REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA LAW ON CONTROL OF WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION 15 January ...

21 Pages·2017·0.33 MB·English

REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LAW ON CONTROL OF WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION

15 January 2002 No IX-705
Vilnius

(As last amended on 4 December 2007 – No X-1348)

CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Objective and Purpose of the Law
1. The objective of this Law - to regulate the circulation of weapons and ammunition with a view to ensuring the safety of an individual, the public and the State.
2. The purpose of the Law - to lay down provisions of the classification of weapons and ammunition into categories, to consolidate the legal basis of the circulation of weapons and ammunition and the control thereof, as well as to establish the rights and duties of entities whose activities are related with weapons and ammunition.
3. The provisions of this Law shall not apply to the following:
1) nuclear, chemical, biological weapons or other weapons of mass destruction;
2) things and devices the construction or mechanism whereof is not designed for their use as weapons, however, they may be used as weapons;
3) repealed;
4) repealed;
5) start devices;
6) bows and arrows intended for sporting purposes;
7) military equipment and military device;
8) pyrotechnic devices and their launchers;
9) explosives used in civic circulation;
10) explosive agents.
4. The procedure of circulation of the things and devices listed in paragraph 3 of this Article shall be established by other legal acts.
5. Models of things and devices shall be ascribed to weapons and their specific categories by the Commission of Experts set up by the Government or an institution authorised by it.
6. Laws regulating the activities related to the circulation of weapons by the entities having a special status shall be effective with respect to the said activities, except for the cases specified in this Law.
7. The provisions of this Law have been harmonized with the legal act of the European Union specified in the Annex to this Law.

