The Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee has reviewed and endorsed, in the first reading, the draft law on Amendments to the Law of Georgia on Weapons, along with the accompanying legislative package.

As one of the initiators of the bill, MP Greta Tsitsava, explained during the presentation, the proposed legislation introduces stricter regulations concerning signal weapons and their ammunition.

Specifically, the manufacture and trade of signal weapons and their ammunition will become licensed activities. Furthermore, the draft law introduces a permit requirement for the following activities:

Acquisition of a signal weapon by a natural person (including the right to possess and carry it); Import and export of signal weapons and/or their ammunition by foreign nationals; Import, export, re-export, or transit of signal weapons and/or ammunition; Import, export, and transportation within Georgia of signal weapons and ammunition by escorts accompanying foreign nationals, representatives of international organisations, or other important persons during official visits; Transportation and shipment of signal weapons and/or ammunition; Import and export of signal weapons and/or ammunition by Georgian citizens (excluding transit and re-export).

The draft amends those articles of the Law on Weapons that govern licensing and permitting procedures related to firearms.

The legislative initiative is introduced under expedited procedure and is authored by Members of Parliament Aleksandre Tabatadze, Tengiz Sharmanashvili, Gia Benashvili, Viktor Japaridze, and Greta Tsitsava.