CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DISMISSES BILL ON WEAPONS

ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - The Croatian Constitutional Court at Wednesday's session dismisses several provisions of the Bill on Arms, relating to conditions for the approval of arms licenses and confiscating weapons from citizens. A lawyer from Bjelovar, who motioned the bill, held it was unconstitutional that approval for possession of arms would be refused to anybody under criminal or penalty court proceedings. According to him, this brings about a division of citizens not taking into consideration whether the proceedings have ended with an exculpatory or guilty verdict. Also, he holds that alcoholism, disrupted domestic relations or work relations, nor disciplinary violations of regulations on hunting or sports marksmanship should be a criteria for approving licenses. This is a discretion assessment of police, he said. The Constitutional Court asserted neither criminal nor penalty court proceedings were initiated by charges, dismissing the motioner's claim that one of the conditions for issuing somebody a license was no charges levelled against a person. Any misuse of arms is a direct jeopardy to the human rights of life and health, and the legislature is obliged and authorised to protect citizens. The Court stressed it was the right of the legislative authority to set conditions under which licenses for the possession of weapons, or confiscating of the license, arms or ammunition and the collection of the same, with the aim of protecting the interests and safety of the state, nature, human environment and health of citizens. (hina) lml