If you have guns and you're keeping them secret, from today you can start legalizing

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, through a media communique, reports that from today all citizens who possess illegal weapons can start applying for legalisation.

Kosovo faces the problem of illegal possession of small and light weapons primarily as a country that has emerged from war, and this has left a large number of AVL in the hands of citizens. International research has resulted in a number between 240000 and 2600 in Kosovo. AVL. This number has been lowered for about 10,000 Small Arms and Light Weapons over the past few years as a result of measures taken by institutions, such as the adoption of the legal weapon base, as well as regular seizures that were brought by Kosovo Police”, it is said in their announcement.

On the other hand, they say that the number of AVLs in illegal possession referring to research is large, and the legalisation process has been designed as such to affect this number of AVLs.

“We have prepared and submitted for approval the law on legalisation and voluntary surrender based on the trains of states in the region, as well as on continued demands by citizens who have sought to create the opportunity to legalise weapons they own by not punishing them. Also, this process has been required by civil society, as well as security experts, as a must to influence the decline in the number of AVL people in illegal possession. The AVL legalisation process is a good opportunity for illegal AVL owners because it ensures that if they have guns and want to keep them on record according to legal requirements, not fearing they might be punished for them and we urge them to seize this legal opportunity to legalize their weapons. This process will also affect the improvement of our country's image, because we have a small number of recorded weapons compared to the number of illegal AVLs resulting from research conducted. So legalisation benefits both sides and, as a final result, we will have a safer place and environment to live”, said MPB notice.

The “being that the legalisation process is taking place for the first time in Kosovo we seek consensus from citizens for potential technical obstacles that could occur, ensuring that we will fully engage in this process to develop as best as possible. As you are aware of the decision to legalize AVL, I am now out of MPB, and the legalization period begins from today on December 17th 2018 and will be in effect for six months. We consider that this period is enough for our citizens to legalise their weapons, and during this time we will constantly distribute the necessary information about procedures that citizens need to follow to realize this legal right”, it is said repeatedly.

In principle, the MPB says, the procedures are simple and all a citizen has to do is own a gun and he wants to legalize it is to be reported to the police officer at the nearest police station and there will be all necessary information about procedures to legalise the weapon he owns.

Besides, we as MPB will be willing to assist at any time the need to facilitate this process”, the announcement concludes.