Taiwan Lawmaker's Rifle Protest: New Gun Storage Rules Spark Controversy

Indigenous Councilor Lahuy Ipin Challenges Central Government Regulations at New Taipei City Council

Taipei, Taiwan – April 30: In a striking demonstration of dissent, Indigenous lawmaker Lahuy Ipin brought his hunting rifle to a New Taipei City Council meeting on Tuesday, protesting against recently announced, stricter gun storage regulations by the central government.

Lahuy Ipin, representing the Atayal people from Wulai District, held the rifle during a question session with New Taipei Police Commissioner Liao Hsun-cheng and Indigenous Peoples Department head Siku Yaway. The weapon was displayed in a non-threatening manner.

He began by clarifying that he was licensed to own the weapon, which was legally registered, and believed no law explicitly forbade him from bringing it into the city council chambers. He further stated that he would accept any legal repercussions if his actions were deemed illegal.

The Indigenous city councilor voiced his concerns over the new regulations, enacted by the central government on March 15, which dictate how Indigenous people store their hunting rifles. He inquired whether the New Taipei City government was prepared for the changes.

Under the revised rules, individually stored Indigenous hunting rifles must be kept in an iron safe equipped with an alarm and surveillance video camera, according to Lahuy Ipin.

For rifles stored in centralized facilities, the regulations specify that the structure must be made of reinforced concrete, be guarded 24 hours a day, and include security cameras, humidity control, and fire safety equipment, Lahuy Ipin explained.

He highlighted that these requirements are often "difficult to meet" in many Indigenous villages.

Lahuy Ipin urged the New Taipei government to take proactive measures concerning the new regulations, especially those governing centralized storage. He suggested that city officials visit Indigenous communities to explain the changes and assist them in reaching a consensus on tribal funding, which is crucial for compliance.

In response, Liao stated he would discuss the issue with the National Police Agency and subsequently develop relevant plans for New Taipei.

Lahuy Ipin noted that there are currently 210 hunting rifles registered to Indigenous owners in New Taipei. These rifles must be stored within an Indigenous area but can be temporarily stored at a police station in a non-Indigenous area during emergencies, he said.

Taiwanese law permits Indigenous people, who constitute about 2.5 percent of the population, to use homemade rifles for hunting, as part of their traditional culture.

However, in a notable 2021 case, the Constitutional Court upheld laws that restrict Indigenous hunters to using only homemade weapons and prohibit them from hunting protected animal species.