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Carrying a Firearm in Public: What Does the Estonian Law Allow and What Does It Prohibit?
Carrying a Firearm in Public: What Does the Estonian Law Allow and What Does It Prohibit?
On March 17, RASK attorney-at-law Andrei Svištš appeared on ETV+’s morning program Kofe+ to discuss the rules for carrying a firearm in public and the legal responsibilities involved.
Although owning a firearm for self-defence implies carrying it, the law sets clear limits on this. The firearm must be concealed, and its use and possession require a high sense of responsibility on the part of the owner. The interview also addressed the concept of public spaces, various restrictions at events, and situations where carrying a firearm may raise questions regarding supervision or the validity of a permit.
Can an ordinary person with a firearm permit carry a firearm anywhere?
If a firearm is acquired for personal safety, simply keeping it in a safe at home would not be of much use. The whole point of owning a firearm is to have it with you when needed. You are allowed to carry a firearm in public places, but it must be concealed.
How should a firearm be concealed? What happens if someone notices the firearm anyway?
How to conceal a firearm is the sole responsibility of the owner. If a firearm is taken into a public space, it is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that it is not visible to others. It does not matter whether the firearm is visible under a jacket, for example, or is noticed in a car – if the firearm is carried, it must be concealed.
If the weapon is visible, however, this is considered a violation of the rules for carrying a weapon, and the police may be notified. This is not mandatory, but similar to reporting traffic violations, notification is justified. It is important to know that carrying a weapon in plain view is a violation, but not a criminal offense.
If the police receive such information, they will investigate the circumstances of why it happened and whether there are additional factors that could provide grounds for suspending or revoking the firearm permit.
What is a public place? Can you bring a firearm to a public event?
The law does not directly restrict carrying a firearm based on location, but restrictions apply to certain events. For example, you may not bring a firearm to protests or public events. This means that, for example, you may walk around the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds with a firearm (if it is concealed), but you may not enter the grounds with a firearm during a concert or other event.
But what about the Parliament of Estonia?
Based on the Weapons Act, this may not constitute a direct violation, as carrying a weapon in the Estonian Parliament building is not generally prohibited by law. However, if internal rules of the institution apply, violating them may be a separate issue. The media has reported that, according to the Estonian Parliament internal rules, carrying a weapon there is prohibited.
How should one view it when a person publicly states that they carry a firearm with them every day?
This is a broader societal issue. On the one hand, carrying a firearm is permitted by law; on the other hand, speaking openly about it can evoke mixed feelings. If a person hasn't threatened anyone with a weapon, then there is no problem in and of itself with them carrying a weapon or talking about it. The question is rather what kind of example this sets and how others perceive it. Talking about it demonstratively is largely a matter of taste.
Are there people who can carry a gun visibly?
Yes, different rules apply to law enforcement officers. While on duty, they must carry their weapons visibly.
What other important principles are there? How often does a gun permit need to be renewed?
A gun permit is valid for five years. To extend it, the necessary procedures must be completed in a timely manner, and one must behave lawfully during that period. Isolated violations may not be a problem, but repeated violations can be.
How should a firearm be stored at home?
If a person owns a single firearm, current law allows it to be stored in a place that is difficult to access. If there are multiple firearms, a safe is required, and ammunition must be stored separately from the firearms. If there are children in the home, it is advisable to keep even a single firearm in a safe.
Although owning a firearm for self-defence implies carrying it, the law sets clear limits on this. The firearm must be concealed, and its use and possession require a high sense of responsibility on the part of the owner. The interview also addressed the concept of public spaces, various restrictions at events, and situations where carrying a firearm may raise questions regarding supervision or the validity of a permit.
Can an ordinary person with a firearm permit carry a firearm anywhere?
If a firearm is acquired for personal safety, simply keeping it in a safe at home would not be of much use. The whole point of owning a firearm is to have it with you when needed. You are allowed to carry a firearm in public places, but it must be concealed.
How should a firearm be concealed? What happens if someone notices the firearm anyway?
How to conceal a firearm is the sole responsibility of the owner. If a firearm is taken into a public space, it is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that it is not visible to others. It does not matter whether the firearm is visible under a jacket, for example, or is noticed in a car – if the firearm is carried, it must be concealed.
If the weapon is visible, however, this is considered a violation of the rules for carrying a weapon, and the police may be notified. This is not mandatory, but similar to reporting traffic violations, notification is justified. It is important to know that carrying a weapon in plain view is a violation, but not a criminal offense.
If the police receive such information, they will investigate the circumstances of why it happened and whether there are additional factors that could provide grounds for suspending or revoking the firearm permit.
What is a public place? Can you bring a firearm to a public event?
The law does not directly restrict carrying a firearm based on location, but restrictions apply to certain events. For example, you may not bring a firearm to protests or public events. This means that, for example, you may walk around the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds with a firearm (if it is concealed), but you may not enter the grounds with a firearm during a concert or other event.
But what about the Parliament of Estonia?
Based on the Weapons Act, this may not constitute a direct violation, as carrying a weapon in the Estonian Parliament building is not generally prohibited by law. However, if internal rules of the institution apply, violating them may be a separate issue. The media has reported that, according to the Estonian Parliament internal rules, carrying a weapon there is prohibited.
How should one view it when a person publicly states that they carry a firearm with them every day?
This is a broader societal issue. On the one hand, carrying a firearm is permitted by law; on the other hand, speaking openly about it can evoke mixed feelings. If a person hasn't threatened anyone with a weapon, then there is no problem in and of itself with them carrying a weapon or talking about it. The question is rather what kind of example this sets and how others perceive it. Talking about it demonstratively is largely a matter of taste.
Are there people who can carry a gun visibly?
Yes, different rules apply to law enforcement officers. While on duty, they must carry their weapons visibly.
What other important principles are there? How often does a gun permit need to be renewed?
A gun permit is valid for five years. To extend it, the necessary procedures must be completed in a timely manner, and one must behave lawfully during that period. Isolated violations may not be a problem, but repeated violations can be.
How should a firearm be stored at home?
If a person owns a single firearm, current law allows it to be stored in a place that is difficult to access. If there are multiple firearms, a safe is required, and ammunition must be stored separately from the firearms. If there are children in the home, it is advisable to keep even a single firearm in a safe.