Article 2. Definitions
1. Weapon means a device or a thing developed or made suitable for destruction of, causing harm to or other impact on live or other objects, targets.
2. Firearm means a device or a thing designed or suited as a weapon from which, by force of pressure of combustion products of explosive agents, bullets, projectiles or harmful to health, irritant agents may be launched to affect a target from a distance mechanically, thermally, chemically or otherwise, or a sound or light signal may be made. Essential components of firearms shall also be regarded as firearms under this Law.
2(cid:21)
3. Automatic firearm means a firearm which reloads automatically each time a round is fired and can fire more than one round with one pull on the trigger.
4. Semi-automatic firearm means a firearm which reloads automatically each time a round is fired and can fire only one round with one pull on the trigger.
5. Repeating firearm means a firearm which, after a round has been fired, is reloaded from a magazine or cylinder by means of a manually-operated action with the help of a trigger mechanism.
6. Single-shot firearm means a firearm with one or several barrels and no magazine, which is loaded before each shot by the manual insertion of a round into the chamber or a loading mechanism.
7. Short firearm means a firearm with a barrel not exceeding 30 cm or whose overall length does not exceed 60 cm.
8. Long firearm means a firearm with a barrel exceeding 30 cm or whose overall length exceeds 60 cm.
9. Gas weapon means a non-fire weapon that may eject harmful, irritant agents or the charge thereof. Gas pistols (revolver) shall be ascribed to firearms.
10. Archery weapon means a non-fire weapon the force of a projectile of which is provided by a resilient element, using the power of human muscles or mechanical devices.
11. Signal weapon means a firearm designed for making a sound or light signal by means of a signal pyrotechnic gear or signal ammunition.
12. Pneumatic weapon means a non-fire weapon a direct motion of a bullet or another projectile launched from it starts because of the power of compressed air or another gas.
13. Antique firearm means a firearm a model of which was designed before 1870 and which may not be loaded with rounds intended for weapons prohibited in civil circulation or for weapons for which an authorization is required in order to hold or carry them.
14. Essential components of a weapon means a barrel, a cylinder, a breechblock (lock), a breechblock (lock) carrier, a pistol (revolver) frame and semi-manufactured products thereof, as well as an adapter inserted into the barrel of a firearm (a barrel of a smaller calibre).
15. A weapon completely unfit for use means a weapon which is converted or affected in such a manner that all its essential components are irreversibly damaged or broken and it is impossible to restore, repair or change them so that it would again become suitable for proper use.
16. Non-fire weapon means a device or a thing designed or made suitable to be used as a weapon to affect a target without using the force of pressure of combustion products of explosive agents.
17. Ammunition means that what is fired from firearms.
18. Part of ammunition means a projectile, a charge, a primer, a primer sleeve, and a case.
19. Cartridge means ammunition that consists of a case with a primer, throw charge, and a projectile.
20. Projectile means part of ammunition (a bullet, pellet, cannon-shot, etc.), an arrow, which is designed to affect a target.
21. Expanding bullet means a bullet with a soft point, which when penetrating a target suddenly becomes deformed.
22. Collection of weapons, ammunition, cases or bullets means a set of weapons, ammunition, their components bearing historical, cultural, criminalistic or other educational value.
23. European firearms pass means a document certifying that a firearm is possessed by a person holding the pass and granting the right to bring the said weapon and the ammunition for it into the Member States of the European Union.
24. License means an official document issued by a state institution granting the right to engage in the activities specified in the license, complying with the set conditions.
25. Permit to acquire weapons and ammunition means a document certifying that a legal or natural person may acquire the weapons and/or ammunition indicated in the permit.
26. Permit to carry weapons means a document certifying that a natural person has the right to hold and carry the weapons indicated in the document.
27. Permit to hold weapons means a document certifying that a legal or natural person has the right to hold the weapons indicated in the document.
28. Circulation of weapons or ammunition means manufacture, repair, sale, transfer, acquisition, gratuitous transfer, holding, storing, transporting, carrying, use, seizure, realization, destruction, export (bringing out of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania), import (bringing into the territory of the Republic of Lithuania) of weapons or ammunition, as well as other actions regulated by this Law.
29. Civil circulation of weapons or ammunition means circulation of weapons or ammunition carried out by natural and legal persons except for the entities having a special status.
30. Entities having a special status means the Special Investigation Service, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of National Defence, statutory agencies of the interior, the Department of State Security, the Prosecutor General's Office, the Weaponry Fund under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as the ‘’Weaponry Fund’’), the Prisons Department under the Ministry of Justice, the Riflemen's Union, their divisions and subordinate institutions, as well as the Customs of the Republic of Lithuania.
31. Supervisory person means a natural person who, being a shareholder (holder of member share, member) of a legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania, has more than one third of all votes or has the right to elect (appoint) the majority of members of the Supervisory Board (the Board), heads of the Administration or actually controls the decision-making of the legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania or its branch.
32. Armourer means a person, appointed by decision of the head of the administration of a legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania, or any other person authorised by the said legal person, who is responsible for the transportation, receiving, holding, delivery and accounting of the weapons, ammunition of the legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania or its branch.
33. Weapon user means a natural person who has the right to carry or hold a weapon of a certain category, to whom a weapon owner grants the right to use his arm.
34. Foreigner means a person who is not a permanent resident of the Republic of Lithuania.
35. Shooting gallery means a construction works specially equipped for safe shooting.
36. Firing range means a locality made suitable for safe shooting.
37. Manufacture of weapons, their essential components, accessories and ammunition means manufacturing of weapons, their essential components, accessories, ammunition, as well as assembling together the said parts into a single unit.
2(cid:21)
3(cid:21)
38. Repair of a weapon means elimination of defects of a weapon.
39. Conversion of a weapon and ammunition means changing of qualitative characteristics of a weapon and ammunition.
40. Carrying of a weapon and ammunition means having a weapon and ammunition on a person in such a way which makes the immediate use of the weapon possible.
41. Holding of a weapon and/or ammunition means possession of a weapon, ammunition (its actual holding at one’s disposal) in a natural person's residential place or in legal person's premises or other places having clearly defined boundaries.
42. Transportation of a weapon and ammunition means transporting (moving, carrying) of a weapon from the place where it is kept to certain premises or locality under such conditions which ensure that it will not be possible to use it immediately (the weapon is not loaded, it is in its holster or in any other appropriate container, the ammunition is taken out of the magazine, cylinder and barrel).
43. Possession of a weapon, ammunition means holding, carrying, storing and use of a weapon and ammunition.
44. Permit to transport weapons, ammunition, their components means a document which entitles to transport weapons, ammunition, their components from a Member State of the European Union to a Member State of the European Union.
45. Prior consent for importation of weapons, ammunition, their components means a document by which a competent authority of a Member State of the European Union confirms that it does not object to bringing the weapons, their components, ammunition indicated in the said document into the territory of this state.
46. Permanent resident of the Republic of Lithuania means a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania or a person who has acquired the right to permanently reside in the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with the procedure established by international agreements, laws and other legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania.
47. Classification of weapons, their accessories and ammunition means attributing under this Law weapons, their accessories and ammunition to one of the categories (A, B, C or D) according to a degree of their dangerousness. Weapons, their accessories and ammunition classified in Category A are the most dangerous ones; weapons and ammunition in Category D are the least dangerous ones.
48. Weapon accessory means a silencer, laser, optical and night sights.
49. Blank weapon means a non-fire weapon that by the power of human muscles may be used to destroy or otherwise inflict a mechanical impact (stab, cut, strike, hit, crush) on a target from a distance or in direct contact. Farming or household tools shall not be considered blank weapons.
50. Professional activities means activities of a natural or legal person for which this person receives income and in order to perform which the said person has to carry (use) weapons in accordance with the procedure laid down by the law.
51. Military equipment means equipment designed for military use.
52. Military device means any tools, instruments, appliances intended to ensure operation of military equipment and its successful use.
53. Blank ammunition means ammunition without a projectile (consisting of a cartridge case, primer, powder charge and a cork or without a cork) intended to imitate a shot from a firearm.
54. Electroshock weapon means a non-fire weapon designed or adapted to affect a target with electric current through direct contact or from a distance.
55. Night sight means a device, which is fixed on the weapon and designated for pointing the weapon to a target. By using electronics, the sight enhances the visibility of a dim lit or unlit target.
56. Legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania means legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania and branches established in the Republic of Lithuania of the undertakings established in the Member States of the European Union or the European Economic Area.

