Moldovan government Introduces new rules: access to weapons to be banned for people who infringed law

Civilian firearms will be managed more strictly, access to weapons will be restricted for some individuals and the trajectory of each firearm will be monitored in real-time. The new rules have been included in a draft approved by the cabinet today.

The document establishes clear rules for the digital recording of firearms, restricts access for individuals with dangerous records and aligns national legislation with European standards regarding the control of weapons and ammunition.

One of the most important measures is the mandatory use of the State Register of Firearms, where licensed gunsmiths must record all import, transfer or commercial operations within 24 hours. Thus, the trajectory of each firearm can be monitored in real-time in a digitized, secure and transparent system.

“The new regulations will improve citizens’ safety and enhance the responsibility of gun owners, implement a reliable firearm traceability mechanism, reduce the risk of firearms reaching unprepared or unstable individuals, and create a regulatory framework in which citizens can exercise a legal right under maximum safety conditions. All these will ensure a clear and efficient legal framework, prioritizing both public order and citizens’ safety,” said Minister of Internal Affairs Daniella Misail-Nichitin.

The initiative also stipulates that access to firearms will be restricted for individuals who have previously committed offenses in the firearms regime field. The ban also applies to those deemed by authorities as a risk to public order or the safety of others, based on information held by the police and national security institutions.

The draft also introduces the European firearms passport – an officially recognized document in the context of Moldova's accession to the European Union. At the same time, the list of permitted and prohibited weapons will be updated according to European classifications, in order to reflect best practices in the field.