Within the European Union, Malta has the fourth highest civilian firearms per capita.
With 28 firearms per 100 persons, only Cyprus, Finland and Austria have a bigger number in the EU, with 34, 32 and 30 per 100 respectively. Serbia and Montenegro have the highest rate in all of Europe, each having 39 firearms per 100 persons.
In the world, the United States tops the list by far, with 120 firearms per 100 persons, followed at a distance in second place by the Falkland Islands with 62. In this classification, Malta is in 18th place in the world.
The Malta Independent reached out to the President of the Association of Maltese Arms Collectors and Shooters (AMACS) Stephen A. Petroni, who also serves as the managing director of a licensed firearms and ammunitions distributor, to discuss the prevailing situation.
Petroni was asked regarding his experience as a firearms enthusiast, and how prevalent other parties of gun owners such as collectors and sport shooters are in comparison to hunters.
He replied that with the Arms Act, otherwise known as Chapter 480, coming into force in 2006 along with the corresponding licensing regulations which repealed the old 1931 Arms Ordnance, target shooting and the collection of historical firearms in Malta became fully regulated in compliance with the EU Firearms Directive. He said that following this, the local community practising the new shooting disciplines has grown exponentially despite the lack of sufficient range facilities to accommodate them.
He added that the serious collection of historical firearms also enjoys a strong following in Malta, but that the growth of said collecting community has been understandably more gradual in comparison to the other firearms practices.
The newsroom then asked Petroni regarding his thoughts on the current state of health check-ups for individuals possessing a firearms licence. He was also asked, as someone with an interest in firearms history and legislation, if he believes that any particular changes in legislation or enforcement should be enacted in Malta to safeguard the interests of responsible firearms owners.
The president of AMACS said that it is important to distinguish between hunting and target shooting sports along with arms collecting. He explained that this is because hunting is regulated through specific hunting regulations whilst the latter are regulated through Chapter 480 and Subsidiary Legislation 480.02 of Maltese legislation. He affirmed that in his response, he would be speaking solely about target shooting and arms collecting.
He said that, while there is always room for improvement, “Maltese firearm legislation ranks among the most sensible yet robust gun laws in the EU.” He continued that Malta’s firearm legislation was drafted in conformity with the EU Firearms Directive even before Malta became part of the EU, and that legislation has been updated when necessary to include changes made to the EU directive.
In terms of how an individual goes about the process of acquiring a Target Shooter Licence or a Collector Licence, Petroni said that interested applicants are required to go through a vetting process of three tiers which starts when they apply to join one of the several licensed clubs.
He continued that the applicant is then required to attend an appropriate course to then sit for an exam. If the applicant successfully passes the exam, the club he is a member of will then issue a letter of recommendation for his licence. The applicant can then submit this letter to his district’s police office along with a medical certificate so that an interview may be set up with the Weapons Board. If the interview is successful, the Weapons Board will recommend the applicant for a licence which is then finally issued at the discretion of the Commissioner of Police.
Asked how long this process generally takes, Petroni answered that it should take a few months if carried out rigorously. He said that licences are renewed yearly and that an assessment of the licence holder’s conduct and participation in club events along with their medical and psychological condition must be carried out every five years. He added that the Commissioner is also obliged to monitor the licence holder throughout the term of the licence.
“The law provides all the tools for its effective administration and enforcement,” Petroni said. He continued that as with any law, the results of such enforcement depend on the way the structures function. “In this case,” he said, “the main players are the police and the licensed clubs.”
He said that the licensed clubs shoulder the greatest responsibility in ensuring that they carry out their duties properly through the extensive vetting of applicants and by administering comprehensive courses designed to only pass those who demonstrate genuine interest along with a profound knowledge of firearms and the safe handling of said firearms.
He emphasised that licence holders need to show that they are capable of handling their legal obligations as licensees, especially in regard to individuals applying for a Range Conducting Officer (RCO) licence. RCOs are individuals who are specially trained and separately examined by the police to supervise or operate shooting ranges.
Petroni concluded that this level of administration and enforcement can only be achieved if the authorities enforce uniform vetting procedures and set common course syllabi for local clubs. He added that clubs who fail to adhere to the proper standards should have their licences withdrawn.