CHAPTER TWO
CLASSIFICATION OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION

Article 3. Weapons Classified in Category A, Ammunition, Weapon Accessories
The following weapons, devices, objects, ammunition, weapon accessories shall be classified in Category A:
1) explosive military missiles and launchers;
2) automatic firearms;
3) weapons disguised as other objects;
4) ammunition with penetrating, explosive or incendiary projectiles and the projectiles for such ammunition, as well as their launchers;
5) pistol and revolver ammunition with expanding bullets and the bullets for such ammunition, except in the case of weapons for hunting or for target shooting, for persons entitled to use them;
6) silencers and night sights;
7) cannons of all calibres, howitzers, mortars;
8) grenades, grenade launchers, including tear grenades and their launchers;
9) all types of bombs, torpedoes, mines, their loaded shells and unloaded projectiles, and their launchers;
10) flame throwers and all incendiary projectiles;
3(cid:21)
4(cid:21)
11) weapons the laser rays of which are used for military purposes or to destroy targets;
12) weapons and devices intended for chemical impact on targets;
13) archery weapons the full tension force of which exceeds 1,200 N;
14) firearms the construction of which allows them to be used disassembled or they are changed in such a way that they can be easily hidden;
15) weapons in which radioactive, electromagnetic, light, heat, infrasound or ultrasound radiation, hazardous biological impact, gas dangerous to health or other material or energy dangerous to health or life is used as a means destroying the target or otherwise inflicting damage on it;
16) ammunition for the weapons of Category A only;
17) sniper rifles for military use;

Article 4. Weapons Classified in Category B
The following weapons shall be classified in Category B:
1) semi-automatic or repeating short firearms;
2) single-shot short firearms with centre-fire percussion;
3) single-shot short firearms with rim-fire percussion whose overall length is less than 28 cm;
4) semi-automatic long firearms whose magazine and chamber can together hold more than three rounds;
5) semi-automatic firearms whose magazine and chamber cannot together hold more than three rounds, where the magazine is removable or where it is not certain that the arm cannot be converted, with ordinary tools, into an arm whose magazine and chamber can together hold more than three rounds;
6) repeating or semi-automatic long firearms with smooth-bore barrels not exceeding 60 cm in length;
7) semi-automatic firearms not designated for military use, which resemble military arms with automatic mechanisms;
8) archery weapons the full tension force of which is from 200 N to 1200 N.

Article 5. Weapons Classified in Category C
The following arms shall be classified in Category C:
1) repeating long firearms, except repeating long firearms with smooth-bore barrels not exceeding 60 cm in length;
2) long firearms with single-shot rifled barrels;
3) semi-automatic long firearms other than those listed in subparagraphs 4-7 of Article 4 of this Law;
4) single-shot short firearms with rim-fire percussion whose overall length is not less than 28 cm;
5) pneumatic weapons the kinetic energy of projectiles whereof exceeds 7.5 J.

Article 6. Weapons Classified in Category D
1. The following arms shall be classified in Category D:
1) single-shot weapons with smooth-bore barrels;
2) signal guns, pistols (revolvers);
3) pneumatic weapons the kinetic energy of projectiles whereof is from 2.5 J to 7.5 J;
4) gas weapons (pistols (revolvers), aerosol devices, equipment);
5) firearms which meet the criteria of other Categories, however, which are not classified in those Categories because of their small fighting power and the kinetic energy of projectiles whereof is from 2.5 J to 7.5 J;
6) blank weapons not attributed to prohibited weapons;
4(cid:21)
5(cid:21)
7) ancient firearms;
8) electroshock weapons for self-defence;
9) weapons that are completely unfit for use;
10) models of weapons the weight and design of which is the same ;
2. The same requirements shall apply to the circulation of single-shot long forearms with smooth-bore barrels specified in subparagraph 1 of paragraph 1 of this Article and the circulation of long firearms classified in Category C, although single-shot long firearms with smooth-bore barrels are not mentioned in individual Articles of this Law, and the Articles of the Law, regulating the circulation of weapons classified in Category D shall not apply to single-shot long forearms with smooth-bore barrels.

