We Need Guns! Ukrainians Ask to Liberalize Private Gun Ownership

The author of the petition is the Ukrainian Gun Owners Association, who suggested supplementing Article 27 of the country’s constitution (Everyone has the indefeasible right to life) with a provision:

“Everyone has a right to the free ownership of a firearm for the protection of his life and health, housing and property, the lives and health of other people, and constitutional rights and freedoms in the event of the usurpation of power, as well as impingements on the constitutional form of government, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

“The exercise of the right to free ownership of a firearm is to be regulated by law and may be restricted only by a court ruling on a particular person,” says the suggested document.

Additionally, the authors insist on the immediate adoption of another law “On civil arms and ammunition”.

In August, the office of Ukraine's president launched a new section on its website which solicits suggestions for new legislation.

The law on electronic applications and online petitions, signed by the president, provides for the submission of individual and group applications via the Internet and creates an opportunity for Ukrainian citizens to address the President, the Verkhovna Rada, Cabinet of Ministers and local self-government through the submission of e-petitions on official websites.

A petition addressed to the President, Parliament or Government, however, must gain at least 25,000 votes within a maximum of 3 months of the date of submission.

If the petition doesn't have the necessary number of votes, it will be considered as an application of citizens under the Law of Ukraine "On the Application of Citizens", according to the statement on the presidential website.