One of the most common questions after the unprecedented tragedy when a XNUMX-year-old killed eight students and a guard with a gun at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Belgrade is how the suspected minor got hold of the weapon and how he was so terrifyingly accurate.
Bratislav Gašić, the Minister of Internal Affairs, confirmed that both guns found in the boy's possession belonged to his father and were registered.
"According to unofficial information, KK went to the shooting range together with his father," Gašić said.
The age limit, that is, the age of majority, for the possession of weapons is provided By the Law on Arms and Ammunition, but not for its use.
"It follows that the law does not regulate the age barrier for shooting range users either.
"The owners of shooting ranges can determine their internal rules that would prohibit access to minors," says Nenad Cvjetićanin, managing partner at the law firm Cvjetićanin and partners, for the BBC in Serbian.
The BBC in Serbian tried to get an answer from the owners of a dozen registered shooting ranges, but most of them refused to speak at a time like this and that, as they said, "they are poking a finger in the eye".
A few of them, however, said that, as stated on their websites, they do not accept minors in shooting ranges.
U newly proposed measures, the Government of Serbia has announced, among other things, increased control over the operation of shooting ranges in the next three months.
"After that, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, within a month, regulations will be drawn up on the conditions and manner of using shooting ranges, such as banning access to minors." the government announced.
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The Shooting Association of Serbia points out that the domestic law on weapons does not differ from those in other countries.
"Even our Law on Arms and Ammunition is very rigorous in relation to foreign countries," says Nenad Petković, General Secretary of the Shooting Association of Serbia, for the BBC in Serbian.
He adds that minors use weapons in shooting sports all over the world and take part in national and international competitions, "of course, with the assumptions of safety and the constant supervision of coaches".
"The internal rule in the association is that minors are not allowed to use large-caliber weapons, even for competition purposes, but only air ammunition and small-caliber rifles and pistols," explains Petković.
Minors who are not athletes are not allowed to shoot at the association's shooting ranges, even if their parents bring them, he emphasizes.
"We can give the child an air rifle because it is allowed by law.
"The law allows him to shoot with a large-caliber weapon, but we don't want to enforce that," Petković points out.
That's how it is in shooting ranges and clubs in the system and under the auspices of the Shooting Association of Serbia, he says.
An unprecedented tragedy
Upon arrest, two pistols, several cartridges and four Molotov cocktails were found with the suspected student.
The weapon was registered to his father, who has since been detained and claims that the guns were locked in a safe and under a code.
Veselin Milić, head of the Belgrade police, said that the crime was committed with a nine-millimeter pistol, and that a small-caliber pistol was also found in the backpack.
Vladimir Barović, a weapons expert and professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, says that it is the so-called "Czech zbrojevka".
"It is a powerful and dangerous weapon that has a capacity of 18 rounds.
"It is used for competitions, but also for combat use in special units," he explains to the BBC in Serbian.
The gun is specially designed to be drawn and removed quickly, and to stay in the hand so that it cannot slip out, he says.
"This weapon weighs 1.318 grams, which is very heavy for a pistol.
"It has a lot of recoil and it looks like the student knew how to use it," he says.
Barović believes that someone had to teach him how to aim, how to insert a bullet into the barrel and how to fire and release.
"One cannot learn these actions through YouTube.
"It's like telling you how to drive a car in theory, but when you sit in the car, the difference is like heaven and earth," explains Barović.
Petković also says that the suspected student, according to available information, "shot very accurately".
"I don't know how he got that experience."
Barović emphasizes that professional shooting ranges have internal rules that do not allow the use of weapons by minors.
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Petković from the Shooting Association of Serbia points out that pioneers, cadets and juniors use small-caliber and air weapons, "exclusively under the supervision of trainers".
"They cannot independently carry out the training process or the competition," says Petković.
Those who engage in shooting sports, regardless of age, go for a medical examination every six months.
"To the medical board, psychological diagnosis is important precisely because of the specificity of our sport, and it serves as a preventive measure.
"Girls and boys start this sport when they are around 10-11 years old," he says.
Successes in this discipline would not have been achieved, he believes, if training had started later.
"But in my long career, I don't remember that any of the children who were involved in shooting sports ever used weapons for any purpose other than sports shooting," says Petković.
