Morocco Tightens Gun Laws After Recent Incidents, Introduces Health Checks

It is thus planned to significantly toughen the conditions, by introducing the mandatory health examination for any applicant, reports the newspaper Assabah this Thursday, March 14, which also mentions a suspension of this authorization pending a thorough police investigation.

Still according to the newspaper, a circular has been sent to the local authorities for a re-examination of the pending files so that they comply with the new procedure. In detail, this police investigation will not only cover the health status of the applicant but will also touch on his political and religious opinions, the details of his assets and their origin as well as his professional activities. In addition, he will have to be affiliated with an association approved by the State in order to have a gun license. Permit holders must also undertake to take the necessary precautions so that this weapon does not fall into any hands.

To issue this permit, the authorization of an auxiliary authority, in this case the moqaddem, is now necessary, which could unfortunately lead to other cases of corruption and bribery.

For the record, the city of Guelmim experienced a terrible tragedy this week with the death of one person and the injury of 11 others, including two police officers, when a former MRE opened fire on his neighbors. The latter would suffer from mental disorders.

Just yesterday, the authorities announced the arrest of a man for possession of a weapon without a license and the seizure of 45 cartridges. This arrest took place in Tetouan, in the north of the country.