Punjab Relaxes Armed Licenses Conditions For Professional Shooters
Author(s): City Air NewsChandigarh, June 14, 2015: The Punjab government today took a major initiative in applying relaxed norms to shooters, who have made mark in national and international shooting championships by making it easy for...
Chandigarh, June 14, 2015: The Punjab government today took a major initiative in applying relaxed norms to shooters, who have made mark in national and international shooting championships by making it easy for getting their weapons used in shooting events entered in their armed licenses.
According to an official spokesman, these relaxations could be possible due to active follow up of Punjab government to cut red tape and promote shooting sports in a big way. It may be added that number of professional shooters from Punjab have made their mark in clinching individual gold, silver and bronze medal in Olympic, Commonwealth games and other prestigious shooting championships putting focus on nurturing the shooting talent of the state.
The spokesman said that according to the new notification of Government of India, an Arjuna awardee will have general exemption on the number of arms to be possessed provided that the Arjuna award was conferred in shooting. In case of International medalist/renowned Shooter, he can possess Rifles in caliber .22 Long Rifle ( also known as .22 LR) , Centre fire rifles with calibers up to 8mm including all calibers lower than 8 mm, pistol/revolvers of caliber up to and including 9 mm but excluding 9 mm parabellum (9x19 mm) and shotguns of caliber up to 12 bore/gauge including all calibers lower than 12 bore/gauge. The total number of weapons exempted shall not exceed seven in addition to the number of weapons he was entitles as a normal citizen as per the provisions of the Act, subject to an overall ceiling of ten weapons. The spokesman further said that in case of Junior Target Shooter, the exemption was restricted to one weapon of that type in which category the person was a Junior Target shooter. Similarly, in case of Aspiring shooter, the exemption was restricted to one weapon of that type in which category the person was an Aspiring shooter. Besides this, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)/Affiliated State Rifle Associations with NRAI/All shooting Clubs affiliated with State Rifle Association or NRAI/All Shooting Ranges under the Sports Authority of India or Sports Authority of the State governments were entitled for Rifles in caliber .22 Long Rifle ( also known as .22 LR) , Centre fire rifles with calibers up to 8mm including all calibers lower than 8 mm, pistol/revolvers of caliber up to and including 9 mm but excluding 9 mm parabellum (9x19 mm) and shotguns of caliber up to 12 bore/gauge including all calibers lower than 12 bore/gauge. For these bodies, there will be no upper limit on the number of Arms, subject to the discretion of the licensing authority based on the recommendation of the certifying body, he added.
The spokesman added that for entities like Shooting clubs/District Rifle Associations affiliated with State Rifle Associations or National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the certifying body was State Rifle Association or NRAI, for State Rifle Association it was NRAI, for NRAI it was Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and for shooting ranges it were SAI or Sports Authority of the state government /NRAI.
The Punjab government has directed all Deputy Commissioners and Police Commissioners of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana to enter the weapons in licenses of shooters as per amendments in Section 3(2) and section 9 (1) (A) (i) of Arms Act, 1959 mentioned in Government of India notification no. S.O, 1988 (E), dated 04-08-2014 after compliance of conditions and required documents and their thorough verification. Besides this, details of weapon licenses of all categories of shooters shall be put on the official websites of Union Youth Affairs & Sports Ministry and National Rifle Association of India, the spokesman added.
Date:
Sunday, June 14, 2015