ABHA: Governor of Baha Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz has approved the formation of a committee to collect bids to open gun shops in the southern region, said Mishaal Sawadi, director of the Department of Arms and Ammunitions.
Sawadi said the committee consists of officials from the police, the General Investigations and Prosecution Board and the Baha governorate.
“The door is still open for those who want to open gun stores,” said Sawadi, adding that the governorate granted 20,000 gun licenses since the carrying of arms was made legal in the Kingdom recently.
Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif granted permission to open gun shops in various regions of the Kingdom in a bid to curb the illegal smuggling and trading of arms.
Sawadi said three gun shops will be opened in the areas of Baljurashi, Baha and Al-Makhwah.
He added that under Ministry of Interior conditions anyone wanting a license to open an arms shop should be at least 25 years old, have no criminal record, provide a bank guarantee of SR500,000, have a suitable place to store arms, have the approval of the authority to import firearms and employ Saudis trained in selling guns.
The Saudi wishing to carry arms should not be younger than 21, medically fit and have no criminal record.
