Budanov spoke out against the widespread legalization of firearms for civilians
Kirill Budanov, Head of the Office of the President, stated that unrestricted access to firearms for civilians does not provide real protection, but only leads to new tragedies.
The head of the Presidential Office voiced his position during the 18th Kyiv Security Forum, commenting on discussions surrounding citizens’ right to self-defense using firearms.
According to Budanov, the idea of mass distribution of weapons is misguided and dangerous for the stability of society.
“It has never worked and will not work now in Ukraine. There are always two sides to this. First, yes, there is a supposed illusion of protection,” the head of the Office of the President emphasized.
He stressed that with a large number of weapons in the hands of the population, the risks of new incidents with fatal consequences increase exponentially.
According to Budanov: “Incidents like the ones everyone saw a few days ago could become many times more frequent under such circumstances.”
In particular, the official alluded to the high-profile terrorist attack in Kyiv on April 18, which claimed the lives of seven people.
It was precisely after this shooting that the issue of revising legislation on short-barreled firearms resurfaced in government circles; however, Budanov considers such a step premature and risky.
The head of the Presidential Office is convinced that the free circulation of weapons during the active phase of the war could lead to unpredictable consequences for public safety.
In his view, rather than providing a mythical sense of security, legalization would create the conditions for an increase in domestic armed conflicts.
Budanov stated that Ukraine cannot freely sell weapons during the war
Budanov personally participated in special operations on Russian territory
