Law on use of weapons discussed at 14th NA’s second session

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Discussing the law that drafted and submitted by the Ministry of Public Security, lawmakers focused on principles on management and use of weapons, explosives and supporting tools; researching, manufacturing, producing, trading, repairing weapons and weapon import-export activities; and responsibilities of relevant agencies and individuals in collecting, classifying, protecting, destroying weapons, explosives and supporting tools.

Minister of Public Security To Lam speaking at the NA's meeting.

At the meeting, Minister of Public Security To Lam affirmed that all comments will be fully noted as the MPS will revise the draft law on the use and management of weapons, explosives and supporting tools to match the provisions of the relevant laws.

Accordingly, the draft law, based on the ordinance issued in early 2012, was adjusted to be compatible with Article 324 of the Criminal Code on violations of manufacturing, storing, using, transporting and trading military weapons and military technical means.

Briefing on the implementation of the current ordinance, Minister To Lam informed that the police force have seized and destroyed a large number of small arms, bombs and mines left by the war. In the past years, use of self-produced explosives and explosives precursors (chemical substances) were found in many case.

Therefore, the draft law will provide an important legal foundation for the force to fulfill its assigned tasks, helping curb the abuse and use of explosives, particularly cases related to the crime of terrorism.

According to Minister To Lam, the bill will continue allowing foreign organizations or individuals to bring weapons and supporting tools from abroad into Vietnam to protect their heads of the states or for sports competitions.

Provisions on heavy weapons, biological weapons and chemical weapons are not specified in the draft as they are using only for the purposes of national defense and protection of the Fatherland. They should be specified in the law on national defense, he added.

Since opening of fire directly relates to national security, social safety and crime prevention, Article 21 of the Bill stipulates the principles and cases of fire opening.

Minister To Lam also underscored that the draft law is aimed at ensuring human rights and helping relevant forces to fulfill their assigned tasks in accordance with other laws, especially the Penal Code.

Most lawmakers agreed on the issues reported by Minister of Public Security, according to Vice Chairman of the NA Do Ba Ty.

The NA’s Standing Committee stated that the NA will need more time to discuss, and decided to pass the bill at the 3rd meeting of the National Assembly of the 14th term in early 2017.