The draft federal law On Amendments to Article 13 of the Federal Law on Weapons was developed by the Ministry of the Interior in accordance with Constitutional Court Resolution No. 16-P of June 29, 2012, which states that some provisions of Paragraph 10 of Article 13 of the Federal Law on Weapons are inconsistent with the Constitution of the Russian Federation because they do not specify the duration of the ban prohibiting citizens who have committed a criminal offence from acquiring hunting rifles.

The bill proposes a change to the wording of Paragraph 10 of Article 13 of the Federal Law on Weapons, omitting the provisions which the Constitutional Court has declared to be inconsistent with the Constitution.

At the same time, the bill proposes banning people with an expunged or expired criminal record for serious offences committed with the use of weapons or items used as weapons from purchasing weapons.

It prohibits the issuing of arms licences to Russian nationals guilty of repeat administrative violations within the space of one year, notably public order and safety offences or infringements of the system of government, violation of hunting rules, involvement in the trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances or their equivalents or their consumption without a doctor's prescription, until the expiry of the deadline at which the said person is considered to be subject to administrative penalties.

Furthermore, the bill states that the acquisition of sports rifles will only be permitted for those who are engaged in Olympic shooting sports.

The draft law is to be considered at a Government meeting.