Hungary eases rules on firearms

The government has loosened regulations on possession of firearms by canceling a regulation introduced by the government of Gordon Bajnai.

Following a deadly shooting spree at the University of Pécs in November 2009, the previous government introduced a regulation that required shooters to have a three-year club membership in order to possess a firearm. Last week, the government voided this requirement.

The Pécs shooter was member of a shooting club.

The Hungarian Shooting Federation and Olympic champions of the sport protested the regulation when it was introduced. They said the regulation risked the future of the sport, because the three-year membership requirement made recruiting impossible, while tragedies like that in Pécs could still not be prevented.

The decision is seen as unrelated to the government's plan for the new constitution to strengthen the right to self defense and to defend one's property.

After this plan became known last week, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the government was debating whether to loosen laws on holding firearms, but stressed it may not happen. The opinion of MP János Lázár, a member of the governing Fiesz party, is that changes are necessary, as the current law protects those who commit crimes rather than the victims.

Hungary has one of the tightest gun control regulations in Europe. Current regulations require applicants to undergo a medical examination, pass a theoretical and practical test on using the gun and meet all requirements necessary for storing firearms. Firearms can be possessed for he following purposes: delf defense, work, sports, education, huting and protection of people or property.

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