The Gun Control Law was promulgated in 1996 and amended in 2009 and 2015 respectively. The latest revision entered into force on April 24, 2015.

There are 50 articles in total.

The key points are as follows:

1.The State establishes strict control over guns. All units and individuals are prohibited to possess, manufacture (alter and assemble included), trade in, transport, lease or loan guns in violation of the provisions of laws. The State shall severely punish any criminal act committed in violation of the control of guns. Every unit and individual has the obligation to inform against any violations against the control of guns.

2.Persons who may be armed for official use shall be as follows:

(1) policemen of the public security organs, State security organs, prisons and institutions of reeducation through labor;

(2)judicial policemen of the Courts and the Procuratorates;

(3)procurators who are charged with the task of investigation of cases;

(4)customs coast guards;

(5) professional guards and escorts of the country’s important places.

3.Entities who may be armed for civilian use shall be as follows:

(1) sports entities that are set up to engage specially in target shooting competitions and profit-making shooting ranges;

(2) hunting grounds;

(3) entities for protecting and raising wild animals and for conducting scientific research of such animals;

(4) hunters in hunting zones and herdsmen in pastoral areas.

4.The State applies a special permit system governing the manufacture and rationed sale of guns. Without permission, no entity or individual may manufacture or trade in guns.

5.The State exercises strict control over guns with which people enter or leave the country. Without permission, no entity or individual shall enter or leave the country with guns.