The Supreme People's Court released new judicial explanations yesterday about the illegal manufacture, trade, transport and storage of guns and explosives. The explanations, which will lead to tougher sentences, come into effect today.
An explanation of Article 125 of China's Criminal Law specifies punishments relating to the illegal production and trade of weapons and explosives.
People who illegally produce, trade, carry or store more than one gun or grenade will be deemed as having violated the Criminal Law under the new explanation, and could face a three-year prison term.
The same punishment will be given to offenders who produce, trade, carry or store more than 1 kilogram of explosives or 10 military-use bullets.
People who help produce or trade guns or explosives will also face punishment.
The new judicial explanations will result in heavier punishment for offenders.
The illegal production, transport, trade or storage of more than five guns, three grenades or 5 kilograms of explosives will be considered a "particularly serious crime" and offenders will be punished more severely.
The explanation, which was the power of law, is widely seen as a signal that the country wants to reinforce its crackdown on the illegal manufacture and trade of guns and explosives.
This follows a series of explosions in Hebei's capital Shijiazhuang, which killed 108 people in March. The principal offender, Jin Ruchao, and three others who helped produce or carry Jin's explosives, were all sentenced to death, although one offender's death sentence was suspended for two years.
(China Daily 05/16/2001)
