I WAS at the Sindh Home Department the other day for some work related to my arms license. Since the ban on issuance of licences has been lifted, there was much hustle and bustle there. As I was waiting, I couldn’t help overhear someone who had just been issued a licence.

He was asking questions like the difference between pistols and shotguns, magazine capacities, bores versus calibres - however, I was shocked when he asked if bullets are interchangeable between different calibre of pistols and shotguns.

I couldn’t help myself and asked him if he had ever used a firearm. He informed me he hadn’t and actually he was getting a licence to keep at home as he lived in a secluded area. In case something happened, the ladies of the house would use the firearm for self-defence.

I was astounded as he seemed unaware of even basic knowledge about the operation and the safekeeping of firearms, and he was now a firearms licence holder (actually a danger to himself and to others).

Best practices require a basic psychological assessment, theoretical and practical knowledge test for safekeeping and operation of a firearm. These processes ensure that people in the right frame of mind, knowledge and training get a firearm. Additionally, these processes generate business opportunities and jobs at shooting ranges and testing organisations --much needed currently.

Hasan Raza
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2020