The decision to jail a former world record holder for contravening China’s strict firearms laws by buying gun parts overseas and smuggling them onto the mainland via Hong Kong has sparked serious debate among the country’s shooting fraternity.
Tian Hong, who equalled the world record in the 60-shot prone rifle event at the National Games in 1987, was sentenced to 10 years behind bars and fined 200,000 yuan (HK$222,829).
Her son, Fu Yihan, who won an Asian Airgun Championships with China, was jailed for six years and fined 100,000 yuan. Tian’s company, Guangzhou Piling Sports Technology Co Ltd, was found guilty as a corporate defendant and fined 3 million yuan.
The court ruled that Tian and Fu had illegally brought in 2,446 firearm parts from places such as Germany and Switzerland between 2015 and 2023, with some of those arriving in Shenzhen via Hong Kong.
They then sold these on to people taking part in the sport or acted as middlemen for coaches needing parts to fix broken weapons ahead of competition.
According to state media, the pair falsified customs declaration forms for items including air cylinders, sights and firing pins and had people carry other accessories across the border.
