ANKARA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- To combat rising crime rates, Türkiye's ruling party has proposed a bill to parliament that aims for stricter regulations on illegal firearms.
The draft bill submitted last week by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) aims to reduce the accessibility of unlicensed firearms and enforce stricter penalties for illegal gun possession.
The bill proposes increasing the minimum prison sentence for carrying, purchasing, or obtaining unlicensed firearms from one year to two years. Repeat offenders could face up to four years in prison.
Additionally, the draft outlines stricter regulations on the smuggling and export of firearm materials, with violators facing extended jail terms.
With the AKP and its allies holding a parliamentary majority, the bill is expected to pass.
The draft bill comes amid a surge of criminality in Türkiye's big cities. Istanbul, the country's most populous city, saw 505 armed attacks in 2023, leading to 321 deaths, according to official figures.
Nationwide, 3,770 armed incidents were reported last year, causing 2,318 deaths and over 3,000 injuries. Of these incidents, 85 percent involved firearms, with unlicensed guns accounting for a significant share, according to the Umut Foundation, a non-governmental organization committed to preventing gun violence.
The Interior Ministry reports that law enforcement confiscated 70,000 illegal weapons in the first eight months of 2024 alone. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya highlighted the urgency of addressing the issue, emphasizing the importance of combating unlicensed firearms to enhance public safety.
The Umut estimates that, of the 34-40 million firearms in Türkiye, only about 4 million are legally registered, posing a significant challenge to public safety.
"We find that both gun-related crimes and the number of gun acquisitions increase by 3.5 percent every year," said Ayhan Akcan, a board member of the Umut Foundation.
According to Akcan, 95 percent of gun owners are men, and two-thirds are under 40. Notably, 70 percent of gun owners claim they carry a firearm for protection.
However, Akcan cautioned that firearm possession often escalates violence, with gun owners five times more likely to become victims of fatal incidents.
Although Turkish law requires individuals to obtain a license to possess firearms, systemic and cultural challenges hinder efforts to combat illegal gun ownership.
Lawyer Mine Yevsen, based in Ankara, pointed to the glamorization of firearms in media and lenient legal consequences as contributing factors. She proposed mandatory training, shorter license renewal periods, and stricter background checks to address the issue. ■