Russia has stockpiled enormous amounts of shot-barrel firearms. Our biggest defense enterprises, such as the engineering works in Izhevsk, Tula and Kovrov, have produced enough weapons for several armies, so they have to do something with them. Is Russia ready for the mass appearance of firearms in the hands of its citizens?

       “The state cannot protect my interest as I can do myself” – this idea became a prelude to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (the right to keep and bear arms). The right to bear arms became one of the cornerstones of the value system of the United States in 1791 and it would be no exaggeration to say that the right to self-defense is in the American blood. But is Russia ready for the mass appearance of short-barrel firearms in the hands of its citizens?

       In an interview with the Valdai International Discussion Club , Viktor Litovkin, executive editor of the Independent Military Review, talks about this issue.

       What do you think about the idea of legalizing the possession and carrying of short-barrel firearms in Russia?

       I am totally against legalizing possession of firearms in Russia. This country and its people are not ready for this yet. The legal awareness of many people here, their attitude to the law or rather their traditional disrespect for the law and the rights of other people make it impossible to allow them to keep firearms at home. I think it could lead to massive bloodshed in Russia, especially since even the official figures show that the number of alcoholics and drug addicts in this country is rising every year, as is the number of crimes against the person.

       Maybe we should return to this issue in five to seven years when Russia will be more of a state based on the rule of law than is the case today?

       Public morals won’t change in five or seven years. Of course, if our drivers suddenly stop driving on the sidewalks, scaring pedestrians, if they stop crushing prams and knocking down women with children, if they start strictly observing all the traffic rules, we may return to the discussion of the firearms issue, but for the time being all talk of this is premature. Today there are even violations in the keeping and use of air guns and non-lethal weapons. Moreover, many people have no qualms about turning non-lethal weapons into firearms. Statistics by the Ministry of the Interior show how often the carrying and use of firearms get people into serious trouble.

       But the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has allowed Americans to bear arms since 1791.

       You know the consequences of firearms possession in the United States. There have been countless cases of young people opening fire on entire classes and departments at their universities. On August 14, a stranger opened fire near a local university in Texas (Texas А&М – editor’s note), killing three people. Such things happen even though U.S. citizens are much more law-abiding than we are. The negative example of the United States merely reinforces the idea that Russian citizens should not be allowed to use weapons for self-defense.

       What do you think of the chances of this bill becoming law?

       It has many lobbyists in the defense industry. We have stockpiled enormous amounts of shot-barrel firearms – the warehouses are stuffed full of them. Our biggest defense enterprises, such as the engineering works in Izhevsk, Tula and Kovrov, have produced enough weapons for several armies, so they have to do something with them, especially since they cannot always compete with the German, Austrian, American or Italian companies on the global market. What is to be done with these firearms? Frankly, I don’t know. Maybe, the state should buy them and keep them in depots until some emergency occurs. Meanwhile, the enterprises that produce these pistols and revolvers should convert some of their production facilities for other purposes.

       So do you think the bill will pass?

       No, I don’t think it will come into force. It has many lobbyists but I hope that the common sense of the lawmakers will prevail over the desire some defense industry executives to make money.

       What experience could we fully rely on in this issue?

       I don’t know any other country, except maybe Switzerland, where people would handle firearms properly without violating the law. I can’t think of any other country where people would know how to keep weapons at home and wouldn’t use them, either for or without a reason.

       Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.