“This discussion is taking place. But we do realise that there are about 57,000 people who have a permit for a category A or B weapon today, (&) this would place a corresponding burden on the authorities. A few options are being considered now,” Agnė Bilotaitė told reporters at a press conference.
“We have talked about a qualitative assessment – the certificates [required for the issue of a weapon – ELTA] that are submitted should not be merely formal, the risks should be assessed, the questionnaires should be reviewed and the person applying to own a weapon should be examined very thoroughly indeed,” the minister added.
Some 11,000 assessments are carried out in Lithuania each year to determine whether an individual can be issued a gun permit according to Bilotaitė. More frequent checks would undoubtedly impose an additional burden on the authorities, but the procedures should be improved after all, she said.