The national assembly has passed a new law with very strict rules about who can get a gun license. The most important change is for people who are guilty of domestic violence or violence against women. These people will now be stopped from getting a license for a long time.
If a person is convicted of these crimes, they cannot get a gun license for ten years. This ten-year period starts from two dates: the day they are convicted and the day they are released from prison. This makes the restriction longer and stronger. The law also includes crimes related to making or selling drugs.
Experts say this law is important because studies show that when abusers have guns, it is more likely that their partners will be killed. "This change fixes a big problem in our system," said Dr. Elena Rostova, a law professor. "It creates a strong block between abusers and guns, which we know saves lives."
During the debate, lawmakers decided to make the rules very firm. They removed a plan that would have let the Minister of Justice reduce the waiting period. They also removed rules that allowed for early applications in special cases. A group that studies women's rights said this was a good decision to make the law strong.
The police support the new law. They say it gives them clearer rules to stop violent people from getting guns. Some civil rights groups are worried the rules are too permanent and don't think about people who change.
The law starts in ninety days. The government will create a new computer system to connect court records with gun license lists. This is a major change to gun laws, focusing on keeping weapons away from domestic abusers.