Top court urges harsh penalties for crimes involving firearms

China's top court has released six notable cases involving firearms, demonstrating the judicial commitment and efforts to strongly safeguard public security and facilitate the construction of a high-level safe China.

These cases delineate the boundaries of illegal behavior and will help raise the public's awareness about the risks of firearm-related offenses, the Supreme People's Court said in a statement, urging courts nationwide to impose harsh penalties for such crimes.

In recent years, the modification of nail guns into firearms has become relatively common in some regions, with some areas even witnessing heinous crimes involving killing and injury using such modified weapons, the top court said, adding that these incidents posed significant safety risks and caused severe social harm.

It noted that the disclosure of these landmark cases is to fully utilize the deterrent effect of criminal punishments, actively eliminate firearm-related hazards and promote a broad consensus on the strict control of guns, ammunition and explosives.

It emphasized the need to strengthen the management of firearms, ammunition and explosives, as they are directly related to public security, social stability, the safety of people's lives and property, and the long-term peace of the nation.