PRAGUE, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Senate of the Czech Republic passed a resolution on Thursday, urging the government not to restrict legal gun ownership in the country when implementing the European Union (EU) weapons directive and to create a petition committee on the issue, the Czech News Agency (CTK) reported.
The resolution came as a response to a petition signed by nearly 100,000 citizens. It was passed with a narrow majority.
The resolution stated that the Czech Weapons Act was sufficient for gun regulation in the country, rejecting further regulations by the EU.
"There is no reason for the Czech Republic to restrict the right of Czech citizens to possess a weapon for personal defense beyond what is necessary to combat terrorism," the Senate said in the petition committee proposal.
Czech laws surrounding firearm ownership differ significantly from those of other countries in the EU. Current legislation allows firearms to be acquired through licensing that requires a gun proficiency test, a medical examination, and a clean criminal record.
The Czech Republic also allows for the concealed carry of firearms for self-defense, which is not allowed in most EU countries. A vast majority of gun owners in the Czech Republic report owning a weapon for self-defense and not for hunting or sport.
EU regulations aim to limit the ownership of weapons, including those already legally held, with the new directives.
