Directive No. 504-TTg on Strengthening the Management of Weapons and Explosives in the New Situation

 DIRECTIVE

ON STRENGTHENING THE MANAGEMENT OF WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS IN NEW SITUATIONS.

The Criminal Code adopted by the National Assembly has stipulated that the act of illegally storing and using weapons and explosive materials constitutes a crime, and the Government has issued many documents to strictly manage weapons and explosive materials; however, situations of loss, leakage, illegal storage, use, and trade of weapons and explosive materials still occur daily; criminal elements have used weapons and explosive materials to commit many serious robbery and murder cases, and to resist law enforcement officers...

The main cause of this situation is due to the inadequacies in our management work; a portion of officials and citizens have not strictly adhered to the State's regulations on managing weapons and explosive materials; the handling of violators has not been strict according to the law.

To address this situation, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1- Ministers of Ministries, Heads of agencies equivalent to Ministries, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels shall be responsible for organizing the management and use of weapons and explosive materials within their jurisdiction and disseminating and publicizing the State's regulations on managing weapons and explosive materials among agencies, organizations, and the people. Every citizen has the responsibility to detect and report cases of theft, trade, production, transportation, illegal storage, and use of weapons and explosive materials. Violations must be promptly and strictly dealt with according to the law.

2- The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defense shall conduct inspections and rectify the preservation and use of weapons and explosive materials in the police force, military, state agencies, economic and social organizations, and individuals throughout the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, particularly in weapon and explosive material warehouses. They shall coordinate to inspect and review the provision of weapons to civilian defense forces, specialized security personnel, Forest Rangers, Customs, Market Management...

3- The Prime Minister shall establish standards and equip various types of weapons, including rudimentary weapons, electric devices, tear gas sprayers, toxic substances... (hereinafter referred to as weapons and equipment) for agencies, units, organizations, or individuals for protection, self-defense, and maintaining public order.

Consider allowing agencies, organizations, and units to produce and trade in various types of weapons and equipment.

4- Strictly prohibit agencies, organizations, armed forces units, and individuals from using weapons and equipment for gifts, donations, or unauthorized sales.

Weapons and equipment previously awarded or gifted by foreign countries must be fully declared and required to be handed over to museums, memorials, or returned to the Police or Military authorities for management. If they wish to retain them as memorials, approval from the Minister of Defense or the Minister of Interior is required, and registration with the Police, Provincial Military Command, or Central City Military Command must be made.

5- The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defense, and the General Department of Sports shall cooperate to conduct comprehensive inspections of sports and national defense weapons in agencies, units, communes, wards; classify and handle the inspected weapons according to the current State regulations; supplement and modify standards for equipping to suit the training and competition requirements in the current situation. Limit the importation and widespread distribution of sports firearms.

6- The Ministry of Interior, together with relevant ministries and sectors, shall inspect and rectify the management, use, export, import, and transportation of various types of explosive materials in agencies, enterprises, and economic organizations. The Ministry of Defense shall be responsible for inspecting and rectifying the use, import, and export, and transportation of military weapons and explosive materials.

7- The Ministry of Trade shall cooperate with the Ministry of Interior, the General Customs Department, and related sectors to specify and guide the prohibition on importing and producing and circulating items related to weapons and equipment, including raw materials and materials for manufacturing weapons and equipment. It is necessary to organize inspections to promptly discover and deal with the illegal importation, production, transportation, trade, and storage of dangerous toys and items that incite violent behavior.

8- Heads of Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, government agencies, and Chairmen of People's Committees of centrally governed cities and provinces shall develop plans to implement this Directive in their respective sectors and localities and report the results to the Government.

The Ministry of Interior shall monitor the implementation of this Directive and regularly compile the situation to report to the Government./.