Since 1976, however, the situation changed drastically.
From then on, a hunter, who was willing to purchase a shotgun, had to gain a permit from the local Militia department.
To obtain the permit, the hunter had to prove that he?she^
- was a member of a Hunter's Unions with the right to hunt;
- had no criminal record;
- had ho history of mental deseases and alcohol or drug abuse;
- had no record of disorderly к aggressive behaviour;
- had the proper conditions for storing the shotgun (a metal box, with a lock, and a separate compartment for ammuntion, also lockable)
All hunters who got their guns before 1976 had to register those under the procedure described above. The license to keep and bear a shotgun had to be renewed every 5 years. The rules did not originally limit the number of guns one could own - but the officers in charge had unwritten orders to try and keep the "1 hunter - 1 gun" ratio.
These rules are essentially active until today, with minor changes (like now, if you want to have more than 5 shotguns you must have a collector's license).
