Czech Parliament Ignores EU, Passes More Gun Rights

The European Commission, which is the executive arm of the EU, created stricter gun rules last December. EU interior ministers approved the changes in April, but The Czech Republic, Poland and Luxembourg voted against the gun control measures.

In Germany, gun sales have begun to soar as a result of terrorist incidents, mass sexual assaults, and the ongoing flow of refugees into the beleaguered nation. Clearly Germany’s neighbors want to avoid the same problems.

Czechs have a long history of gun ownership for hunting. As of this year, there were more than 800,000 firearms registered in the country of 10.6 million people. A number of those weapons are antiques that are kept in museums.

The EU directive requires a permit for about half of registered weapons in order for them to be used for defense. The Czech legislation is very specific as to why legislators seek a change.

This constitutional bill is in reaction to the recent increase of security threats, especially the danger of violent acts such as isolated terrorist attacks … active attackers or other violent hybrid threats.”

The constitutional amendment now must go to the Czech Senate, where it has to receive two-thirds of the votes before it goes to President Milos Zeman to be signed into law. He is a supporter of the bill.

Proponents of the legislation admit the passage of the bill at this point does not prevent the EU directive from taking effect. Only once it’s finally in the Czech constitution will the gun rights be final.

The Czech Republic has been relatively free of gun attacks or terrorist incidents. The last serious shooting in recent years occurred in February 2015 when a lone gunman shot eight people in Uhersky Brod, a town 190 miles southeast of the capital of Prague.

Source: Reuters