lobbyists prepared by Nezavisimaya Gazeta, has denied helping companies in the country's arms industry.

According to Torshin, legalized weapons are to make Russians more responsible and better protected.

"If Russians are allowed to possess weapons, we are to become more disciplined," he said at the report's presentation, Interfax reported.

"The whole atmosphere in society will change as people won't be engaged in uncontrolled crime, and it concerns law enforcement bodies as well," he added. "Look at the U.S. ­ everyone smiles there."

Keywords: Russia, Law, Police, Gun Control, Crime - Russian News - Russia - Johnson's Russia List

Short-barreled arms legalization, proposed by Senator Alexander Torshin on Tuesday, was frowned upon by the country's top officials and saw a mixed reaction from the Russian media.

file photo
At the presentation of an expert report "On reform of Russian arms legislation," the first deputy speaker of the Federation Council said that allowing Russians to keep short-barreled weapons could give the budget a lucrative revenue of 1 trillion rubles ($30.5 billion) within the next five years.

But neither economic gains, nor Torshin's other argument that armed Russians would make for a "kinder" society, could convince the Kremlin, according to Izvestia's sources in the Kremlin administration. Public opinion has also been not on Torshin's side, according to poll results.

Boosting the arms industry

The report, prepared by a team of analysts headed by Torshin, said the measure could become an spur for design by Russian gun manufacturers, and that in a couple of years, Russian short-barreled arms would be able to compete on the international market.

Selling licenses for arms possession for 500 rubles ($15) per item will also bring 2.5 billion rubles ($76.2 million) into the budget every year, the report read.

The group covered by the new legislation, which is yet to be written and submitted for consideration, will be people 23 years old and over with a monthly income of 25,000 rubles ­ altogether 23 million people.

People with a criminal record as well as those registered as suffering mental disorders or from drug use will not be eligible for arms possession, Torshin said. Currently, 6 million Russians already possess long-barreled guns legally, according to the report.

Little support

"Legalization of short-barreled arms is a pressing necessity that corresponds to the demands of modern society," Torshin said at Tuesday's presentation, although public opinion polls demonstrate the opposite.

A survey carried out last year by the independent Levada Center uncovered that only 13 percent of Russians would approve legalizing arms possession to increase personal safety. In 2001, the number was 16 percent.

One of the few groups that repeatedly spoke in support of short-barreled arms legalization was Russian nationalists. Anti-corruption blogger and prominent opposition figure Alexei Navalny, known for his backing of right-wing movements, has also supported the idea.

Smiling armed Russians

Torshin, featured in the annual ranking of Russia's most prominent lobbyists prepared by Nezavisimaya Gazeta, has denied helping companies in the country's arms industry.

According to Torshin, legalized weapons are to make Russians more responsible and better protected.

"If Russians are allowed to possess weapons, we are to become more disciplined," he said at the report's presentation, Interfax reported.

"The whole atmosphere in society will change as people won't be engaged in uncontrolled crime, and it concerns law enforcement bodies as well," he added. "Look at the U.S. ­ everyone smiles there."