Comparative Analysis of Legislation on Criminal Liability for Illegal Handling of Weapons, Ammunition or Explosives

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to compare the legal norms of criminal liability for illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, and explosives of Ukrainian legislation with the leading countries of the world. Achieving this goal involved the following tasks: to highlight the experience of international countries in combating illicit arms trafficking; to analyze normative-legal acts, which consist in observance of international peace and security; summarize the experience of foreign countries in criminal liability for illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives. Methodology. Methodological tools are selected according to the purpose, specifics of the object, and subject of research. The determining factor is the general dialectical method of scientific knowledge of phenomena. Among the particular research methods used are the following: comparative law – during the analysis of international and national law; historical and legal – during the consideration of scientific positions on particular issues. Scientific novelty. Today, for Ukraine, the experience of foreign countries in the strategy of solving the problem of illicit arms trafficking is a significant basis for ensuring the safety of citizens, protection of their lives and health, personal integrity. One of the fundamental directions of Ukraine’s social policy is the development of various spheres in the state, which is combined with the adoption of new laws to ensure the regulation of important issues. As well as the fight against the criminogenic situation, which leads to an increase in the level and professionalism of criminals. Our state has long been in a state of profound transformation and reform. It is important to note that in the period of attempts to overthrow the Constitutional system of Ukraine, encroachments on the territorial integrity and inviolability of borders by other states, in the war in eastern Ukraine, as well as significant impoverishment of most segments of the population, more attention should be paid to crime, including the fight against crimes in which the subject of the offense is a weapon, especially a firearm. Conclusions. The problem of combating the illicit handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives is that this crime is quite resonant because delinquents with the help of weapons cause irreparable damage to the life or health of citizens, in particular, lead to the death of public figures. Therefore, counteracting the phenomenon of the studied crime is one of the urgent needs of the society of our state.

Keywords: foreign experience; analysis; firearm; criminal liability; legislation; circulation of weapons.