Kuwait toughens weapons law, bans bladed and dangerous air weapons

A new decree-law has been issued amending several provisions of Decree-Law No. 13 of 1991 concerning weapons and ammunition.

The changes come in response to a growing trend in the use of dangerous bladed weapons and air rifles in assaults and intimidation, posing a serious threat to public safety and contributing to increased violence in society.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the amendments aim to legally regulate the carrying these weapons and introduce penalties that ensure both general and specific deterrence, thereby maintaining public order and security.

The decree-law reflects the first major update to the weapons legislation in over thirty years, aligning the law with current security and social realities.

Under Article 1, the title of the 1991 law has been updated to read, “Law regarding weapons, ammunition, bladed weapons, and dangerous air weapons”, to reflect the expanded scope of regulation.

Article 2 replaces several provisions of the original law, notably Articles 2, 11, 12, and paragraph one of Article 21.

The revised Article 2 stipulates that:

• Individuals are prohibited from possessing or acquiring weapons or ammunition without a license issued by the Minister of Interior or his delegate, who retains discretion to refuse, withdraw, or restrict licenses at any time.
• The possession, acquisition, or use of dangerous bladed weapons or air weapons in prohibited areas is not allowed unless there is a personal or professional justification.
• The possession, acquisition, or use of cannons, machine guns, or silencers is strictly prohibited under all circumstances.

The legislative update marks a significant step in tightening control over non-firearm weapons and addressing the rise in violent incidents involving such tools.