Jailed for buying a gun online for self-defense

On June 10, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a trial for defendant Duong Van Du (born 1996), residing in Nghi Thuy ward, Vinh city, for the crime ofIllegal possession of military weapons.

Duong Van Du is a defendant with a bad personal history, having been sentenced to prison and administratively punished many times. Accordingly, Du has been administratively punished 4 times for illegal use and possession of drugs.

In addition, Du was also sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for illegal drug trafficking and 16 months suspended sentence for disturbing public order.

Regarding the case, according to the indictment, in 2024, through social networks, Du contacted and ordered a pistol (revolver) and 5 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 working group of Nghi Thuy Ward Police, Vinh City inspected and worked with Du on the drug rehabilitation situation.

During the investigation, Du realized that he had committed other crimes, so he voluntarily went into the bedroom, took out a gun and handed it over to the police.

At the trial, the defendant stated that he bought the gun and ammunition for self-defense purposes. When asked by the court if he had any conflicts with anyone and bought the gun because it was a violation of the law, the defendant replied: "I bought it to keep it there."

The defendant presented his difficult family circumstances and father's death to ask the court to consider reducing his sentence.

The panel of judges determined that the defendant's actions were dangerous to society, directly violating social order and safety, violating State regulations on the production and management of military weapons, threatening political security and social order and safety, negatively affecting and causing harm in many aspects to social life, so it should be strictly handled.

However, it is also necessary to consider mitigating circumstances for the defendant such as self-confession and family members with revolutionary contributions.

Considering the case as a whole, the People's Court sentenced Vuong Van Du to 24 months in prison for the crime of illegal possession of military weapons.