Saudis allowed to buy guns from private shops

Riyadh: Saudis will be able to purchase guns from private shops openly for the first time after the Ministry of Interior said it will license privately owned gun shops.

Any Saudi national aged more than 25 years with no criminal record could apply to open a gun store with a bank guarantee of 500,000 Saudi riyals, the ministry said, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Hunting and sport shooting weapons are currently sold in specialty stores and all weapons have to be licensed. The conditions for carrying firearms include a fresh antecedents certificate and a copy of the civil status card accompanied by three photos, Arab News reported on its website.

There are no official statistics on the number of guns in the kingdom. In July, Riyadh police said they had seized 1,091 weapons and more than 13,200 pieces of ammunition in the capital area in the preceding six months, Arab News said quoting a Saudi Gazette report.

Last week, the ministry also said it would accept applications from Saudis to set up private shooting clubs.