Arms Act to come into force in a few weeks

Local arms collectors and shooters, whose association celebrates its 21st anniversary this week, are looking forward to the coming into effect of the Arms Act, comfortable in the knowledge that Interior Minister Tonio Borg is committed that it will be "a matter of weeks not months".

Speaking to The Sunday Times last week, Dr Borg said the law, which was enacted last August, and the regulations being drawn up by the Weapons Advisory Board, is in its "final stages".

There has been wide consensus, he observed, and the regulations will be approved at a final meeting to be held on Friday. The law has the support of all sides of the House. Asked to comment on the situation, he said that, "thanks to the new law we can be tough with those who abuse. There are stringent conditions but we have also liberalised in a number of areas, including enabling teenagers to practise a sport (shooting) that up to now they could only do abroad."

There are also stiff penalties for those convicted of an offence under the Act, having their conviction made more severe by one to two degrees.

Dr Borg has also come in for praise on his stance on the Arms Act from the Foundation for European Societies of Arms Collectors (FESAC). In a letter of congratulations to Stephen A. Petroni, president of the Association of Maltese Arms Collectors and Shooters (AMACS), on the association's 21st anniversary, foundation chairman Rudy H.G. Koster said:

"A message of congratulations is also in order for your Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Dr Tonio Borg, as well as to all government ministers and Members of the House, who made this law possible by establishing a constructive working relationship with your organisation."

Apart from also congratulating Mr Petroni on AMACS' anniversary, Mr Koster called the "truly sensible arms law... a model for other countries within the European Union". The Arms Act is based on Council Directive 91/477/EEC of June 18, 1991, on the Control of and Acquisition and Possession of Weapons.

Mr Petroni last week told The Sunday Times that AMACS is "very proud" of the Arms Act and that the association "worked very hard" for it to come into force. "Since the Malta law is based on the European directive, it is more accurate," he said. "Other countries amended existing laws to conform with the directive."

The members of AMACS, which is made up of six societies (Malta Arms and Militaria Society, Malta Muzzle-Loader Shooting Club, Malta Airgun Shooting Club, Malta Rifle and Pistol Shooting Club, Malta Crossbow Shooting Club and Malta Tactical Airgun Shooting Club), are eager for the Act to come into force since a process has to begin to enable licences to be issued.

Under the new law, a collector or shooter must first be a member of a licensed club, which holds a course and sets a test after which it can recommend the application to be sent to the Weapons Board for vetting, and finally to the Commissioner of Police for approval.

"This is a three-tier process and a totally different concept to existing legislation," Mr Petroni pointed out. "The licence is not bound to the firearm but to the individual, depending on his activity as a collector or shooter."

A collector, for example, would have to know the law, have a basic knowledge of the history of firearms and satisfy the society and the Weapons Board that he has the facilities to keep the arm/arms safe.

The only exemption is pre-1900 firearms (Mr Petroni said FESAC is trying to get this exemption accepted Europe-wide) and collectors or owners of firearms will be able to continue to keep them under the old Arms Ordinance of 1932 (Article 22) so long as they take the necessary security measures.

"If they add any more pieces to their collection, or buy a new firearm, they have to apply for a collector or shooter licence, whatever applies," he said.

Among the activities AMACS is holding to celebrate its anniversary is a World War II re-enactment at Pembroke on Sunday.