Page 81 - DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES IN FINLAND

7 PERMITS FOR ACQUISITION AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS
Permits entitling a person to acquire and possess firearms and firearm components are issued by the Police. The following instructions of the Helsinki Police Department are followed when members of mission apply for a permit to acquire or possess a firearm in Finland.
7.1 Firearms Legislation related to Personal Protection
According to Section 43 of the Finnish Firearms Act, a permit for the acquisition of a firearm may be granted for work where a weapon is absolutely necessary. A mere need for, and the usefulness of, a firearm are not alone sufficient grounds for granting the permit. The main rule under the Firearms Act is that the permit may be granted for activities of public authorities only. When applying for an acquisition permit for work duties, the applicant must produce an account stating that he or she, during his or her training or otherwise, has acquired sufficient knowledge of the safe handling of firearms and that he or she has an indispensable need and an acceptable reason for carrying a firearm in his or her work. As a rule, the police require a certificate issued by the applicant’s employer and stating the applicant’s work duties and his or her indispensable need for a firearm for work purposes.
Firearms may be carried only in body guard tasks, in the transportation of valuable goods and in guarding objects of great importance to public interest, when the circumstances of performing the tasks make it absolutely necessary to carry a firearm. An acquisition permit may be granted only for acceptable purposes of use defined by law.
7.2 Acquisition and Possession of Firearms for Hobby and Hunting Activities
According to the Finnish Firearms Act, the acquisition, possession and import to Finland of e.g. firearms is subject to a permit. The provisions applicable to firearms also apply to firearm components.
Permits for acquiring and possessing firearms are applied for from the police department for the applicant’s domicile or place of residence. A person domiciled
81