In the wake of a slew of cases involving the use of modified imitation firearms, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday approved draft amendments to the Controlling Guns, Ammunition and Knives Act (槍砲彈藥刀械管制條例).
The proposals seek to include nonconventional firearms in the definition of firearms, which would expand the act’s scope to cover imitation firearms.
People convicted of manufacturing, transporting or selling conventional or nonconventional firearms could face a prison term of five years to life — depending on the types of weapons — and a fine of up to NT$30 million (US$965,748), the proposals state.
As some manufacturers have tried to exploit a legal loophole by manufacturing and selling weapons that are identical to real guns except that they lack firing pins, the proposals seek to stiffen the definition of imitation guns.
The proposed amendment states that any item that has the appearance, structure or material of a real gun, has a gunpowder firing mechanism and can be modified to kill or wound should be categorized as an imitation gun.
All imitation firearms should be confiscated, except those made for export or for research and development purposes, in which case police permission must be obtained, the amendments state.
The manufacture, sale, transport, or transfer of unmodified imitation guns would be punishable by a maximum fine of NT$1.5 million, while those who rent, borrow, possess, hide or intend to sell imitation guns could be fined NT$100,000.
Those that modify imitation guns to the point where they can fire bullets or metal objects, but are not considered to be lethal or able to inflict injuries, would face a maximum fine of NT$200,000.
People who rent or borrow modified imitation firearms — a type of nonconventional firearm — if convicted, would face a prison term of five years to life and a fine of up to NT$10 million, the draft amendments state.
National Police Agency Senior Specialist Feng Chiang-sheng (馮強生) said the planned amendments target imitation firearms with gunpowder firing mechanisms, not toy guns such as airsoft guns, which would not be affected by the proposed changes.
Criminal Investigation Bureau Commissioner Huang Ming-chao (黃明昭) said that if the proposed amendments pass a third reading, a list would be published to inform the public of which types of off-the-shelf imitation guns are banned.
The National Police Agency would train officers to differentiate between airsoft guns and restricted items, so survival games and re-enactment hobbyists do not need to fear that they would be affected, Huang said.
In addition, collectors of militaria who own imitation guns would not have their collection confiscated or face fines as long as they register their collections with the police, he said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS