Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement Activity (the People's Front faction) Anton Gerashchenko believes that the issue of permitting public use of handguns can be resolved through a consultative referendum.

"To date, there is no complete agreement in parliament on what this law [on the use of handguns] should be like. The stumbling block is the question of handguns - pistols, revolvers, etc... Someone says 'let's also permit the use of handguns so that everyone could carry them in the streets,'" Gerashchenko said in an interview with Ukraine's Channel 5 late on Monday, January 29.

He said that he was ready to support such an initiative, but after a consultative referendum is held among citizens.

"I am ready to support this only if a consultative referendum is held and most Ukrainian citizens say 'yes, let's do it.'"

According to the MP, a hunting weapon is enough to protect someone's residence.