Morocco Tightens Gun Control Laws with New Firearms Bill

At the Council of Ministers meeting on July 13, 2022, the government had adopted the new Bill No. 86-21 relating to firearms, their accessories and ammunition. A text that aims to modernize and improve the legal arsenal relating to civilian firearms in order to accompany social and technological changes. This project is currently the subject of debates within the Interior Committee of the House of Representatives, reports the daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia.

The bill sets "the conditions for trading in firearms, their import, their introduction into the national territory, their export, their exit from the national territory, their possession and their use in tourist hunting, sports shooting and the starting signal for sports competitions". In parallel, penalties are provided for offenders. Thus, any person who imports firearms and their ammunition without the authorization provided for by law or exports firearms, their parts, components, elements, accessories and ammunition is liable to a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years.

Similarly, any person who has had firearms and their components in transit or imports assembled or partially or fully polymer-made firearms, 3D-printed firearms, and deactivated firearms is liable to a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years. The possession "of hunting, sports shooting, air guns, personal protection handguns and traditional weapons" is also punishable by law. The text provides for a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years.