CHAPTER THREE
PROHIBITED WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION

Article 7. Prohibited Weapons and Ammunition
1. All weapons, weapon accessories and ammunition which are prohibited by international agreements of the Republic of Lithuania shall be prohibited in the Republic of Lithuania.
2. Firearms with rifled and smooth-bore barrels of Categories A, B and C which do not possess identification numbers shall be prohibited in the Republic of Lithuania. Such weapons may be possessed only by institutions of criminal expert examination, as well as the weapons converted in the manner established by Article 38 of this Law - by persons collecting them.
3. In civil circulation the following shall be prohibited:
1) weapons classified in Category A, weapon accessories and ammunition designated only for weapons classified in Category A, except when used by the Bank of Lithuania, legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania which manufacture weapons classified in Category A, weapon accessories, ammunition designated for the weapons classified in Category A, their components, state institutions of criminal expert examination, state museums and research institutions which research and design weapons classified in Category A, ammunition, their components and accessories;
2) any self-made firearms;
3) gas weapons with toxic substances, ammunition with toxic substances of firearms;
4) silent cartridges;
5) cartridges the bullets whereof are with a hard metal core or in a hard metal jacket;
6) laser sights other than those used in sports;
7) knuckle-dusters, flails, shuriken and other blank weapons of strike and missile character;
8) electroshock weapons firing dart-like electrodes, which stay connected to the source of high-voltage electrical energy by flexible wires.
4. Blank prickly, cutting, side-opening or out-the-front switchblades shall be prohibited in civil circulation if they meet at least one of the following criteria:
1) the length of a sliding or folding blade exceeds 8.5 cm;
2) the width in the centre of a blade is narrower by 14 per cent than the length of the blade;
3) both edges of a blade are sharpened.
5. A decision on recognising objects emitting radioactive, electromagnetic, light, heat, infrasound or ultrasound radiation, dangerous biological effect, gas dangerous to life or other substances or energy dangerous to health or life, as weapons indicated in subparagraph 15 of Article 3 of this Law shall be adopted by the Commission of Experts specified in paragraph 5 of Article 1 of this Law.

CHAPTER FOUR
STATE WEAPONS REGISTER AND DEPARTMENTAL WEAPONS REGISTERS

Article 8. State Weapons Register
1. The State Weapons Register shall be an official set of data on weapons registered in the Republic of Lithuania, their owners or managers. Data on weapons which have been imported, exported, brought into the territory of the Republic of Lithuania and brought out of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as destroyed weapons shall be compiled in the State Weapons Register.
2. The State Weapons Register shall be kept by an institution authorised by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with the procedure established by the Government.

Article 9. Departmental Weapons Registers and Accounting of Weapons in the Civil Circulation
5(cid:21)
6(cid:21)
1. A departmental weapons register shall be a set of data on weapons possessed by an entity having a special status. Entities having a special status must keep their departmental weapons registers. Such entities must, in a manner prescribed by the Government, furnish the data of departmental weapons registers to the manager of the State Weapons Register.
2. Weapons which are in the civil circulation shall be registered, accounting of such weapons, their owners and managers shall be kept by police institutions. Data on weapons which are in the civil circulation, their owners and managers shall, in a manner prescribed by the Government, be furnished to the manager of the State Weapons Register by an institution authorised by the Minister of the Interior.

CHAPTER FIVE
ACQUISITION AND POSSESSION OF WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION

Article 10. Holders of the right of ownership of weapons and ammunition
The holders of the right of ownership of weapons and ammunition may be the State, permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania, foreigners and legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania.

Article 11. The Holder’s Right to Acquire and Possess Weapons and Ammunition
1. Permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania and legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania may acquire and keep weapons, ammunition for the following purposes:
1) hunting;
2) sports;
3) self-defence;
4) professional activities;
5) collection;
6) training;
7) scientific research;
8) other purposes, if they are in conformity with laws and international agreements and treaties.
2. Permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania and legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania shall have the right to acquire ammunition for weapons which they are entitled to possess.
3
. A person who is subject to the restrictions laid down in subparagraphs 3 and 4 of paragraph 1 of Article 17 and paragraph 2 of Article 18 of this Law may not be an employee of the legal person, registered in the Republic of Lithuania, who wishes to acquire and possess weapons, ammunition, where such employee is directly related to the acquisition, holding, accounting of weapons, ammunition; such a person may not also be an armourer of the said legal person. A person who is subject to the restrictions laid down in paragraph 2 of Article 18 of this Law may not be head of the administration of the legal person, registered in the Republic of Lithuania, who is referred to in this paragraph.
4. A legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania whose supervisory person is subject to the restrictions laid down in paragraph 2 of Article 18 of this Law may not acquire and possess weapons, ammunition.

