Bengaluru: With many more moneyed people buying farmhouses on the outskirts of the city, gun sales have gone up. Guns like Webley Scott, Colt, Sig Sauer and Beretta are selling like hot cakes in the city. With the average price of a handgun hovering around Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000, this fad is not out of reach for Bengaluru’s creamy layer.
For many the gun is a genuine safety need, for others it is more of a status symbol, like politicians wanting NSG protection to show off rather than to protect themselves from a genuine threat perception.
Says Naveen of Kovi Gun Shop: “There are always those who want to buy licensed guns, but the law is a major hurdle. Police won’t allow you to keep a gun if they feel your life is not threatened. It all depends upon the threat perception. It is a matter of luck if you can manage to procure a license.”
Ashfaq Shariff, proprietor of Indian Armoury, said, “There has always been a demand from connoisseurs of guns.”
He said that the process of police verification delays getting a valid licence. “You first have to register with the police. Only after you get a permit can you buy a firearm. The police will then conduct a thorough background check and issue or withhold a licence based on the threat perception.”
Shariff adds that small arms are the preferred choice of licensed gun holders. “Revolver pistols and handguns are the most wanted weapons. Generally people who fear they may have a threat to their lives go in for small arms to help in self-defence.”
Ashwanth Reddy, whose father owns a revolver, said, “We had a torrid time getting a licence. First we had to apply for one and my dad had to run from pillar to post. Once it was finally granted, only then could my father buy a revolver.”
A police constable at the Firearms Control department told Deccan Chronicle, “The main requirement in the licensing form is the need to possess a firearm. The applicant must be able to prove he has a genuine need for a gun.”
He said, “Later the applicant must turn up for a meeting with the DCP, who will decide whether the applicant is mentally sound to possess a firearm. A neighbourhood check will also be done to assess whether the applicant has a habit of picking fights.”
There has always been a demand for licenced guns. It is the procurement of a license that is the difficult part.
