Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
European Commission. 2014 ‘Bulgaria.’ Study to Support an Impact Assessment on Options for Combatting Illicit Firearms Trafficking in the European Union, p. 163. Luxembourg: Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services. 1 July
Relevant contents
Provision on the criminalisation of illicit firearms trafficking: Bulgaria
Under Articles 156-212 of the new Law [Law on Arms, Ammunitions, Explosive Substances and Pyrotechnical Articles of 2012] in cases of violations fines may be imposed from 100 to 2500 euro, property sanctions from 500 to 15,000 euro and withdrawal of the issued license for manufacture, acquisition or trade with SALW up to 1 year. In case of a repetitive infringement property sanction up to 25,000 euro and withdrawal of the issued license up to 2 years can be imposed.
Articles 338 and 339 of the Penal Code were amended in 2010 imposing more severe punishments concerning safety precautions, occurrence of average or severe bodily injury or death, or a substantial damages of a property. The terms of imprisonment have been prolonged with regard to acquisition, keeping, submission, alienation, or taking explosives, firearms or munitions without due permit.
According to Article 338 a person who "manufactures, processes, repairs, works out, stores, trades, carries, imports or exports explosives, firearms, chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or munitions without having the right according to a law or a permit by the respective body of the authority, or does not carry it out according to the given permit, shall be punished by imprisonment of one to six years".
[SALW = Small Arms and Light Weapons]