Weapon Purchase Cert. for Private Security in Turkey

If protection and security services are to be carried out by private companies within the borders of the Republic of Turkey, they must obtain the necessary licenses from the state authorities to carry out this activity. If the protection activities are to be armed, special permission must be obtained for this activity. This article explains how private security companies can acquire weapons.

Within the scope of the Law No. 5188 on Private Security Services (5188 S.K., 2023), the works and procedures related to the weapons used by private security officers during the performance of their duties were carried out by the Provincial Security Directorates’ Private Security Branch Directorates. However, since it was transferred to the Provincial Security Directorate Weapons and Explosive Substances Branch Directorate with the consent of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Turkey dated 10.07.2014, from now on, these works and procedures are carried out by the Weapons and Explosive Substances Branch Directorate.

Within the province where the private security company carries out its activities, a number of investigations are carried out on the persons, institutions, organizations and educational institutions that are deemed appropriate to be given weapons staff by the provincial private security commissions. Within the scope of this investigation, the health report of the private security personnel who will be responsible for the weapons to be acquired, criminal record certificate, National Judicial Network Information System of the Republic of Turkey (UYAP) records are examined. Subsequently, if there is no objection to the possession and carrying of weapons, a weapon purchase certificate is issued with the approval of the competent local governor.

1.1. Notification of the person appointed as responsible for weapons.

-The person, institution, organization and educational institutions requesting weapons shall apply to the Provincial Security Directorate with a cover letter addressed to the Provincial Security Directorate – Weapons and Explosive Substances Branch Directorate for the notification of the weapon responsible. The point to be considered here: If the application is made without appointing a person responsible for the weapons, the weapon purchase authorization certificate will not be issued.

-A doctor’s report stating that the person to be appointed as the person responsible for the weapons has no objection to obtaining a Weapon License. This report must be a medical board report to be obtained from full-fledged State Hospitals or University hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health. The validity period of this report is 6 months from the date of issuance of the report in accordance with the regulations.

-Since the name of the person responsible for the weapons will also be specified in the Private Security Weapon Carry / Possession Document Approvals to be issued by the Governorate, in case of change of the persons responsible for the weapons, the weapon carry / possession permit document approvals will also change, and in case of change of the responsible person, the notification of the newly assigned person will be made to the Weapons and Explosive Substances Branch Directorate as soon as possible. In addition, at the end of each five-year period from the date of issuance, the documents for carrying/possession of weapons will be renewed.

-Identity Card Photocopy.

1.2. Documents Required in the Weapon Purchase Process.

– If the location of the Private Security Company is in the police responsibility zone, a cover letter addressed to the Provincial Security Directorate (Weapon and Explosive Substances Branch Directorate) containing the request for weapons and ammunition.

– Photocopy of the Private Security Permit Certificate issued by the Private Security Branch Directorate.

– Photocopy of the Provincial Private Security Commission Decision issued by the Private Security Branch Directorate.

– Two photographs of the person who will be responsible for the weapons. This photo will be taken within the last year of the person responsible for the weapons.

– The validity period of the Weapon Purchase Authorization Certificate is one year from the date of issue. With this document, the authorized person purchases weapons and bullets belonging to these weapons from the public institution authorized to sell weapons within the borders of Turkey. The invoice for these weapons and bullets purchased is the Certificate of Origin of the weapon and is valid for sixty days from the date of issue. The period of application for a license shall be specified in the Weapon Purchase Authorization Certificate and the invoice, and this statement shall also serve as a notification. The owner of the weapon must apply to the unit that performs license procedures with the weapon within this period. The information about the weapon written on the invoice shall be recorded on the license by examining the weapon. Those who fail to apply within the specified period shall be subject to judicial action in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Turkey.

2. Repairs and Modifications to Weapons.

Individuals, institutions, organizations and educational institutions that hold a Weapon Carry/Possession Certificate may have their weapons repaired under the following conditions.

– Operations such as simple repairs, painting, machining and scope mounting on pistols, rifled and smoothbore rifles that have been registered with a license are not subject to authorization. However, for repairs or modifications to be made on the barrel, bolt, frame, extractor, lug, firing pin and mechanism head, which are the main and ballistically important parts of pistols and rifled rifles, an application shall be made to the governorship together with the report issued by the repairer who has a license to open a gun repair shop.

The governorate sends this application together with the weapon to the relevant Criminal Police / Gendarmerie Laboratory. Based on the report to be received from here, permission for repair or modification may be granted by the governorship.

