India is the world’s second largest market for guns after the U.S. Gun control in India is tight, but the black market in arms flourishes. Some 85 percent of guns owned are illegally owned.
This Thanksgiving, let us be thankful we don’t live in India.
Legal gun ownership is very difficult in that country, that’s why a woman who’s seeking a gun license is making news:
Apprehending threat to life and property, a Dalit woman on Thursday petitioned to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes here seeking its help to obtain a gun licence….has alleged harassment and repeated threats to her life even as the police have provided her with a round-the-clock security cover.
The woman claimed in her petition that three years ago she got married to Suresh, who belongs to the Vanniyar community.
After Dalit villages in the district were allegedly attacked by Caste Hindus, following the sensational Ilavarasan-Divya marriage in 2012, her family was ostracised from the village. Even her husband’s family was not allowed to draw water from the common tap or enter the temple.
Having suffered social boycott, Ms. Sudha lodged a complaint with the Bommidi police, who registered a case under the provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. Since no action was taken against the accused, she filed a petition in the Madras High Court, which directed the Dharmapuri district administration to provide adequate protection to the petitioner.
Alleging that some Caste Hindus continued to harass her and her family members, the victim said she was also accused of attacking and abusing some men.
Though the issue was taken to the notice of government officials, they only acted in favour of the Caste Hindus, she alleged.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/fearing-threat-to-life-dalit-woman-seeks-gun-licence/article5402552.ece
According to another article, there are an estimated 40 million guns in India, and more people are applying for gun licenses.
But getting a gun license can take years. First, you have to prove there’s a direct threat to your life. So the black market for guns is growing, says gun-dealer Joydeep Biswas, whose family has been in the gun business for five generations.
“A large chunk of people want it for self-defense. So yes, people want it for their own personal safety. And they will buy illegal arms irrespective of whether the government gives them a license or not.”
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Many of the black market guns are made in India, but they’re also coming in from neighboring Nepal and Bangladesh. And as regulation of gun ownership remains tight and concerns about safety grow, the black arms market will likely continue to thrive.
Source: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/world/bbc-world-service/india-gun-control-tight-black-market-thrives
The Indian government publishes a website of the documents you need:
Following documents are required for issue of weapons from factories
- Original valid arms licence showing entitlement for the weapons with valid date and valid purchase period date; if in other language, should be translated in English or Hindi and attested.
- One attested photo-copy of the same licence.
- Two copies of No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Licensing Authority- one copy for factory and other copy for Police Authorities.
- Transport Licence (T/L) from Police/Licensing Authorities of the place where factory is located.
- In case your licence is valid for All India or for the state where factory is located, then No Objection Certificate & Transport Licence are NOT required.
Source: http://ofbindia.gov.in/index.php?wh=Purchase
And the guns you can buy:
0.22″ Revolver0.32″ Revolver (7.65 mm x 23)0.32″ Revolver (Long Barrel)0.32″ Pistol0.22″ Sporting Rifle0.315″ Sporting Rifle30-06 Sporting RifleSource: Idem
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Gregory Smith
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