Firearm ownership law in China

Firearm ownership law in the People's Republic of China heavily regulates the ownership of firearms. Generally, private citizens are not allowed to possess firearms.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties matchlock muskets were used in China. The Chinese used the term "bird-gun" to refer to muskets.

In the work Guangdong xinyu, Cantonese scholar Qu Dajun recorded the use of guns by Cantonese boys in Guangdong province.

The Solons were ordered by the Qianlong Emperor to stop using rifles and instead practice traditional archery issuing an edict for silver taels to be issued for guns to turned over to the government.

Arrows and bows instead of muskets were also demanded in Jilin of Manchu Bannermen by the Jiaqing Emperor.

"The Family Magazine" stated in 1837 that

The possession of firearms is altogether forbidden by the jealous government, as may be seen from the following extract from a Peking gazette:—" For the people to have firearms in their possession, is contrary to law, and orders have already been issued to each provincial government to fix a period, within which all matchlocks belonging to individuals should be bought up at a valuation With regard to those firearms which are in immediate use for the safeguard of the country, the said governour has already directed the proper officers to carve on every matchlock the name of the person to whom it is delivered, and to preserve a general register of the whole. Let the governour also give strict charge to make diligent search, and prevent the illicit storing up of firearms for the future ; and let the workers in iron be rigidly looked after, lest they clandestinely manufacture and sell them ; the evil may thus be cut off in its commencement. Those officers who have made full and complete musters within the limited period, the governour is directed to notice properly as an encouragement to others." Those Chinese near Canton, who employ themselves in shooting wild-fowl for sale, are said to belong mostly to the militia of the province.

During the New Policies Reform era of the late Qing, the government allowed the ordinary civilians to own firearms (matchlock or modern foreign gun) for self-defense. This policy lasted until the foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

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