Singapore’s gun clubs told to get rid of 70 weapons for security reasons
Military-grade sub-machine guns among the weapons to be destroyed or exported
By Low Lin Fhoong
Due to security concerns, police in Singapore have ordered the Singapore Gun Club (SGC) and the Singapore Rifle Association (SRA) to remove about 70 firearms, including several military-grade sub-machine guns, from the armouries at the National Shooting Centre at Old Choa Chu Kang Road, TODAY has learnt.
The move came after a review — understood to be prompted by concerns in light of the current security climate and terrorist threat — of the firearms and ammunition allowed for use in Singapore, including sports shooting.
Under the new directive, only permitted handguns, rifles, shotguns and air weapons, as well as the respective ammunition, will be allowed for use at the centre. All automatic weapons, semi-automatic rifles and air weapons are prohibited.
The police issued the latest order in December, nearly a year after the authorities had initially seized 77 firearms from SGC and SRA, as well as ordered the centre to be closed to all shooting activities except for national training, because of serious licensing irregularities.
An audit by the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department had found irregularities in the records of guns which had belonged to members who had died, quit the clubs or left the country.
Responding to queries from TODAY, a Singapore Police Force spokesperson said: “The Police have conducted a review of the types of firearms and ammunition that individuals and entities in Singapore can possess, if licensed to do so. One of the areas reviewed was sports shooting. The Police worked with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Sport Singapore (Sport SG) to balance the national interest of promoting sports shooting with security concerns.”