Article 12. General Requirements for Issuing Permits
1. Police institutions shall issue permits to acquire weapons classified in Categories A, B and C to natural persons, legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania (except entities having a special status, state institutions of criminal expert examination).
2. Permits to acquire weapons classified in Categories A, B and C shall be issued to:
1) natural persons who have the right to acquire weapons of such categories;
2) legal persons, registered in the Republic of Lithuania, who have obtained the licenses specified in subparagraphs 1, 5 and 6 of paragraph 1 of Article 19 of this Law, and who have the right to acquire weapons classified in such Categories;
3) legal persons, registered in the Republic of Lithuania, who carry out professional activities and have the right to acquire weapons classified in such categories;
3. Upon the receipt of applications for the acquisition of weapons, police institutions shall carry out checks with the view of establishing whether the persons who apply for permits to acquire weapons are not subject to the restrictions established by this Law. Checks shall be carried out and decisions concerning the issuance of a permit made not later than within 45 days of the submitting of the application.
4. Persons who have valid permits to carry weapons or permits to hold weapons shall be issued permits for new weapons by police institutions not later than within 5 days of the submitting of the application. Repeated checks indicated in paragraph 3 of this Article shall not be carried out.
5. Refusal to issue a permit must be grounded. An applicant or a person authorised by him shall be entitled to appeal against the refusal to issue a permit to the Commissar General of the Police who must, not later than within 30 days, make a decision concerning the issuance of a permit to acquire a weapon. An applicant who has not received a satisfying reply or who has not received any reply, may appeal to the court against the refusal to issue a permit to acquire a weapon.
6. A permit to acquire a weapon shall be valid for a period of six months from the day of its issuance. In case of failure to acquire a weapon, it shall be possible to apply, in accordance with the general procedure, to a police institution for another permit to acquire a weapon.
7. Permits to acquire weapons shall allow a permit holder to acquire ammunition.
6(cid:21)
7(cid:21)
8. Natural persons may acquire and keep at the same time not more than 500 cartridges of each type (calibre) for the weapons they possess. Natural persons who possess weapons for sporting purposes may acquire and keep at the same time an unlimited number of cartridges of each type (calibre).
9. The amount of ammunition which is permitted to be acquired and kept by legal persons shall be established by the Government or an institution authorised by it.
10
. Permits to acquire weapons classified in Categories A, B and C, their ammunition shall be issued to permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania and legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with the procedure established by the Government or an institution authorised by it. Acquired weapons must be registered at police institutions not later than within 10 days of the acquisition thereof. Upon the registration of the weapons, a permit to carry weapons or a permit to hold them shall be issued. A single permit to carry (hold) weapons may be issued to natural persons. The said permit shall indicate which weapons a person may carry and which he may hold.
11. The procedure regulating the acquisition of weapons classified in Categories A, B and C, their registration, re-registration for foreigners shall be established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or an institution authorised by it.
12. Permits to acquire weapons classified in Categories A, B and C shall not be issued during the state of martial law and the state of emergency, in other cases provided for by the law.

Article 13. Requirements for Permanent Residents of the Republic of Lithuania, Legal Persons Registered in the Republic of Lithuania in Order to Acquire and Possess Arms and Ammunition of Certain Categories or Types
1
. Operable weapons classified in Category A, their accessories, ammunition may be acquired and possessed only by entities of a special status, state institutions of criminal expert examination, as well as legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania who engage in manufacturing of weapons classified in Category A, their accessories, ammunition designated for the weapons classified in Category A, their components, research institutions who engage in research and designing of the weapons classified in Category A, ammunition, their components and accessories, the Bank of Lithuania. The procedure of acquisition and circulation of weapons classified in Categories A, B, C and D, ammunition, their components, weapon accessories by entities having a special status, state institutions of criminal expert examination shall be laid down by other legal acts. Weapons classified in Categories A, B, C and D, ammunition, their components, weapon accessories may be acquired by the entities of a special status, state institutions of criminal expert examination without permits.
2. Long firearms with rifled barrels classified in Categories B and C, and cartridges for them may be acquired and possessed by permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania who are at least 21 years of age, have a valid hunter's licence and at least 3 years of hunting experience, as well as by legal persons, having a licence to hire weapons, upon having obtained a permit.
3. Long firearms with smooth-bore barrels, pneumatic weapons, archery weapons classified in Categories B and C, their ammunition may be acquired and possessed by permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania who are at least 18 years of age, have a valid hunter's licence, as well as by legal persons, having a licence to hire weapons, upon having obtained a permit.
4. Weapons classified in Categories B and C, and their ammunition may be acquired and possessed by permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania who are at least 16 years of age - members of shooting sports organisations, as well as by legal persons, upon having obtained a permit.
5. Short firearms classified in Categories B and C for self-defence, cartridges for them may be acquired and possessed by permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania who are at least 23 years of age, upon having passed an examination and obtained a permit.
6. Long firearms with smooth-bore barrels classified in Categories B and C, cartridges for them for self-defence may be acquired and possessed by permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania who are at least 18 years of age, upon having passed an examination and obtained a permit.
7
. Weapons classified in Categories B and C, their cartridges for the purpose of professional activities may be acquired and possessed by natural persons and legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania, upon having obtained a permit. The said weapons may be carried by permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania who are at least 21 years of age – employees of legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania, upon having passed an examination and obtained a permit. Automatic firearms, ammunition for them may, upon having obtained a permit, be acquired and possessed by the Bank of Lithuania; the said weapons may, in the course of official duties, be carried by employees of the Bank of Lithuania - permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania who are at least 21 years of age, upon having passed an examination and obtained a permit.
*8. In order to build up a collection, weapons classified in Categories B and C and ammunition for them, converted in a manner that would render them unfit for use, may be acquired and possessed by permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania who are at least 23 years of age, upon having passed an examination and obtained a permit, as well as by legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania, upon having obtained a permit. In order to build up a collection weapons classified in Category A may be acquired by institutions which have the right to acquire operable weapons in Category A. Having been issued a permit, state museums may acquire weapons of all categories and must, not later than within 30 days, convert them in a manner that would render them unfit for use. Such conversion of weapons when their restoration is possible only by replacing proper components with new ones shall be considered to be conversion of weapons into weapons unfit for use.
9. Upon having obtained a permit, legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania may, in order to carry out scientific research, to test weapons, their accessories, ammunition or components thereof made by themselves, acquire and possess weapons classified in Categories A, B and C. 10
. Weapons classified in Category D and ammunition for them may be acquired and possessed without a permit by legal persons and natural persons from the age of 18, by producing their identity documents to the selling undertaking. Pneumatic weapons in Category D and their ammunition for sporting purposes may be acquired and possessed without a permit by natural persons from the age of 16 – members of shooting sports organisations, by producing to the selling undertaking their identity documents, an intermediation document from the sports organisation and a valid membership certificate of such organisation. Such weapons shall not be subject to registration.
11. Laser sights of firearms may be acquired, possessed and used by persons who have a firearm for the purpose shooting sports.
12. Weapons classified in Categories B and C, their cartridges for the purpose of training may be acquired and possessed by legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania, upon having obtained a permit.
13. Firearms of all categories may, upon having been granted a permit, be acquired and possessed by theatres and other legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania, which engage in creation of theatrical performances or production of films, or creation of television programmes. They must, not later than within 30 days, convert firearms in such a manner that it would be possible to fire only blank cartridges. Converted firearms may be used only during a performance or filming. The procedure for converting or using weapons shall be laid down by the Government or an institution authorised by it.
14. War history clubs which possess antique firearms may acquire ammunition for them only upon having obtained a permit. It shall be allowed to fire antique firearms during mass events only after organizers of the event coordinate this with an appropriate municipality and do not use projectiles (only creating sound and light effects).

