Large number of illegal weapons in Kosovo

Kosovo police from January until now have seized over 1,200 unlicensed weapons, which have marked increases compared to the same period in the preceding year. However, security sector experts say the large number of weapons is growing year-on-year.

Illegal weapons continue to remain a concern for citizens and institutions in Kosovo. Police have so far engaged in several shares, mainly in schools, where they have confiscated hundreds of weapons. However, it is thought that mostly weapons exist in northern Kosovo, where local and international security institutions have never taken any action.

Security officials blame institutions responsible for failing to respect the law against those who are seized with illegal weapons while demanding actions to collect illegal weapons.

Bedri Elezi, security connoisseur, has expressed concern over increasing the number of weapons without permission. According to him, there are times when people have been deprived of life from using illegal weapons, but punishment by responsible institutions has not been fair.

“In the hands of Kosovo's citizens, there is a considerable number of illegal weapons. It's a concern that we've constantly raised by referring to that the weapon is considered also dangerous, because people who possess weapons without permission are initially not prepared for knowledge of the consequences that a weapon can have and that weapon can at any moment be used or misused by persons to perform various acts such as the murders. This concern of possession of the large number of weapons we have seen since year-on-year is growing, certainly because of an inadequate action of law enforcement institutions in the matter. There are times where people have been deprived of life precisely by the use of weapons, but that punishments have actually been quite mild and in some form all the people who think they have a gun without permission and consider what the Kosovo police will expect if they face any other institutions in a car or in a person with a gun without permission, Elez stressed.

Nuredin Ibishi, security connoisseur and once a member of the working group for the new arms law, told Kosovas that in the new arms law, certain changes will be presented that are consistent with legal provisions via the EU.

“23 years after the war it is unacceptable that I still have weapons in illegal possession, until the possibilities of having the law for weapons, we have announced several times the legalisation of weapons, now we are in procedure of drafting new law that will be consistent with EU legal provisions, and this indicates that we legally have access to opportunities but also legalisations in those that have been without permission to maintain, whether for hunting weapons, trophy weapons or other weapons, have not legalised with time. And I think that once again, after the adoption of the law, a law on legalisation of weapons will be issued, and there are better opportunities to give, whether it's going to take away taxes that are in some form ordered, or even those who make legalisation of weapons to be privileged more in this handover of arms or those that are not classified for personal weapons, while those that are given to ease in procedures, even in the payment of exams, but also in other matters involving taxes that are actually in order, said Ibi.

According to him, institutions are not implementing the law on persons who are seized with an unleave weapon. He said the sentences are not given as described by law.

“The law correctly defines actions, but never is approved in practice as described, each time a extenuating circumstance is required, and the police actually carried out the task, made the seizure of weapons, ammunition, even illegal possession, but even in cases of abuses, but unfortunately not the sentences as described by law. In many cases ignoring the law in exact order is having severe consequences for people's lives as well, because of these weapons, come from injuries and murders... In most cases, in percent it is found so far that injuries and killings are due to the use of illegal weapons”, Ibishi added.

Furthermore, security connoisseur Bedri Elez has listed for KosovaPress, some factors on how to prevent this phenomenon, until it has called on institutions responsible to realise shares on arms collection without permission.

“Initially, we need to organise more campaigns for the consequences of using weapons for people who do not have the necessary preparations for weapons, to be informed of the danger society, the person or family in which the weapon is located, and that the Republic of Kosovo has adjusted the issue of gun ownership and especially for sports activities, and there is no need for citizens of the Republic of Kosovo to carry arms without permission if they are interested in sports issues or other activities or even the issue of risk. The law also applies to those who are unwilling to cooperate. The institutions of the Republic of Kosovo would do well to have activities, actions for illegal weapons collection, and in this action, a kind of convenience is offered in the case of prosecution for the persons they possess if they are willing to hand over all weapons without permission”, he said.

Otherwise, between January and November last year, the number of illegally confiscated weapons is 1087, while the confiscated assembly is 23 thousand and 574.