No changes in the sale of semi-automatic weapons

Minister of Justice and Public Security Anders Anundsen ( Progress Party )Minister of Justice and Public Security Anders Anundsen ( Progress Party ).Photo regjeringen.no

Four years after the Gjørv Commission gave clear advice to ban the sale of semi-automatic weapons, the rules have not changed. A new firearms legislation is on the way, but many are against a ban.

Anders Behring Breivik used a pistol and a semiautomatic rifle when he killed 69 people on Utøya five years ago. Both weapons were purchased legally. In the report, which came a year later, Gjørv Commission recommended a total ban. Now a new firearms legislation is in the works, but Justice Minister Anders Anundsen said the question of a ban is not easy, wrote newspaper Aftenposten.

– In arms control, I think it is important that a framework is discussed, the weapons with the greatest potential for harm and the least possibility for use in hunting and shooting range environments need consideration, says Anundsen.

Norway Rifle Association criticized Gjørv’s recommendation and believes a ban would mean the end for pistol shooting as a sport in Norway. Norwegian Association of Hunters and Anglers believe it is oversimplified to talk about semi-automatic weapons in general.

Among the political parties opinions about a total ban are shared, and several points are made to justify the legal use of weapons.

The Police Directorate has stated that just over 50,000 semiautomatic weapons are registered to private individuals in Norway. Such weapons enter a new shot automatically into the chamber after firing. Thus it is not necessary to reload between shots.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today