Under what circumstances are militia members permitted to use firearms?

When performing duties related to maintaining political security, social order and safety, and protecting forests, militia and self-defense forces are authorized to use firearms in certain specific circumstances.

In some cases, militia members are authorized to open fire. (Illustrative image.)

Article 5 of Government Decree No. 74/2010/ND-CP dated July 12, 2010. Accordingly, when performing duties to maintain political security, social order and safety, and protect forests, militia and self-defense forces have the right to open fire in the following cases:

- By order of the Minister of National Defence, the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, the Commander of the Military Region, the Commander of the Navy and equivalent, or commanders at all levels when authorized;

- When performing duties such as protecting targets, patrolling borders, seas, and islands, and accurately detecting the enemy on land, at sea, or in the air, militia and self-defense forces are entitled to open fire according to regulations of the Ministry of National Defense;

- After applying measures such as propaganda, explanation, deterrence, and using supporting tools, but the subject still does not comply, or in cases where there are no other measures to prevent the subject from committing acts that directly threaten the lives of law enforcement officers and citizens;

- Exercising legitimate self-defense as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 15, Criminal Code No. 15/1999/QH10;

- The use of firearms, as stipulated in Clauses 2, 3, and 4 of Article 5 of Decree No. 74/2010/ND-CP, must be carried out in three steps: Warning shot, wound shot, and lethal shot.

According to the People's Army Newspaper