Katelynas says gun law changes will not mirror US liberalisation

Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas says planned changes to the rules governing officers’ use of firearms will not amount to full liberalisation, LRT reports.

“Every country has its own society, which reacts to things in one way or another. I really believe this will not be liberalisation like in the United States. The use of a firearm also comes with responsibility,” Katelynas told journalists at the Government on Wednesday.

“My goal is both the legal protection of officers and the ability to protect the state when necessary,” said the head of the Interior Ministry.

Katelynas announced on Tuesday that he was preparing amendments to the rules on officers’ use of firearms in response to changing hybrid threats.

Under the current regulations, firearms or explosives may be used only in exceptional cases when this is unavoidable and there is an imminent threat to a person’s life or health, the protection of the state border, companies or facilities important to national security, or property.

Officers may use firearms to repel an armed incursion into the country, armed attacks on diplomatic or state institutions, or an assault that poses a direct threat to their own or another person’s life or health. They may also use them to free hostages or prevent a terrorist act.