Jailed for buying guns online for… self-defense.
Duong Van Du bought guns and ammunition online for self-defense. Notably, the defendant has a bad criminal record, having been repeatedly sentenced to prison and fined for the illegal use and possession of narcotics.
On June 10th, the Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a trial session for defendant Duong Van Du (born in 1996), residing in Nghi Thuy ward, Vinh City, on charges of...Illegal possession of military weapons..
Duong Van Du is a defendant with a bad criminal record, having been repeatedly sentenced to prison and fined for administrative violations. Specifically, Du has been fined four times for the illegal use and possession of narcotics.
In addition, Du had previously been sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for illegally trafficking narcotics and 16 months of suspended imprisonment for disturbing public order.
Regarding the case, according to the indictment, in 2024, through social media, Du contacted and ordered a revolver and five bullets from an unknown person for 2 million VND. After receiving the gun and bullets, Du hid them in his house.
On the morning of January 22, 2025, the task force of Nghi Thuy Ward Police, Vinh City, conducted an inspection and worked with Du regarding his drug rehabilitation situation.
During the investigation, Du realized he had committed other crimes, so he voluntarily went into the bedroom, retrieved the gun, and handed it over to the police.
At the trial, the defendant testified that he bought the gun and ammunition for self-defense. When questioned by the court about whether he had any conflicts with anyone that led him to buy the gun, as it is a violation of the law, the defendant replied: "I bought it to keep it."
The defendant cited difficult family circumstances, including the death of his father, to request the court to consider mitigating circumstances and reduce his sentence.
The panel of judges determined that the defendant's actions were dangerous to society, directly violating social order and safety, infringing on state regulations regarding the production and management of military weapons, threatening political security and social order, and negatively impacting and harming social life in many aspects, therefore requiring strict punishment.
However, mitigating circumstances for the defendant, such as self-confession and having family members who rendered meritorious service to the revolution, should also be considered.
After considering all aspects of the case, the panel of judges sentenced Vuong Van Du to 24 months in prison for the crime of illegally possessing military weapons.
