Firearms in the Hands of Civilians: A Potential Threat to National Security or a Key to the Resilient Society

The article analyzes the issue of firearms possession by civilians through the prism of the key national interests defined by law as objects of protection by the State.These interests are: the protection of state sovereignty, territorial integrity, democratic constitutional order and safe living conditions for citizens.The authors argue that the state weapons policy and national security policy should be formed with due regard to the possibility of involving civilians who own firearms in the protection of Ukraine's main national interests.On the one hand, as the article emphasizes, a large number of legal firearms owners, civilians, can be viewed as an additional factor of the society and the state's resilience to threats to its aforementioned national interests.On the other hand, the risks of widespread proliferation of firearms among civilians should be considered.The article examines the issues related to how the participation of armed civilians in the defense of state sovereignty, territorial integrity, ensuring safe living conditions and democratic constitutional order correlates with the state's monopoly on the use of force.Based on the analysis of the legislation, the article substantiates that not only security and defense forces, but also civilians can participate in the protection of national interests, in particular, the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, from threats.The authors of the article outline possible forms of involvement of armed civilians in the national resistance.1(1) 2024 34The article analyzes the right of the people to rebellion as the last resort for the protection of human rights and the democratic constitutional order by civilians, as well as the possible impact of the presence or absence of arms among civilians on the course and outcome of the rebellion.The right of the people to rebel and their defense of the democratic constitutional order is examined on the example of the events of the Revolution of Dignity.In addition, the article raises the question of whether the state can cope with ensuring safe living conditions for citizens, one of the national interests, and whether it can provide more opportunities for self-defense to civilians through an appropriate weapons policy.The authors also review current political and public debates, including in the legislature of Ukraine, as well as expert opinions on the possibilities of civilian firearms ownership and the impact of liberalization of weapons policy on the protection of Ukraine's national interests.As a result of the analysis, the authors of the article conclude that the formation of an effective and comprehensive state policy on arms trafficking in Ukraine requires in-depth discussions, sociological research, and study of the experience of other countries, taking into account current and potential threats to national security.The results of these efforts will help to properly define the content of the policy, which will be in line with the principles of democratic governance and will help to protect Ukraine's national interests.