The Ministry of Public Security held an emergency video conference on Sunday on improving social security maintenance and increasing the seizure of illegal guns.

The meeting came after six people were shot to death in Shanghai on Saturday night.

Huang Ming, the vice-minister, called for a crackdown on gun crime and explosives, as well as a thorough check for any illegal weapons.

Under the Law on the Control of Firearms, no person or business may possess, manufacture, assemble, transport, buy or sell guns or ammunition.

Shotguns are only allowed at hunting grounds approved by provincial governments, for hunters in hunting zones, herdsmen in pasturing areas and for use in wildlife protection, according to the law.

Hunters and herdsmen must apply to police for a permit to keep a shotgun by presenting an ID card and hunting license issued by a county wildlife administrative department. They also must apply to the police for a permit to hold guns for civilian use.

Guns for hunters and herdsmen cannot be carried outside of the hunting zones and pastoral areas, according to the law.

"Shotguns are powerful and can kill people, so China has strict controls," said Li Yunlong, a professor of criminology at Jiangxi Academy of Social Sciences.

However, the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition is not rare, Li said.

Shanghai police destroyed nearly 8 metric tons of illegal guns and explosives in June last year.

Police also handled 27 gun-related cases last year and detained 80 suspects.

- Zhou Wenting

(China Daily USA 06/24/2013 page4)