Legal action to be taken over 7,000 unrenewed firearm licenses

Over 25,000 firearm permits issued for crop and property protection from 1995- 2024 

12,981 firearm licenses missing from records 

Legal action is to be taken against over 7,000 firearm owners who have failed to renew their licenses with the Ministry of Defence last year.   

According to the 2024 audit report of the Ministry of Defence, it was revealed that as of December 31, 2024, 7,125 firearm licenses had not been renewed.   

Under Section 29 (1) of Authority 182 of the Firearms Ordinance, firearm owners are required to submit their gun and license to the Licensing Officer within ten days of the license’s expiry. The firearms must also be stored at a location designated by the Licensing Officer. However, the audit found that these procedures had not been followed for the unrenewed licenses. 

In response, the Chief Accounting Officer said that the Inspector General of Police had submitted a report on firearm owners who failed to renew their licenses, and District Secretaries have been instructed to take legal action.   The Ministry further said that an information system to manage firearm data has been identified as a priority, and initial implementation work is already underway. The audit recommended that action be taken in accordance with Section 29 (1) of the Firearms Ordinance regarding all unrenewed firearm licenses.   Meanwhile, the audit report revealed a significant discrepancy in the records of firearm licenses issued for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes under the Firearms Ordinance Law. According to the audit observation, under Section 27 of Chapter 182 of the Firearms Ordinance, Licensing Officers are required to maintain a register of all gun licenses as per the prescribed format. Based on available records, 25,064 firearm permits had been issued for crop and property protection from 1995 to December 31, 2024.   

However, the document showing the number of firearm licenses by District Secretariat as at December 31, 2024, submitted to the auditors, indicated a difference of 12,981 licenses, highlighting inconsistencies in the records.   

Responding to the finding, the Chief Accounting Officer informed that steps have been taken to obtain detailed and accurate data on firearm licenses issued for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes through the District Secretariats. The audit recommended that updated records be maintained to ensure accountability.