Gandhinagar: Data provided by the state govt on the last day of the budget session of the assembly on Wednesday said there are 4,332 licensed firearms holders in Ahmedabad city and 2,481 in Surat city.In response to a question by MLA Gopal Italia, the govt said that as of Jan 31, 2026, 4,332 persons in Ahmedabad city and 899 people in other parts of Ahmedabad district had firearms licences.Similarly, in Surat city, the number of persons with licensed firearms was 2,481, while there were 401 such persons in other parts of Surat district.In the past one year ending Jan 31, 2026, 141 persons applied for a firearms licence in Ahmedabad city, of which 41 were granted, nine were denied and 74 are pending.In Surat city, in the past one year ending Jan 31, 2026, 74 persons applied for a firearms licence, of which seven were granted, none were denied and 67 are pending.Citing reasons for denying arms licences to applicants, the govt said that in a majority of applications, there is an imaginary fear for one’s safety. In other cases, applicants fail to provide a firearms training certificate from a recognised institution. The reply also said that applications are denied in instances where the applicant has a criminal history.