Article 14. The Right of a Foreigner to Acquire and Possess Weapons and Ammunition
1. Accredited or residing diplomatic, administrative technical and service staff of foreign diplomatic missions, consular posts and international organisations, their family members, as well as other foreigners who are entitled to the appropriate privileges under international agreements, may acquire and possess weapons, ammunition in the Republic of Lithuania for the following purposes:
1) hunting;
2) sports;
3) self-defence;
4) collection;
5) other purposes that conform to the provisions of laws and international agreements.
2. Foreigners over the age of 18, who legally entered the Republic of Lithuania and who undertake that the acquired weapons will be brought out of the Republic of Lithuania not later than within 10 days of their acquisition, shall have the right to acquire in the Republic of Lithuania the weapons classified in Categories B and C, and ammunition for them.
3. Foreigners specified in paragraph 2 of this Article, who wish to acquire in the Republic of Lithuania the weapons classified in Categories B and C, must present a prior consent concerning import of weapons and/or ammunition, issued by the competent authorities of the state whose citizens they are or in which they permanently reside, or any other document confirming the right to bring weapons, ammunition into a foreign state, and obtain a permit in accordance with the procedure established by legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania.
4. When foreigners acquire a weapon, ammunition in accordance with the procedure established by paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article, no restrictions laid down in paragraph 1 of Article 17 of this Law shall apply, except subparagraph 1 of paragraph 1.
7(cid:21)
8(cid:21)

Article 15. Requirements for Acquisition of Weapons by Foreigners
1. The foreigners specified in paragraph 1 of Article 14 of this Law shall acquire weapons and ammunition in the Republic of Lithuania, hold them, bring into the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, bring out of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Government or an institution authorised by the Government.
2. Weapons which are acquired in the Republic of Lithuania with permits, with the purpose to hold them longer than 10 days, must be registered at the police institution not later than within 10 days of the acquisition thereof.

Article 16. User of a Weapon and Ammunition
1. A natural person may transfer for permanent use a weapon classified in Categories B or C which is in his possession only to his family member who lives with him and who has the right to hold or to carry a weapon of the same Category. A family member living together may hold or carry a weapon only upon having obtained a permit in a prescribed manner.
2. A natural person may, in his presence, hand over for temporary use a weapon classified in Categories B or C, which is in his possession, to another person who has the right to hold and carry an arm in the same Category during:
1) hunting;
2) sports events and exercise;
3) training.
3. A legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania may transfer for permanent use the weapons in Categories B and C, ammunition for them, which are in his possession, to an employee of the legal person who has the right to hold and carry a weapon of the same Category.
4. A legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania and a natural person may hand over for temporary use the weapons classified in Categories B and C, and ammunition for them, which are in his possession, to natural persons during sports event, sports exercise, training and under the supervision of a coach or another person responsible for safe shooting.

