斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所-Monitoring-the-Response-to-Converted-Firearms-in-Europe_16页_467kb

Summary of "Monitoring the Response to Converted Firearms in Europe"

Core Content

This paper analyzes the issue of converted firearms in Europe, focusing on the regulatory and law enforcement responses following the 2015 Paris terrorist attack, which involved the use of acoustic expansion weapons (AEWs). Converted firearms are defined as items that resemble firearms and can be easily modified to expel projectiles or increase firepower, often with minimal tools or skills.

The document highlights the growing threat posed by these weapons, which have been legally sold in some EU countries as non-lethal or recreational items, but can be illicitly converted into lethal weapons. This has led to concerns over inconsistent national legislation and the potential for these weapons to be trafficked across the EU.

Main Categories of Converted Firearms

• Alarm and signal weapons: Designed to fire blanks, tear gas, or irritants, not projectiles.
• Salute and acoustic weapons: Used for non-lethal purposes such as theatrical or training events.
• Airsoft guns: Imitation firearms classified as toys in many countries.
• Acoustic expansion weapons (AEWs): Originally lethal firearms modified to fire blanks only.
• Firearms modified to Flobert calibres: Lethal firearms altered to discharge small-calibre projectiles.
• Deactivated firearms: Lethal firearms rendered permanently inoperable.

Key Regulatory Measures

• In May 2017, the EU amended the 1991 Firearms Directive (Directive 2017/853), introducing a broader definition of firearms that includes convertibility.
• The directive removes category D (freely accessible firearms) and requires all firearms to be at least subject to declaration (category C), except for antique weapons.
• In March 2018, the EU adopted Implementing Regulation 2018/337, setting new deactivation standards and requiring deactivated firearms to be classified as category C.
• In January 2019, the EU issued Implementing Directive 2019/69, establishing technical specifications for alarm and signal weapons, which makes conversion more difficult.

Implementation Status

• As of June 2020, most EU member states had either implemented or were preparing to implement the new regulations.
• France, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Spain have taken legal action or drafted bills to comply with the directive.
• Czechia had delayed implementation due to a legal challenge at the European Court of Justice (EUCJ), but is expected to finalize its laws by the end of 2020.
• Spain published its amendment in August 2020, which will take effect in November 2020.

Remaining Gaps and Challenges

• Inconsistent interpretation of the directive among member states, particularly regarding the classification of Flobert-calibre firearms.
• Uncertainty about whether alarm weapons declared as convertible in one country can be imported into another.
• Variability in certification costs and standards across countries may lead to lower compliance and increased risk of illicit conversion.
• Unintended consequences of stricter deactivation standards, including higher costs for owners and reduced value for collectors, which could increase the risk of live firearms being retained rather than deactivated.
• Black markets for previously deactivated firearms have emerged due to the devaluation of these weapons under new regulations.

Joint Law Enforcement Efforts

• The EU Policy Cycle for organized and serious crime (2018–2021) prioritizes the illicit trafficking of firearms.
• IMPACT Firearms is tasked with developing operational action plans to address this threat.
• The 2020–2025 EU Action Plan on Firearms Trafficking continues to focus on preventing firearms conversion and enhancing cooperation with non-EU source countries.

Conclusion

While the EU has taken significant steps to address the issue of converted firearms through harmonization of regulations and increased law enforcement cooperation, implementation remains uneven. Some countries have made progress, while others are still in the process of transposing the new directives. The paper emphasizes the importance of improving strategic intelligence on illicit firearms trafficking and ensuring consistent interpretation and enforcement of the new standards to effectively mitigate the threat.