Türkiye to increase penalties for unlicensed firearms, emergency light misuse - Türkiye Today

Justice and Development Party (AK Party) lawmakers are set to submit a legislative proposal to the Turkish Parliament that would increase penalties for unlicensed firearm possession and unauthorized use of emergency lights.

This proposal, prepared under the leadership of AK Party Group Chair Abdullah Guler, includes amendments aimed at enhancing public safety and addressing discrepancies in enforcement.

The draft legislation seeks to amend existing laws to impose stricter prison sentences for carrying and possessing unlicensed firearms. Under the proposed changes:

In addition, those involved in the sale, transport, or importation of key firearm components like barrels, triggers, and firing mechanisms would also face prison time under the new regulations.

The proposed law also targets the unauthorized use of emergency lights and sirens, known as “cakar” and rooftop lights, often used to mimic official vehicles:

According to regulations introduced in 2019, only certain vehicles are authorized to use emergency lights or light bars. These include:

The proposal includes measures to address disparities in the administrative and working conditions of the coastguard, gendarmeris and police personnel. The amendments seek to ensure uniform standards and improve operational consistency across various security branches.

The proposal is expected to be submitted to the Turkish Parliament this week. According to sources within the AK Party, extensive collaboration between the Ministry of Interior and security experts has helped shape the proposal to align with national security and safety goals.