How to Obtain Gun License in India

This Article on “How to Obtain Gun License in India” is written by Ishita Mehta.

Obtaining Gun License in India comes under the Arms Act of 1959. Civilians or citizens of India who want to own of a gun are allowed to purchase only NPB guns ( Non- prohibited bore). This Act allows the civilians to get a gun license if they have a major threat towards their life.

But, how to prove the threat?

Proving threat is not a major task as it just needs the FIR ( first information report ) but, the process of obtaining Gun license in India is long.

How to Obtain Gun License

• The first step is to submit an application. One can get the application form from the district superintendent of the police of the particular state it is in.
•  After getting the application, the police will check if there are any past records of any kind of criminal activity and they will also check if the address given is authentic or not.
• There are a lot of information gathered about the person who wants to obtain a gun, which  also includes asking the people in the surrounding or neighborhood if they see any kind of malicious treatment or if they have seen the person getting involved in fights due to anger or burst out.
•  To determine if the person is mentally or physically ill or not, the DCP does an interview of the person who wants to get the gun license.
• In the interview, the main question is- why do you need a gun? Self defense is stated as one of the major reasons why most people in India wants a gun and it is accepted also. One can also ask for a gun license if he/she wants protection from the wild animals.
• After the interview, the DCP sends the reports to both the criminal branch and the national crime record bureau.

If all these steps are fulfilled and the DCP is satisfied with the relevant information, a civilian can get a gun license after this.

Now, after getting the gun license, the customer obviously have to contact the dealer for the procurement of the gun. For this, the customer will have to book a pre-order to get the gun from any licensed shop of their choice.

Get Application Form For Gun License

Gun License forms are easily available on the website of Indian ordnance factory.

Documents required for getting the gun from the factory-

1. Issued license with valid date and place and should be either in English or in Hindi,
2. A photocopy of the Gun license,
3. One copy of the NOC for the factory owner and one copy of the NOC for Police authorities. NOC is the no objection certificate(in case if the gun license is valid across India then, there is no need to provide with NOC certificate),
4. There is also a need of transport license of the place where the factory is located.

One cannot issue letters just on the basis of the authorities but, the delivery can be permitted to the retainer only on the behalf of the customer. Now, this also requires some additional information including the name of the retainer along with the passport size picture and an authority letter signed by the retainer himself.

Obtain A Gun From-

How To Procure A Gun In India

It take about two months of waiting time for the gun to be received to the customer and in some cases, it can go up to three months based on the manufacturing system of a particular factory.

If somebody wants to renew the gun license, there is a renewal form available for them.

In the renewal form, the customer is obligated to produce the weapon with the gun license, along with all the other documents which they’d already attested at the time of getting their license.

If the gun license is issued in another state and there is a need to issue it again in the different states, the customer should take following steps-

• They have to get a re-registration form to the authority and then attach another copy of the license which was issued to them earlier,
•  Attachment of the residential proof should also be provided,
• NOC should be attached if the license is not valid all over India,
• Police statement with their remarks on the nearby areas.

Also Read: How to procure Gun in India?

How To Sell Your Licensed Gun

If somebody wants to sell their weapon they should submit an application with Rs 5/- court stamp on it with attached copy of the original gun license and inform the arms branch that they’re interested in selling their weapon.

They should provide all the documents which they earlier submitted for getting the weapons issued.

Can The Gun Be Transferred?

If the original gun license is present during the lifetime of the person who wants to transfer the ownership of the weapon to the legal heirs by making application on a plain paper and this paper will be attached with the Form A of the person to whom the transfer of license is  given.

If the original license has expired, then the application can be made again in the form A. There will be the requirement of two passport size photos and there should be no objection from the legal heirs.

Can Overseas Indian Citizens Get Gun License In India?

Getting a gun license in India for overseas citizens of India depends on the particular residence of the overseas citizen.

1. It has to prove that the state of residence is permanent.
2. It’ll have to give a valid reason of why it wants the gun license.

For instance, if he wants the license for hunting purpose.

But, for the overseas citizens who come to India for short span of time, it gets very hard for them to attain license.

Cancellation Of Gun License

• If the person during the course of getting a gun license, suppresses or does not convey the right material facts for obtaining the gun license then the officials can cancel the license. The officials can also suspend a gun license for a particular period of time.
• The license officer can suspend a gun license if he is satisfied that the owner of the gun has prohibited certain provisions under the act.
• They can also suspend gun license if there is a threat in the public space and also if the delivery of the weapon is not done after the end of the license term.

Obtain License To Import – Export Guns

In the general law, it is given that no citizen can import or export the guns based on the foreign trade policies. But, there are certain exceptions to this to import any item to another country-

•  Firstly, the user or importer should get the license from the authority.
• The importer can directly contact the government agency and from there he will get the procedure to import of the arms.
• Under the import of goods, documents regarding the imports and custom clearance certificate is necessary. They should also have the origin of the certificate.
• Now, we need to understand that the imports of the goods from the least developing countries need to be certified before the export.

Number of Guns to be Owned with one Gun license

An Indian citizen owns more than one guns on one arms license. But, each type of firearm needs to be individually endorsed after taking the due permission from the license authority.

So, For example, let’s say you initially apply for an arms license for a handgun (NPB pistol/ revolver),the license is granted and you purchase and have the handgun endorsed on your license.

Later, if you wish to purchase a rifle/ additional handgun/ shotgun, you will need to write an application to the licensing authority, requesting for an addition of the type of firearm you wish to have added (rifle/ handgun/ shotgun) and stating/explaining your need for the same.

The licensing authority should approve the application only then can another arm can be purchased. There is a maximum limit of 3 firearms that an individual can own at any given point of time.

Latest News Regarding Arms Rules

Now, every person who is applying for arms license have to go through a safety training course relating to arms.

This course will involve safeguard principles including-

• Safe handling,
• Firing technique and
• The whole procedure for their safe keeping or transportation.

The authority also says that the arms license will be given to the individuals who confront grave and foresee risk to their life by reason of being inhabitant of their region or zones, where they have threat to their lives and the extremists are most active.

Now, the license authority can grant the license or refuse to give it just within a period of 60 days.

Licenses will be issued only for three categories which’re-

1. Self-defense,
2. Sports, and
3. Crop protection.

The government has allowed citizens to own licensed electronic disabling devices such as taser gun. The main purpose of issuing taser gun is to enhance women’s safety.

This’s all about “How To Obtain Gun License In India” for now. I hope this added value to You. 

Moreover, do write to us if you think it’s necessary to own a Gun in today’s time, when the crimes are increasing day by day & safe-guards have become a mute spectator? What do you think is the biggest weapon? – A Gun? or the Empathy?

And Yes, Don’t forget to Share!!

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