FKNK sounds warning over EU revision of firearms laws

Hunters’ federation FKNK is claiming that European Commission plans to strengthen the fight against the illegal trafficking of firearms’ and revise the Firearms Directive will negatively affect thousands of legitimate Maltese owners of firearms.

Amongst these are over 10,000 member hunters of the Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK), who make up the largest number of firearms’ owners within any one entity in Maltese society, and who possess the largest number of firearms on the Maltese islands.

“Although the FKNK completely supports any effort to better control the illegal trafficking of firearms, it fears that any proposed amendments to the Directive could be the result of malicious intentions of anti-hunting individuals and entities,” the FKNK said.

The European Council wants to strengthen the means for fighting firearms trafficking. The Directive is likely to be revised at the beginning of 2016 at the latest. In addition, in a press release the European Council called on Europol to “closely monitor the threat posed by firearms” and for the Commission to submit a strong minimum standard for the deactivation of firearms by the end of the year.

Critics fear that reopening the directive would allow amendments that would be damaging to legitimate shooting sports.

The FKNK said that through its two council officials on the Maltese Weapons Board, who besides hunters also represent firearms’ collectors and target shooters, and also with the help of the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation in the EU (FACE), will be closely monitoring this situation in Brussels in order to safeguard the legal interests, rights and privileges of its members.