The people of every country have their own social traditions and customs which they would like to see preserved and protected. In parts of the Kingdom, the local population value their customs inherited from their ancestors and would not hesitate to protect them at any cost. The habit of carrying weapons, whether traditional or modern firearms, is one such custom.
These people consider possessing a piece of weaponry as something complementary to their personality and a necessary symbol of manhood. They treat this as a priority that has to be met, no matter what.
As there are no licensed firearm dealers in the country, some resort to illegally buying these weapons from smugglers at extremely high prices. The money entices and encourages smugglers to increase their trade in the hope of generating more income, which means that more illegal weapons enter the country.
Owning a weapon can sometimes be necessary for self-defense against the bad elements found in every society. One Hadith encourages parents to teach their children the use of weapons along with swimming and horse riding.
I have two suggestions here. First, the Ministry of the Interior should sell all weapons confiscated from smugglers and saboteurs to members of the public who wish to acquire such weapons. The proceeds from this could then be used by the ministry to help the needy, especially the insolvent prisoners who are waiting behind bars unable to settle their debts.
Second, the ministry should seriously consider giving licenses to some for the import and sale of light weapons and ammunition under strict regulations. This would definitely reduce and hopefully end the flow of illegal weapons into the country.