Article 17. Restrictions of the Right to Acquire and Possess Weapons and Ammunition
1. Weapons classified in Categories B and C, ammunition for them may not be acquired and possessed by a natural person:
1) who is younger than it is defined by this Law;
2) who does not have an impeccable reputation;
3) who is ill with certain diseases or has physical handicaps hindering him from handling the weapon properly;
4) whose name is entered in the records of a health care institution because of his alcoholism or drug addiction, or who is under the supervision of a health care institution because of his mental disease or disorder;
5) who has not indicated his place of residence;
6) who has failed to submit the documents necessary for acquisition, registration and re-registration of a weapon, or who has submitted a knowingly inaccurate information or falsified documents;
7) who has failed to pass an examination;
8) who does not ensure proper conditions for keeping of the weapon;
9) to whom a permit to hold or carry a weapon has been revoked because of the loss of the weapon, and less than three years have passed since the revocation;
10) who is living with the persons who meet the provisions of subparagraphs 1-12 of paragraph 2 of Article 18 of this Law. This subparagraph shall not apply if the person who wishes to acquire a weapon or who already possesses it, undertakes to hold it or already holds it not in his place of residence, but in other places made fit for that purpose.
2. The Ministry of Health shall set a list of diseases and physical disabilities because of which a person may not acquire or possess a weapon.
3. Other legal acts shall lay down the requirements for health condition and passing of an examination by officers of the entities having a special status, except the officers of the Riflemen's Union and the Weaponry Fund.
4. The procedure of medical check-ups of natural persons who wish to obtain a permit to acquire weapons shall be established by the Ministry of Health, upon consultation with the Ministry of the Interior.

Article 18. Persons of sufficiently good repute:
1. Under this Law, a person of sufficiently good repute shall be a person to whom the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article do not apply.
2. A person shall not be regarded as a person of sufficiently good repute if:
1) he has been convicted for an intentional crime for more than 6 years of imprisonment and less than 10 years have passed from the expiry or annulment of his conviction;
2) he has been convicted for a negligent crime which he committed under the influence of alcohol or being intoxicated with narcotic, psychotropic or other intoxicating substances, or for a intentional crime (except the crime indicated in subparagraph 1 of this paragraph) and less than 3 years have passed from the expiry or annulment of his conviction;
8(cid:21)
9(cid:21)
3) has been convicted of a negligent crime (except the crime indicated in subparagraph 2 of this paragraph), if the conviction has not expired or been annulled;
4) during the last three years by the court’s decision he has been released from criminal liability for a committed crime on bail or upon reconciliation with the victim, or on the basis of mitigating circumstances;
5) he has been within the last three years convicted for a misdemeanour;
6) during the recent year by the court’s decision he has been released from criminal liability for a committed misdemeanour on bail or upon reconciliation with the victim, or on the basis of mitigating circumstances;
7) he is, in accordance with the procedure laid down by the law, suspected or accused of having committed a criminal act;
8) his name has been entered in the operative register or court injunctions are issued to him in a manner prescribed by the Law on Organised Crime Prevention;
9) he has repeatedly committed an administrative law violation within a period of one year by which he attempted to commit a crime against property, public or governing order;
10) he has been during the last three years punished at least twice for gross violation of the requirements of the legal acts regulating hunting;
11) he has during the last three years committed at least two administrative law violations under the influence of alcohol, being intoxicated with narcotic, psychotropic or other intoxicating substances;
12) his permit to carry a weapon or to hold a weapon has been revoked or has not been extended on the grounds of this Article, as well as for other violations of weapons circulation, and less than three years have passed since that moment.

CHAPTER SIX
ECONOMIC COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO
WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION

Article 19. General Requirements for Economic Commercial Activities Related to Weapons and Ammunition
1. Economic commercial activities subject to licensing shall be as follows:
1) manufacture of weapons, accessories of weapons classified in Category A, ammunition, their components;
2) import and export of weapons, weapon accessories, their components;
3) trade in civil circulation in weapons, weapon accessories, ammunition, their components;
4) repair of weapons, conversion of weapons and ammunition;
5) operation of firing ranges and shooting galleries;
6) hire of weapons.
2. A licence to engage in the activities indicated in paragraph 1 of this Article may be issued to legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with the procedure established by laws and other legal acts.
3. A decision on the issuance of a licence shall be adopted not later than within 60 calendar days of the submitting of necessary documents.
4. A refusal to issue a licence must be substantiated. An applicant or a person authorised by him shall be entitled to appeal, not later than within 30 days of the receipt of the decision, against the refusal to issue a licence to the head of the licensing institution. An applicant who has not received a satisfying reply or who has not received any reply, may appeal against the refusal to issue a licence to the court.
5. Rules of licensing the economic commercial activities, specified in paragraph 1 of this Article, shall be approved by the Government.

