Denis Monastyrsky: Ukrainians should be allowed to buy and store weapons to protect their own homes
In an interview with Bloomberg News, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Denis Monastyrsky spoke about expanding the list of weapons among the civilian population.
The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the full-scale war against Ukraine showed that tens of thousands of weapons distributed by the authorities to the defense forces are direct proof that Ukrainians know how to “own weapons”.
“For me, this is a reason to believe that Ukrainians can be allowed to buy and store weapons to protect their own homes. However, it should only be under clear criteria for permission and defined responsibility. The post-war call to surrender weapons will not be heard, as the majority of Ukrainians will continue to feel unsafe,” the minister said.
Denis Monastyrsky stresses that possession of short-barreled weapons at the legal level will be a precautionary measure in anticipation of “a sharp post-war increase in crime”.
The Ministry of Interior expects that the draft law on the circulation of civilian weapons is being prepared in the Council for the second reading, which will be ready within two months.
During the interview, Denis Monastyrsky reported that this issue caused considerable discussion. As the Russian invasion approaches its fifth month, most Ukrainians support such a decision.
In May, the Rating agency conducted a poll, according to which 58% of Ukrainians support civilian weapons, while 39% - against: “This was the first poll that showed that the number of those who support giving citizens the right to own firearms has more than doubled,” Denis Monastyrsky stressed.
As a reminder, in May, an online survey was conducted in “Action”, which was conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Digital Affairs on behalf of the President. 58% believe that Ukrainian society is ready to expand the list of permitted firearms.