How do shooting ranges work?
Every shooting range must have a use permit and receive a positive opinion from the Ministry of the Interior.
"They control all the conditions that the shooting range must meet in terms of safety, storage of weapons, ammunition and personnel.
"Ballistic protection measures are extremely strict, that is, to prevent projectiles from ricocheting and injuring range users," explains Petković.
Every shooting range should also have house rules.
Petković explains that it says that the instructor can remove anyone he deems not to use firearms.
"Range ranges also have shooting diaries, in which they write down who came, what they shot with, and how many bullets they used.
"This applies to both athletes and visitors who came recreationally," he explains.
Every shooting range should also have house rules that stipulate that the instructor can remove anyone he deems not to use a firearm.
"Range ranges also have shooting diaries, in which they write down who came, what they shot with, and how many bullets they used.
"This applies to both athletes and visitors who came recreationally," he explains.
Who can have guns?
In the Law on Weapons and Ammunition, weapons are divided into four categories.
Category B includes all proper and modern firearms, except mine-explosive devices, automatic short and long weapons, weapons hidden in other objects and those with a silencer.
Lawyer Nenad Cvjetićanin explains that category B weapons can be acquired and held by natural persons under the following conditions:
- that they are of legal age
- that they are citizens of Serbia or permanent resident foreigners
- that they are medically fit to hold and carry weapons
- that they were not legally sentenced to prison for certain criminal acts
- that they have not been legally punished in the last four years for offenses in the field of public order and peace for which a prison sentence is prescribed
- on the basis of a security-operational check in the place of residence, place of residence, place of work, and that their behavior does not indicate that they will pose a danger to themselves or others and public order and peace
- that they are trained to handle firearms
- that they have conditions for safe accommodation and storage of weapons (safe or safe with key or code)
- as well as having a valid reason for doing so
Cvjetićanin says that "citizens can request a license for category B weapons for personal security".
"They must make it likely that their personal safety could be threatened due to the nature of the job or other circumstances," the lawyer states.
He adds that a permit can also be requested for hunting weapons of category B upon submission of proof that they meet the requirements for holding a hunting license.
A permit for sporting weapons can be obtained "with a certificate of active membership in a sporting shooting organization," explains Cvjetićanin.
It is estimated that citizens in the Balkans have nine times more weapons than the army and police, and in terms of the amount of weapons per capita, Serbia and Montenegro lead, the global Small arms survey (Small Arms Survey) from 2018.
According to that research, Serbia and Montenegro share the third place in the world, behind the USA and Yemen, in terms of the number of weapons in the hands of civilians.
Report of the Belgrade Center for Security Policy shows that 90 percent of all weapons in the Balkans are in the hands of citizens.
It is estimated that there are 100 weapons per 30 inhabitants, while in Serbia and Montenegro there are 100 pieces of light weapons per 40 inhabitants.
How are weapons stored at home?
The Law on Arms and Ammunition stipulates that owners have the obligation to keep weapons in a special safe, that is, a safe, which has a key and code.
Vladimir Barović explains that weapons must be separated from ammunition.
"Ammunition is kept in a special compartment inside the chest for storing weapons, also locked, and the weapon must not be in the position in which it is used, precisely for the reason that no one could misuse it," Barović points out.
He adds that weapons should only be used where they are intended: "hunters in the hunting grounds, sports shooters on the shooting range, in controlled conditions, together with instructors, where there are safety measures."
"Even people who deal with weapons all their lives have the chance that the gun goes off accidentally, which can have fatal consequences," warns Barović.
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Petković clearly emphasizes that gun owners who have children must additionally provide for them.
"Children can be curious and want to brag in front of their friends, and anything can happen there," says the General Secretary of the Shooting Association of Serbia.
Barović points out that children and those who do not have the right to access weapons should not be encouraged to disassemble, assemble and clean them.
"You shouldn't play with weapons, and I especially emphasize our famous šenlučenje when celebrating religious holidays, New Year, Christmas and when alcohol is consumed.
"You shouldn't even show your weapon, because, as the old saying goes, even an empty gun can fire," warns Barović.
The day when Belgrade fell silent:
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