Article 20. Restrictions of the Right to Carry out Work Related to the Activities Subject to Licensing
A person to whom the provisions of subparagraphs 3 and 4 of paragraph 1 of Article 17 and paragraph 2 of Article 18 of this Law apply may not be an employee of a legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania and carrying out activities subject to licensing, where such an employee is directly related to the acquisition, holding, repair, conversion, testing, accounting, sale of weapons and ammunition; he may not be an armourer of the said legal person, as well.

Article 21. General Duties of Licence Holders
1. A licence holder shall be responsible for meeting the requirements laid down in Chapter Six of this Law.
2. A licence holder must:
1) ensure accounting, holding, and protection of weapons, ammunition, their components;
9(cid:21)
10(cid:21)
2) every six months, but not later than by the fifth day of the first month of the next six-month period, submit to the licensing institution or an institution authorised by it a report of an established form on economic commercial activities related to weapons, ammunition, their components;
3) upon the change in the type of activities of the legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania or other conditions indicated in the documents submitted for the issuance of a licence, inform the licensing institution about this not later than within 10 working days;
4) appoint an armourer;
5) upon the request of supervising institutions, furnish information about the employees carrying out work related to weapons and ammunition, as well as their personal data;
6) create conditions for employees of supervising state institutions to check the activities of a legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania, related to the activities subject to licensing;
7) manufacture, store, hold, sell, repair, convert, use weapons and ammunition only in the premises which meet the requirements established by the Government or an institution authorised by it;
8
) prior to hiring a new employee whose work is directly related to the activities subject to licensing as provided for in this Law, submit to a territorial police institution the personal data of such person (name, surname, personal number, place of residence) and the conclusions of a medical check-up, confirming that he is not ill with the diseases or does not have physical disabilities interfering with the proper use of a weapon, his name is not entered in the records of a health care institution because of alcoholism, drug addiction, is not under the supervision of a health care institution because of his mental disease or mental disorder;
9) preserve accounting records and other documents concerning weapons, ammunition, their components, weapon accessories at least 10 years of the last inscription therein, regardless of the fact whether a legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania engages in the activities subject to licensing or not (upon the liquidation of a legal person registered in the Republic of Lithuania, the accounting documents shall be transferred to the licensing institution or an institution authorised by it);
10) in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Government or an institution authorised by it, mark firearms classified in Categories B and C, and single-shot long firearms with smooth-bore barrels classified in Category D, brought into the Republic of Lithuania, unless they have been already marked in a prescribed manner;
11) after having brought into the territory of the Republic of Lithuania or out of it the weapons, present not later than within 5 working days the data on the imported or exported weapons to the licensing institution.
3. A licence holder shall be prohibited from:
1) instructing, authorising or otherwise transferring to another person the right to engage in the activities specified in the licence, except conclusion of transactions through brokers who have a certificate of registration of a weapons broker, issued in a manner prescribed by this Law;
2) engaging in the activities subject to licensing in the facilities for which territorial police institutions have not issued a permit.
4. Procedure of accounting of weapons shall be established by an institution authorised by the Government.

Article 22. Manufacture of weapons, their essential components and ammunition
1. A licence to engage in manufacture of weapons, accessories of weapons classified in Category A, ammunition, their components shall be issued by the Weaponry Fund in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Government.
2. Weapons classified in Category A, their ammunition, accessories of weapons classified in Category A may be manufactured only upon co-ordination with the Weaponry Fund.
3. All legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania, manufacturing weapons, ammunition must ensure the safety and control of production, and the quality of products. A manufactured weapon and ammunition must correspond to the parameters specified in technical documents.
4. A manufacturer of weapons, ammunition, their components must:
1) in a manner prescribed by legal acts, test manufactured weapons or ammunition and ensure that they meet the requirements of normative documents;
2) mark ammunition with identifying marks of the manufacturer;
3) indicate on the manufactured weapons, their essential components and accessories the manufacturing country, name of the manufacturer, the year and number of the manufacturing;
4) properly store raw materials and materials used in manufacture, unfinished and made production, ensure their safety and harmlessness to human health and the environment;
5) ensure the adequate quality of the production.
5. The manufacturer of weapons and ammunition shall have the right to:
1) repair weapons and ammunition manufactured by him;
2) design weapons and ammunition, their components for the manufacture of which he has obtained a licence, as well as test them;
3) acquire components of weapons and ammunition in the Republic of Lithuania and import them;
4) trade in manufactured weapons, ammunition, their components;
5) export weapons, ammunition, their components which he has manufactured;
6) bring in components of weapons, ammunition from the Member States of the European Union;
7) bring out of the Republic of Lithuania the weapons, ammunition manufactured by him to the Member states of the European Union.
6. Manufacturers of weapons, ammunition must observe the requirements of product safety.
10(cid:21)