Legal Mechanisms for Arms Control in Ukraine Amid Emerging Security Threats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57125/FEL.2022.09.25.01Keywords:
weapons, legislation, amendments, public opinion, counteractions, attitudesAbstract
The research aim is to explain the future challenges of legal regulation in the field of arms control in the Ukrainian context. The authors addressed the following research objectives: to analyse citizens’ attitudes towards weapons and its legalization; to present the acceptance of existing legal acts and provide possible amendments; to describe the approaches to adapt legal structures in the field of arms control; to investigate the future challenges of legal regulation of arms control and suggestions for their contractions. The research targeted a diverse sample of the Ukrainian population which included 1215 respondents of voting age. The study was conducted between March and August, 2022 through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. To analyse the data quantitative and qualitative analysis, and integration methods were applied. The findings showed that weapons are essential for national security and protecting against external threats but they rise some concerns. It was revealed that in Ukraine, the legalization of firearms is characterized by a highly regulated framework aimed at balancing civilian access with public safety. It was proved there is significant support among citizens for the strict weapons legalization, reflecting a desire for accurate regulations that ensure responsible ownership while addressing security concerns. It was studied certain amendments to the existing legislation, such as access for self-defense, streamlined licensing, enhanced training, focus on mental health, improved public awareness, modernized safe storage requirements, expanded categories for firearm use, and enhanced data processing. The survey revealed the following future challenges in arms control legislation in Ukraine: technological advancements, cybersecurity threats, cross-border proliferation, geopolitical dynamics, public opinion changes, legislation harmonization, ethical considerations, adapting to new threats. The authors conducted the detailed analysis of possible counteractions to these future challenges. The findings can be implied for the development and adaptation of arms control policies at the national and international level.
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