After deadly clashes with government forces for months, demands that new constitutional amendments in the Ukraine include the right for the people to bear arms are growing.
The Ukrainian Gun Owners Association has released a statement saying, "Today every citizen of Ukraine understands why our country has hundreds of thousands of policemen. Last illusions were crushed when riot police used rubber batons and boots at the Independence Square on peaceful citizens. After such actions we realize that it is not enough to only adopt the Gun Law. As of today Ukrainian Gun Owners Association will start to work on the preparation of amendments to the Constitution, which will provide an unconditional right for Ukrainian citizens to bear arms. People should have the right to bear arms, which will be put in written into the Constitution. Authorities should not and will not be stronger than its people! Armed people are treated with respect"
As Robert Heinlein once said, an armed society is a polite society.
Here is one of the proposed amendments from the UGOA. You can read about the rest here, but will need to translate the text first.
Amend Article 27, paragraph four as follows:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of owning a firearm to protect their life and health, housing and property, life and health of other people's constitutional rights and freedoms in the case of usurpation of power , the encroachments on the constitutional order , sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine . Exercising the right to free possession of firearms is governed by applicable law and may be limited only by the court on the individual. "
Currently, gun laws in the Ukraine are categorized as restrictive and only "licensed gun owners may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition." Ukrainians who apply for a firearms license must show "genuine reason" for why they are doing so, which must approved by the State.
H/T Mary Chastain