I have found weapons - what should I do?

According to the provisions of the Estonian Weapons Act, a person who finds a lost, buried, hidden or abandoned weapon or ammunition is obliged to immediately notify the Police Department by calling 112 and to hand over the find, at their location, to the representative of the Police Department who arrives at the place.

The transfer is formalized by an act containing data on the transferred weapon or ammunition, personal data of the finder and location. The Police Department is obliged to ensure the safety of the received weapons and ammunition, as well as their condition, recorded in the acceptance act.

The Police Department publicly announces the found weapons and ammunition within seven working days from the day following the day they were handed over to the Department’s representative. If the owner or possessor of the found weapon or ammunition is not identified within six months from the date of public notice, then the person who found the weapon and ammunition has the right to register ownership of these items.

Within three months from the date of the emergence of ownership of the found property, the owner has the right to:

  • apply for a weapons permit in relation to the acquired weapon;
  • submit application for for rendering the acquired weapon inoperable or determining its compliance with the requirements in force for inoperable weapons;
  • submit application for transfer of the weapons and ammunition in accordance with the procedure established by Weapons Act.

If the person who found the weapon is denied a weapon permit in relation to the weapon found, the weapon and ammunition must transferred within three months from the date of notification of the refusal decision.

Found weapons and ammunition, prohibited in civil turnover, but permitted for collection, may registered in accordance with the procedure established by the Weapons Act to the state or a person who has a valid collection permit.

If the person who found weapons and ammunition does not transfer or register them within three months from the moment the right of ownership arose, then they are subject to expropriation.

KEEP IN MIND:

  1. Never touch the weapon you find!
  2. Immediately contact Police Department by dialing 112
  3. Wait for the policeman to arrive on scene and complete the handout process properly!
  4. Owning, storing or illegal transfer of weapons is a felony!