§ 10 — Purposes of Act

10. The purposes of this Act are —(a)

to prohibit the possession, handling and use of guns, major parts of a gun, gun accessories, explosives, explosive precursors, weapons and noxious substances except in special circumstances because any possession, handling and use of any of these objects or things is a privilege that is conditional on the overriding need to ensure public safety;

(b)

to ensure public safety —(i)

by imposing strict controls on the possession, handling and use of guns, major parts of a gun, gun accessories, explosives, explosive precursors, weapons and noxious substances; and

(ii)

by promoting the safe, secure and responsible carrying on of regulated activities involving guns, major parts of a gun, gun accessories, explosives, explosive precursors, weapons and noxious substances;

(c)

to confirm that persons authorised to carry on any regulated activity have a responsibility to act in the interests of personal and public safety; and

(d)

to implement Singapore’s obligations under the MARPLEX Convention and any other international convention, agreement, or understanding relating to handling of guns and explosives to which Singapore is a party.