More weapons among the dead than among the living

The purchase of legal weapons could also reduce the amount of weapons owned by citizens, say members of the Council for Citizen Control of Police Work, adding that data from the registry shows serious differences between weapons accompanied by valid documentation and weapons whose owners have since passed away.

They considered the actions of Police Directorate officers and the application of police powers, in light of actions to control weapons in the possession of the population, which was particularly reaffirmed after the mass murder on January 1, 2025 in Cetinje.

According to data available to "Vijesti", on September 19, 111.768 weapons were registered in Montenegro (including deceased owners), while on September 30, 2025, 47.795 weapons were registered with living persons with valid permits to possess and/or carry.

The Council praised the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) for making the effort to provide detailed data that categorizes weapons by type and their owners by age, gender, etc.

This body concluded that data from the weapons registry show serious differences between weapons accompanied by valid, current documentation and weapons owned by deceased persons.

According to the submitted data, a total of 16.048 living citizens have a license to own and carry weapons, most of them in the age group over 65.

"The Council for Citizens' Control of Police Work was provided with data that a total of 16.048 (living) citizens have a license to own and carry weapons. Of these, 514 are men and 8 are women aged 18 to 25. Possession and carrying weapons are also permitted for 1.970 men and 38 women aged 25 to 35. Possession and carrying weapons are permitted for 3.149 men and 71 women aged 35 to 45. When it comes to the age group of 45 to 55, 3.589 men and 67 women have a license to own and carry weapons. A total of 2.936 men and 30 women aged 55 to 65 have a license to own and carry weapons. Exactly 3.650 men and only 26 women over 65 have a license to own and carry weapons," the Council's Recommendations state.

When it comes to owning a weapon alone, a total of 16.201 living citizens have a license, and in this category too, those over 65 are in the lead - 8.185 men and 262 women.

Fourteen men aged 18 to 25 have such a permit, as do 189 men and 17 women aged 25 to 35, and 600 men and 33 women aged 35 to 45, while among citizens aged 45 to 55, 2.408 men and 95 women have a firearms license.

"Regarding the Council's interest in the regime of possession and carrying weapons and the mere possession of weapons, the Ministry of the Interior announced the situation that as of September 30, 2025, there were 27.925 weapons for living persons who have a valid document for possession and carrying weapons, or 19.870 weapons accompanied by a valid weapons certificate for possession of weapons (also living persons), which is a total of 47.795 weapons," the documents of that body state.

The Council recommended that the Ministry of the Interior be ordered to check how persons aged 25 and under are subject to the regime of possessing and carrying weapons and whether this is justified.

"The Council was interested in the information, considering it important for further research of various kinds, what are the motives and reasons, beyond professional ones, for people of that age and background to find themselves in a situation of holding and carrying weapons," the documents state.

This body was also provided with data that on September 30, 1.910 active weapons were registered in Montenegro to legal entities, based on weapons possession permits.

"Data on the number of weapons in the possession of the Ministry of the Interior as a whole, including the Police Directorate, was not provided, or this was not emphasized in the documentation."

The Council members explain that after the mass murder in Cetinje on January 1, 2025, the Government and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) intensified weapons control measures and activities, and that, in this light, the Council decided to intensify monitoring and analysis of policies and practices throughout the year, in order to consider the concrete results and effects of police and other activities on overall security in the country.

They explain that increased civilian surveillance was introduced to prevent the relativization of the tragic events in Cetinje, and that they monitored the fulfillment of the political promise to enact a new Weapons Law and a possible increase in administrative fees for the acquisition, possession and use of weapons, including hunting and sports shooting.

"The Ministry of Interior announced that the draft Law on Weapons and Ammunition is in the final stage of development (October 15, 2025), that is, in the process of harmonization with other departments and the Secretariat for Legislation. After that, the opinion of the European Commission will be requested. The Ministry of Interior also claims that an initiative was sent to the Ministry of Finance to amend the Law on Administrative Fees in a way that would increase the amounts of the prescribed fees. They announce that they will send a 'new initiative' on the same occasion 'immediately' upon the adoption of the new Law on Weapons and Ammunition, which also provides for new weapons documents in relation to the existing regulations," the Council's Recommendations state.

