AGE LIMIT RAISED FOR GUN OWNERS

THE government may raise the legal age for gun owners from 16 to 25 in a move it hopes will ensure better control of firearms. A number of stringent new controls are to be discussed this week in the National Assembly when the new draft of the Firearms Control Bill is debated. Expected amendments include restricting citizens to one weapon for self defence and raising the age limit to 18. Many organisations are said to have made submissions to the Safety and Security Committee to raise the age to 25. The committee is also expected to rubber stamp a proposal that prospective gun owners may only obtain a license once they have obtained a certificate of competency from a firearms officer.