Taiwan passes law to curb use of firearms in public

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed amendments to an existing law Monday that treat using different kinds of firearms, including imitations, in public as a crime and set heavy sentences for those found guilty of such behavior.

Under the amended Controlling Guns, Ammunition and Knives Act, an individual discharging a standard firearm in a public place, or a place accessible to the public, could face a jail sentence of at least seven years and a fine of up to NT$15 million (US$479,085).

The amendment, which was proposed by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), came after seizures of new kinds of modified guns that have been involved in incidents that resulted in casualties.

Before Monday's amendments were passed, firing off any kind of gun in public was not treated as a criminal offense under Taiwan's Criminal Code.

There was a provision in Article 63 of the Social Order Maintenance Act that treated "firing a weapon without justifiable reasons in public" as a crime, but it only carried detention of no more than three days or a fine not exceeding NT$30,000.

According to the MOI, the revised law regulates all types of firearms, ammunition and other gear to enhance the traceability of non-standard firearms.

Public use of a non-standard firearm comes with a jail sentence of between five and 12 years and a fine of up to NT$10 million.

Those who manufacture, sell, transport, or transfer imitation guns can face up to seven years in jail and a fine of up to NT$7 million, and those who manufacture, sell, or transport parts of imitation guns without approval can be fined between NT$1 million and NT$10 million.

If the offense is serious, the violator's business could be ordered to suspend or terminate operations, according to the bill.

Non-standard guns are considered firearms that are produced by factories that are not legally licensed by the government, and include modified guns.

Imitation guns are defined as a device resembling a real gun in terms of its exterior, structure and the materials used to produce it, and that can be altered into a real gun.

Meanwhile, a provision was also revised to stipulate that people who violate the amended law and surrender themselves with all of their firearms, ammunition and knives "may" have their penalties reduced or exempted.

Previously, the Act stated that individuals surrendering their firearm "shall" have his/her penalties reduced or exempted.

Interior Minister Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) said Monday the amendment was intended in part to curb the circulation of non-standard weapons, including modified and imitation firearms, and stiffen the penalty for such actions.

About 90 percent of the illegal weapons seized by police this year have been modified, Lin said, indicating that the amended law is aimed at controlling firearms at their source.