Illegal firearms seizure peaks in past two months

Georgia is intensifying its fight against illegal firearms and encouraging citizens to hand over arms voluntarily after Georgian police seized "especially large amount” of illegal weapons in the past two months.

Latest statistics revealed 47 people were arrested in Georgia for illegal purchase, possession and carrying of firearms in October and November this year.

In these two months 50 firearms were seized, namely 31 pistols, 10 automatic weapons, three revolvers, three rifles and three sawed-off guns, two hand grenades and 1,016 bullets for various types of arms.

"One of the main priorities for the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the fight against illegal circulation of firearms, which in turn, is the precondition for prevention of more serious crimes,” the country’s Interior Ministry said.

The Agency also reminded society that according to Georgian law, those who hand over arms voluntarily will be free from legal responsibility.

The Ministry’s statement came after an intoxicated Tbilisi father went to his child’s kindergarten and threatened the child’s groupmates with a gun earlier this week. Reportedly, he then gave the gun to his child and told him to shoot any kid who annoyed him.

The same day the man was arrested for threatening another person, and illegal purchase, possession and carrying a firearm.