Unlicensed firearms and knives

Carrying and possessing firearms, ammunition and certain knives is regulated by Law No. 6136 on Firearms, Knives and Other Instruments. Carrying or possessing them in breach of the law is an offence even if the weapon is never used.

Firearms and ammunition (Art. 13)

• A person who, in breach of the law, purchases, carries or possesses a firearm, ammunition or main parts of ballistic importance such as the barrel, frame or mechanism: 2–4 years’ imprisonment and 100–500 day-fines.
• A blank or gas pistol converted into a firearm is also covered.
• If the weapon is of a type listed in Article 12(4) of the Law, or if the number or nature of the weapons, ammunition or parts is serious: 5–8 years’ imprisonment and 500–5,000 day-fines.
• Keeping a single firearm with the usual quantity of ammunition at home or at a workplace: 1–3 years’ imprisonment and 100–500 day-fines.

These penalties were increased by Law No. 7533 of 21 November 2024.

Knives and other instruments (Art. 15)

• A person who, in breach of the law, sells, purchases, carries or possesses the knives and other instruments listed in Article 4 of the Law: 6 months to 1 year’s imprisonment and a judicial fine.
• Where the number or nature is serious, the penalty is increased by one half to one fold.
• A person who carries the weapons, knives and instruments listed in Article 4(3) of the Law for the sole purpose, as shown by the circumstances, of using them in an attack: imprisonment of up to 3 months or a judicial fine.

Related provisions

• Weapons smuggling under Law No. 6136 (Art. 12) is a catalogue offence for which grounds for pre-trial detention may be presumed (CMK 100/3).
• Under Law No. 6284, the judge may order a perpetrator of violence to hand over licensed weapons to the police (Art. 5).