Under what circumstances are rangers allowed to use guns?

The case of suspect Do Cuong Minh (Head of the Forest Protection Department of Yen Bai Province) using a gun to shoot and kill the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Yen Bai Province, then committing suicide is causing a stir in public opinion. After a moment of shock, many people have asked the question: How are the forest rangers equipped with guns and in what circumstances are they allowed to use them?

According to Decree 25/2012 of the Government, the Forest Ranger force is equipped with military weapons including pistols, submachine guns and ammunition for these guns.

According to lawyers of the Hanoi Bar Association, Ordinance 16/2011 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the management and use of weapons, explosives and supporting tools (effective from January 1, 2012) and Ordinance 07/2013 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on amending and supplementing a number of articles of Ordinance 16/2011 (effective from March 1, 2014) clearly stated:

Subjects equipped with military weapons include the People's Army; People's Police; Militia; Forest Rangers; Specialized anti-smuggling forces of Customs, Border Customs units; Aviation Security and Fisheries Surveillance forces under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Suspect Do Cuong Minh - Head of Yen Bai Forestry Sub-Department - is believed to have used a gun to shoot dead two leaders of Yen Bai province and then committed suicide.

Also according to Decree 16/2011, the criteria for a weapon user must be of good moral character, in good health, professionally trained and periodically tested on weapon use skills. Among the many prohibited acts for those equipped with military weapons is the prohibited act of abusing the use of weapons, explosives, and support tools to infringe upon the health, life, rights, and legitimate interests of individuals, agencies, and organizations.

Regarding the responsibility of the person assigned weapons, explosives, and support tools:

- First, weapons, explosives, and supporting tools must be used for the right purposes and in accordance with regulations.

- Second, preserve weapons, explosives, and support tools according to the correct regime and procedures, ensuring safety and preventing loss or damage.

- Third is to hand over weapons, explosives, and support tools to the person responsible for management and preservation after completing the task or the assigned period.

According to Decree 25/2012 detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Ordinance on the management and use of weapons, explosives and supporting tools, it is stated that: Military weapons equipped for the Forest Ranger force include: Pistols, submachine guns; ammunition used for these guns...

Forest rangers trained in the use of military weapons (Illustration photo).

Subjects equipped with military weapons and support tools:

Forest Protection Department, Forest Protection Sub-Department of provinces and centrally run cities; Forest Protection Sub-Departments of districts, towns, and cities under provinces; National Park Forest Protection Sub-Departments, Special-use Forest Protection Sub-Departments, Protective Forest Protection Sub-Departments; Regional Forest Protection Sub-Departments, Special Forest Protection Teams, Mobile Forest Protection and Forest Fire Prevention and Fighting Teams; Local Forest Protection Stations, Forest Gate Forest Protection Stations.

The heads of the above agencies and units are responsible for handing over military weapons and support tools to forest rangers who meet the prescribed standards to directly carry out the tasks of patrolling, protecting forests, inspecting and controlling forest products, handling acts of deforestation, encroachment on forests and forest land, and sweeping away illegal logging, buying, selling, transporting, storing, processing, and trading of forest products.

Heads of units with specialized forest protection forces are responsible for assigning support tools to qualified specialized forest protection officers and employees to perform forest protection tasks.

According to Dan Viet