Gun laws in Puerto Rico
Gun laws in Puerto Rico regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. As Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, many U.S. federal laws apply, as well as Constitutional rulings and protections.[1][2]
Summary table
| Subject/Law | Long guns | Handguns | Relevant statutes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to purchase? | Yes | Yes | A license is required to purchase any firearm or ammunition. | |
| Firearm registration? | Yes | Yes | All firearms must be registered with the Puerto Rico Police. | |
| Assault weapon law? | Yes | Yes | Assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles prohibited. | |
| Magazine capacity restriction? | Yes | Yes | ||
| Owner license required? | Yes | Yes | A target shooting license is required to purchase any firearm or ammunition. | |
| Carry permits issued? | No | Yes | The Commonwealth currently has a "may issue" policy for the issuance of concealed carry permits. In order to obtain one the applicant must already have a target shooting license and must appear before a judge and provide proof of a strong need for a permit. Very few people are issued permits. | |
| Open carry? | No | No | Open carry is prohibited. | |
| NFA weapons restricted? | Yes | Yes | Automatic firearms are prohibited. | |
| Peaceable journey laws? | No | No | Federal law (FOPA) applies. |
Licensing process
Puerto Rico has a very stringent and restrictive licensing process necessary in order to purchase a firearm in Puerto Rico. A person has to be 21 to get a weapons license along with several other requirements. A person must present a sworn statement attesting to compliance with fiscal laws, purchase a $100 internal revenue stamp, submit 3 statements from community members who aren't related to them attesting to their good reputation, submit a signed application that is notarized, be fingerprinted and photographed, and submit a negative certificate of debt to the child support administration.[3] That process is just to be able to purchase firearms to store in a residence or business and not for a concealed carry permit. In order to acquire a concealed carry permit a person must first have a Target shooting license and then appear before a Judge and present proof of a strong reason for a permit. Due to this process, in many cases concealed carry permit applications are denied. As such Puerto Rico is considered to be an effective "No Issue" territory for concealed carry permits except for in exceptional cases despite the official "may issue" policy. Recently there has been an uptick in weapons license applications with a 56% increase from 2013. The Puerto Rican Police attribute the increase to the fear of being targeted by criminals in Puerto Rico.[4]
Ammunition
A person cannot possess ammunition unless they hold a firearms license. They can also only purchase the type of ammunition that corresponds to the caliber or gauge of ammunition of their registered firearm.[5]
References
- ↑ "Gun Laws: Puerto Rico", National Rifle Association – Institute for Legislative Action. Retrieved August 03, 2014.
- ↑ "Puerto Rico", Handgunlaw.us. Retrieved August 03, 2014.
- ↑ "Puerto Rico Gun Laws Guide", Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Retrieved August 03, 2014.
- ↑ "Más Puertorriqueños Armados" ("More Armed Puerto Ricans"), El Nuevo Día. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
- ↑ "Puerto Rico Gun Laws", TheTruthAboutGuns.com. Retrieved August 03, 2014.