They use firearms in public places, although they often do not have current psychological tests. Poland 2050 wants with

Hunters are the only group that uses firearms in public places without the obligation to undergo periodic medical and psychological examinations.

Law and Justice and PSL released them from this obligation a year and a half ago. – Professional drivers have tests, people working underwater have tests, other gun owners have tests. Why, for political reasons, because this is an electorate, has this group always been treated with privileges? – asks Barbara Oliwiecka, MP from Poland 2050.

Hunters are required to be examined by a doctor and psychologist only once before obtaining a firearms permit.

Poland 2050 has submitted a draft bill that provides for mandatory periodic medical examinations once every two years for people over seventy years of age and once every five years for people under seventy years of age.

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– It's not against anyone. We believe that when an accident occurs, all parties are actually victims. Both the person who is shot, his family, but also the hunter's family and the hunter himself. Safety above all – emphasizes Ewa Szymanowska from Poland 2050.

Support for this project is not obvious. For PSL, the opinion of hunters is crucial. – First of all, we need to ask the representatives of the Polish Hunting Association what their attitude towards this is – comments Piotr Zgorzelski, deputy speaker of the Sejm from the Polish People's Party.

Today, there are over 380,000 weapons in the hands of hunters.

– I am a member of the ministerial team for hunting reform and hunters there have made their opinion clear: an absolute veto on any research – says Dr. Robert Maślak from the University of Wrocław, member for hunting at the Ministry of Climate and Environment.

The average age of members of the Hunting Association is over 50, which means that many hunters have not undergone any medical examinations entitling them to own weapons for at least a dozen or even several dozen years.

– The hunters themselves admit that if there were solid research, about 40 percent of these people would not own a gun, so they themselves admit that among them there are people who no longer have the physical and mental fitness to own a gun – says Robert Maślak.

Every year, several people die and even dozens are injured as a result of shooting with hunting weapons.

– A 45-year-old hunter in Łęczyca shot from the window of his house and committed suicide. A 60-year-old hunter in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship shot his 29-year-old son while preparing for a hunt, recently the hunter shot his son in the thigh. A hunter killed another hunter while hunting – says Radosław Ślusarczyk from the Workshop for All Beings.

There are many examples, these are just some of the incidents from the last few months. The hunters' explanation is similar every time.

– They always explain that they confused a human with a wild boar, this is a typical explanation in such situations – points out Robert Maślak. This also supports the unconditional obligation to verify their health status.

– Our communicative and perceptive abilities certainly change with age, so research is justified. The older we get, the worse it gets, says Prof. Ph.D. Hanna Mamzer from the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań.

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Scientists are sure that periodic medical and psychological assessments would prevent at least some accidents.

– We will all feel safer walking in the forest if we know that such research exists – sums up Radosław Ślusarczyk.