– In the repairs of weapons requiring part changes, the supply of the main parts of the weapons in question from abroad as stated above is subject to the permission of the Ministry. The change deemed necessary to be made on the main parts with the serial number shall be recorded on the new part whose serial number has been changed by the relevant Criminal Police Laboratory.

3. What to do during the transportation of weapons.

Private security guards cannot take firearms out of the duty area except for the exceptions specified in the Law (6136 S.K., 2023). However, if the weapons are to be transferred for reasons such as transfer, sale, donation, repair, training or exam shooting or temporary assignment, it will be requested to issue a weapon and bullet transfer document on behalf of the institution’s weapons officer in order to transfer the weapons and bullets. The reason for the transfer of weapons and ammunition, the title and open address of the place where they are located, the title and open address of the place where they will be transferred, the brand, model, diameter and serial numbers of the weapons and the date of transfer will be clearly stated in the request letter.

4. Principles to be applied in the Transfer, Grant and Sale of Weapons Used in Private Security Services:

Upon the request of the person, institution or organization within the scope of Law No. 5188, upon the termination of the private security practice or the revocation of the private security permit by the governorate, the authorities of the institution, organization or security company managers whose permission to keep and carry weapons has been revoked due to the termination of the private security practice or the revocation of the private security permit by the governorate will be notified in return for signature of the provision of Article 30 of the Regulation titled “Transfer of Weapons and Cartridges” and the Private Security Commission decision regarding the revocation of the private security permit.

With the notification; the six-month period given to those concerned for the transfer, donation or sale of the weapons in accordance with the legislation begins. If the transfer is not realized within this period, the sale, donation and transfer of these weapons will not be possible in the following period. Within two months following the six-month period, the person to whom the weapon belongs must apply for a license in accordance with the Law No. 6136 (6136 S.K., 2023) on behalf of the appropriate persons in the institution / organization.

If there is no application within the two-month period, the weapons will be transferred to the judicial authorities for confiscation and legal proceedings will be initiated against those responsible for violating Law No. 6136.

In the donation transactions to be made by the institutions, the decision of the Board of Directors (In the decision, the serial number, diameter and brand information of the weapons to be donated and where the donation will be made to the “Machinery Chemical Institute Institution (MKE) / General Directorate of Security (EMG)” should be clearly stated.) and the Provincial Special Security Board Decision will be attached, and an Expertise report will be obtained from the Criminal Investigation Department.

After the decision of the Board of Directors is taken, the institution will apply to the General Directorate of Security / MKE Institution that the grant will be made unconditionally and free of charge; with a cover letter clearly stating the diameter, brand and serial number of the weapon.

5. Renewal of Private Security Weapon Carry/Possession Certificates:

Since it is necessary to renew the private security weapon carrying / possession certificates of the weapons kept within the scope of Law No. 5188 in individuals, institutions, organizations and educational institutions;

In order to renew the private security weapon carry / possession certificates, the person responsible for the weapons will be assigned first. For the private security weapon carry / possession documents to be renewed, a cover letter will be written by the relevant unit of the private security company addressed to the Provincial Security Directorate Weapons and Explosive Substances Branch Directorate. In the attachment of this letter, the Private Security Permit Certificate, the provincial private security commission decision, old licenses, newly issued licenses and color photo printouts taken in a way that both sides of the weapons are legible will be attached. While the new carry / possession documents are being issued, care will be taken to ensure that the brand, model and serial numbers of the weapon are issued as written on it.

For example: Brand: Ban-Ser, Model: Bat, Diameter 9 mm, Serial No: T254-9854879521

In the Name of the Organization / Person section on the front of the license, the same title written in the private security permit of the unit will be written. In the event that the persons responsible for the weapon are changed, the weapon carrying/possession permit documents will be replaced. In addition, the documents will be renewed at the end of each five-year period after the date of issue.

If you need more information on the subject, please contact info@globalguardsolutions.com

My sincerest wishes, live safely in good times…

Quotations:

5188 S.K. (2023, 10 1(Circular on Arms Transactions, 2023)6). Retrieved from T.C. Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi: https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuatmetin/1.5.5188.pdf

6136 S.K. (2023, 10 16). Retrieved from T.C. Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi: https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/1.3.6136.pdf

Silah İşlemleri Genelgesi. (2023, 04 25). Retrieved from EGM: https://www.egm.gov.tr/kurumlar/egm.gov.tr/IcSite/ozelguvenlik/Silah-Islemleri-Genelgesi.pdf

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