PRAGUE, March 15 (Xinhua) -- About 600 Czech people gathered at the Wenceslas Square in central Prague Wednesday to protest against the new EU directive introducing stricter rules for legal firearms holders.
The demonstrators criticized the directive and expressed their wish to defend the Czech legislation in their speeches.
After the speeches, the participants set out on a march to the office of the European Commission representation in the Czech Republic.
The opponents carried the banners saying "The EU Is Burying Us" and "Stop Radicalism. Weapons Are Not to Blame".
The protest was organized by hunter and activist Bohumil Straka who said there was no need of the directive. He said the Czech Republic has some of the best and strictest arms possession laws.
The European Parliament approved the directive on Tuesday. Its proponents argue that it is a major instrument to battle terrorists.
Czech Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky said Tuesday that his Ministry will start drafting a proposal enabling some shooters to keep some arms banned by the European firearms directive.
