Section 10 — Purposes of Act

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.