Lithuania proposes relaxed gun storage rules for marksmen and military personnel

A cross-party group of Lithuanian lawmakers has proposed easing gun storage requirements for marksmen, professional soldiers, volunteer servicemembers, and other authorised individuals who keep semi-automatic firearms with high-capacity magazines at home, LRT reports.

Under the draft amendments to the Law on Control of Weapons and Ammunition, these groups would no longer be required to install security alarm systems linked to armed response teams—a measure currently mandated for Category A firearms, which include fully automatic weapons. The proposal targets semi-automatic firearms (pistols, carbines) equipped with magazines holding over 10 rounds for long guns or 20 rounds for handguns, which automatically classify them as Category A despite their design.

Social Democrat MP Audrius Radvilavičius and conservative MP Laurynas Kasčiūnas, who initiated the bill, argue the current rules impose excessive financial burdens. “Even if the firearms are Category B [less restricted], the presence of high-capacity magazines reclassifies them as Category A, forcing owners to store them in fixed safes and install monitored alarms costing €500–1,500 upfront plus €60–70 monthly,” the explanatory memo states. The amendments aim to retain EU-mandated security standards while addressing “practical challenges” faced by lawful gun owners.

If approved, the changes would take effect on January 1, 2027, pending subordinate legislation to define specific storage conditions. The EU’s 2021 Firearms Directive permits member states to allow civilian possession of certain Category A weapons—normally banned—under strict conditions, including for military personnel, marksmen, and specialised sports shooters.