Recent data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) reveals that over 700 individuals under the age of 25 have registered weapons in their names.

As per information accessed by “Vijesti,” the highest number of weapons owned by a single individual is 33.

The issue of both legal and illegal firearms gained public attention in Montenegro following the tragic mass shooting in Cetinje on January 1st of this year, when Aco Martinović took the lives of 13 people…

Officials stated that this crime was committed using an unregistered firearm. Notably, the perpetrator had previously faced first-instance conviction due to reasonable suspicion of illegal possession of weapons and explosives.

In the wake of the Cetinje incident, the government introduced a Draft Law on Weapons and Ammunition, aimed at significantly tightening criminal policies in this domain and enhancing the criteria for obtaining weapon permits.

According to “Vijesti,” between January 1 and October of last year, the Ministry of Interior received nearly 400 requests for weapon ownership and over 1,700 for possession and carrying of firearms, with 26 requests being rejected thus far.

In addition to Montenegrin citizens, foreigners have shown interest in weapon permits. Data obtained by “Vijesti” indicates that from January 2015 to January 2025, 13 permits were issued to foreigners residing in Montenegro.

During the same timeframe, 56 firearm licenses were granted to foreigners with temporary residence status, and 181 licenses were given to those with permanent residency.

One proposed change in the Draft Law states that weapons can be registered and owned by both Montenegrin citizens and foreigners with permanent residency.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs estimates that around 68,000 citizens are legally armed in Montenegro, collectively owning over 100,000 firearms. Conversely, estimates suggest that citizens may possess at least 40,000 or potentially over 100,000 firearms illegally.

Four NATO Battalions

Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović recently shared that over 3,500 weapons were surrendered within the first four months of this year, which is 700 more weapons than the total surrendered in the previous decade.

“From January 1 to date, over 110,000 rounds of ammunition have been turned in, a 70% increase over what was surrendered in the last ten years combined. To put this in perspective, this amount of ammunition is enough to equip a brigade of more than 3,000 soldiers, each provided with a combat ammunition set! In comparison, in some NATO countries, a battalion comprises roughly 500 to 800 soldiers, and now more weapons have been surrendered than required to outfit four NATO battalions,” he explained while addressing a parliamentary inquiry.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, over 100,000 firearms are owned by the citizens of Montenegro.

He also noted that citizens are returning machine guns, hand grenades, and various weapons that are prohibited for civilian ownership, stating: “The success of this initiative exceeded expectations, and I urge citizens to continue returning weapons without facing consequences.” This was regarding the “Respect Life – Return Weapons” campaign.

The Ministry recently concluded a public debate concerning the Draft Law on Weapons and Ammunition, hosting three public forums across various regions: Budva, Podgorica, and Berane.

The head of the Ministry emphasized that the adoption of the new law would facilitate effective regulation of weapon possession and trade, aimed at preventing misuse and enhancing public safety: “It will also permit responsible and lawful gun owners to possess and use their firearms for legally sanctioned activities such as hunting, sports, self-defense, and collecting.”

Public Discussion and Suggestions

During the public debate, the Ministry accepted several recommendations, including reducing the validity period of weapon licenses from 10 years to 5, enhancing barriers to firearm possession for all violent offenses, and listing “damaged business relationships” as a basis for temporary weapon confiscation…

The state clarified that it does not intend to delegate firearm training to private individuals, asserting that such training should only be imparted by the Police Academy.

“Given that the procedure for approving weapon documentation will be centralized within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we believe proof of proficiency in handling firearms should be issued by a central government body with the necessary training capabilities, which is the Public Institution Police Academy in Danilovgrad.”

Current estimates by the Ministry of the Interior indicate that around 68,000 citizens in Montenegro hold legal weapons, owning over 100,000 firearms. Regarding illegal possession, citizens are thought to hold at least 40,000 firearms.

After the public debate concluded on February 24, the Ministry accepted a proposal to adjust the age for obtaining a weapon purchase permit. The new law specifies that this age be set at 25 years for the general populace, while members of the military, police, security personnel, and others may obtain permits at 18, with hunting and sports enthusiasts at 21 years of age. They positively responded to a company’s proposal for lowering all age limits to 18 years.

Additionally, comments were made about medical certificates. The Ministry plans to establish a commission within the Ministry of Health for psychological evaluations, which will exclusively handle the issuance of medical certificates for weapon possession and ongoing psychological assessments of applicants’ health conditions.

A proposal to make exceptions for personal safety regarding carrying firearms in public areas was not accepted.

In the initial four months of this year, citizens surrendered 3,500 weapons, exceeding the amount returned in the preceding decade by 700. Minister Šaranović noted that enough weapons were turned in to arm a brigade of over 3,000 soldiers, each equipped with a combat ammunition set.

Furthermore, the Ministry was advised to significantly decrease proposed fines to reflect “the actual economic capacity and standards of both citizens and businesses in the country.”

For instance, it was proposed that a legal entity failing to return an unused weapons acquisition permit within the stipulated timeframe be fined 500 euros instead of 50, and that an individual who neglects to apply for a weapons license within the deadline be penalized 100 to 1,000 euros rather than 10 to 100.

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