Article 30 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law

This article prevents a specific kind of interference with weapons: making any modification to the mechanism of weapons or the ways of loading them if the modification makes them more dangerous.

The elements of the prohibition:

• What is modified: the weapon's mechanism, or its ways of loading, meaning the way it is supplied with ammunition.
• Standard of the prohibition: that the modification makes the weapon more dangerous.
• Scope: the word "weapons" is general and is not limited to a particular type.

The article ties the prohibition to the effect of the modification, which is an increase in the weapon's danger. It does not give examples of such modifications and does not address the ruling on modifications that do not increase the weapon's danger, so it cannot be concluded from its text alone that those modifications are permitted or prohibited.

This article is linked to Article 29, which prohibits repairing any weapon that is not licensed under the provisions of the Law and its Regulations. The two articles set limits on what may be done to a weapon: the first concerns the weapon's status as to licensing, and this one concerns the kind of work carried out on it.

Anyone who works in weapons maintenance, or owns a weapon and wishes to modify it, may consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal matters and weapons regulations before making any modification.