Govt moves further changes to Arms (Amendment) Bill

New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday moved further amendments to the Arms (Amendment) Bill including provision of special status to sportspersons.

"There were many discrepancies in the six-decade old law making crime control difficult," he said while introducing further amendments in Lok Sabha.

The further amendment to the Bill seeks to provide special status for sportspersons.

"Many suggestions were received. I have moved an official amendment in this regard also," he said.

The Bill was tabled in Lok Sabha on November 29. The Bill seeks to enhance punishment for illegally possessing and making prohibited arms besides other changes in the six- decade-old Arms Act.

The Arms (Amendment) Bill makes provision that a person can have a maximum of two firearms, as against the present norm of three.

Those who own more than two firearms will have to deposit the third one with authorities or authorised gun dealers within 90 days for de-licensing

once the amendment is approved by Parliament, according to the bill.

According to the bill, the government proposes to amend Section 25 (1AA) of the Arms Act, 1959, to give punishment from the usual life term of 14 years to "imprisonment for the remainder of that person's life" for manufacturing, selling, repairing and possessing "prohibited" arms.