They also state that the Ministry of Interior informed them that in June 2025, they sent a proposal for amendments to the Criminal Code to the European Commission for its opinion, which would tighten the minimum prison sentences for unauthorized possession and carrying of weapons.

According to data submitted to the Council, in the campaign "Respect life, return weapons", in the period from January 2 to September 20, 2025, citizens surrendered 3.876 weapons and 116.256 pieces of ammunition.

The Council assessed that the Minister of Internal Affairs Danilo Šaranović demonstrated responsibility and openness in mutual discussion, exchange of data and opinions on perceived challenges, problems and how weapons surrender could increase in the future.

They also stated that they agreed that it is crucial to improve legal solutions that will more strictly define the criteria for owning and carrying weapons.

"In this regard, the Council also recommends strengthening the capacities of regional units and branches for civil status and personal documents. They are responsible for conducting procedures and deciding on requests for issuing weapons documents, as well as initiating procedures to confiscate weapons from persons who no longer meet the requirements. Strengthening capacities and establishing a proactive approach can further strengthen checks on whether persons who are in the regime of possessing and carrying weapons or only possessing weapons are also registered on any grounds, including domestic violence, violence against women, disturbance of public order and peace, as well as through other records kept by the Police Directorate. It is particularly important to ensure effective action on the initiatives of the Police Directorate to initiate procedures to determine whether the conditions for possession of weapons are met and their confiscation and information about initiated criminal or misdemeanor proceedings, especially for violence against women and in the family, disturbance of public order and peace, etc.", the Council states.

More than a thousand weapons seized

From January 1 to September 19, 2025, 2.570 searches of apartments and other premises were carried out at the level of Montenegro, almost 200 people and 164 motor vehicles were searched.

Data from the Council for Civilian Control of Police Work show that 1.029 weapons were seized - 817 firearms, 168 gas weapons, 61 air weapons, as well as 44.927 pieces of ammunition of various calibers.

"Of the total number of firearms seized, 180 were in illegal possession," the conclusion reads.

It was explained that 476 weapons were seized during a search of the apartment and other premises, and 14 weapons were seized during a search of the vehicle.

"47 weapons were seized from incidents related to domestic violence, 45 were seized at the request of the competent state authority, while 16 weapons were seized in incidents related to murder, attempted murder or suicide."

"In the same observed period, the police's civil surveillance was informed that 190 criminal reports were filed against 223 persons who committed 219 criminal offenses (KD) of illegal possession and carrying of weapons and explosives and one KD of illegal trafficking in weapons and explosives," the Council's conclusion states.

Members of that body assessed that the activities of the Police Department, undertaken in 2025, were intensive, responsible and serious, contributing to the mitigation of numerous risks, various operational successes, the suppression of crime and the improvement of overall security.

"Some members of the Council have clearly indicated that, as in any stable and rule-of-law state, every citizen of Montenegro who meets the criteria has a constitutional, legal and legitimate right to self-defense for the purpose of protecting their life, health and integrity of themselves and their family," the Council's Recommendations state.

Čelebić: I insisted on launching a weapons buyback campaign

The President of the Council for Civilian Control of Police Work, attorney Zoran Čelebić, said that this is the first step in communicating the Council's views and assessments regarding the actions and activities of the Police Directorate and the authorities as a whole regarding the mass crime in Cetinje and the institutional actions thereafter.

"With the specific recommendation, we focused on the political promises made to improve legal regulations that directly contribute to security in society. We discussed and considered various solutions that the authorities can use to improve gun control in Montenegro. I particularly insisted on the initiative to launch a campaign to buy weapons from citizens that are in legal possession," Čelebić told "Vijesti".

He said that, along with strengthening institutions and public trust in them, we need to think about how to achieve more effective results if we want to disarm this area.

"The data clearly shows that a part of the population does not show an active relationship and any particular interest in the weapons they own. This may represent one of a number of possibilities to reduce the amount of weapons in the public's possession, whose previous primary owners are no longer among the living," he said.

Čelebić emphasizes that the presented data from the weapons registry speak of serious differences between weapons accompanied by valid, current documentation and weapons whose owners have since passed away.

"Certain results of the Ministry of the Interior and the Police Directorate, such as searches of apartments and vehicles, are worthy of respect and support, and it is clear that they are not the result of populist policies and approaches, but rather of consistent and continuous action," he concluded.