Gun Law in Puerto Rico to Respect the Second Amendment

View · by **jdege** on Mon Dec 16, 2019 5:29 pm

https://www.ammoland.com/2019/12/gun-law-in-puerto-rico-to-respect-the-second-amendment-as-of-1-january-2020/#axzz68Jbb1rQD
Gun Law in Puerto Rico to Respect the Second Amendment as of 1 January, 2020

On December 11, 2019, Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced signed Act No. 168. into law. The new law totally re-writes Puerto Rico firearms law. It is the most sweeping change in firearms law in the history of Puerto Rico.

[...]

Under the new law, a permit to own includes the right to carry a firearm for defense in public, if the firearm is concealed. Obtaining a permit to carry, under the old system, was even more difficult and costly than obtaining a permit to own a firearm. The government has a limit of 45 days in which to investigate and issue a permit. After a year, the limit is reduced to 30 days.

Puerto Rico will recognize all other firearm permits issued in the United States or territories of the United States.

View · by **Ghost** on Mon Dec 16, 2019 5:32 pm

View · by **jdege** on Mon Dec 16, 2019 5:39 pm

http://www.lexjuris.com/lexlex/Leyes201 ... 019168.pdf

View · by **Holland&Holland** on Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:41 pm

That is nice progress.

View · by **Sorcerer** on Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:07 pm

Not being able to read the link does Gun registration go with ownership permit? If so not much of a win at all.

View · by **jdege** on Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:27 pm

I've not found a good translation of the act.

Puerto Rico had always required permits to own and registration.

Apparently the new law makes the process of obtaining a permit to own simpler, less expensive, and non-discretionary.

It allows concerned carry by anyone who legally owns a firearm (had a permit to own).

And it recognizes carry permits by all states that issue them.

It's a major step in the right direction.

View · by **Holland&Holland** on Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:11 am

We should change all permits to concerned carry. More applicable.

View · by **dismal** on Tue Dec 17, 2019 8:57 am

Sounds better than Illinois...

View · by **jdege** on Tue Dec 17, 2019 1:43 pm

Google translate:

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lexjuris.com%2Flexlex%2FLeyes2019%2Flexl2019168.pdf

View · by **Sorcerer** on Tue Dec 17, 2019 7:39 pm

Page 7. A registering of firearm and ammunition. Sounds like they took a page from California law.

View · by **jdege** on Tue Dec 17, 2019 7:41 pm

It's nothing like what I would like, but it's better than it was.

https://thebl.com/politics/puerto-ricos-new-gun-law-will-be-protected-under-the-u-s-second-amendment.html

The most sweeping change in Act No. 168 is to eliminate the restrictive and burdensome requirements of the old law in obtaining a permit to purchase, own, or carry firearms. The new law enacts a shall-issue system that requires a permit to be issued if the applicant meets the legal requirements. The legal requirements are essentially the same as in the United States for firearms ownership; except for a uniform minimum age of 21. This was likely influenced by recent legislation in California, Washington, and Florida.

Costs under the old system were upward of $1,500, with no guarantee of obtaining a permit to possess a weapon at the end of the long process. Under the new law, the costs are approximately $200, with the guarantee of a permit, if the applicant does not fall into one of the prohibited categories. The permit is valid for five years. The renewal fee is $100.

Under the new law, a permit to own includes the right to carry a firearm for defense in public, if the firearm is concealed. Obtaining a permit to carry, under the old system, was even more difficult and costly than obtaining a permit to own a firearm. The government has a limit of 45 days in which to investigate and issue a permit. After a year, the limit will be reduced to 30 days.

View · by **Holland&Holland** on Wed Dec 18, 2019 10:45 am

So does PR not fall under our constitution as a territory?

View · by **Rip Van Winkle** on Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:38 am

Holland&Holland wrote:So does PR not fall under our constitution as a territory?

I think so.

View · by **jdege** on Wed Dec 18, 2019 1:35 pm

Holland&Holland wrote:So does PR not fall under our constitution as a territory?

It does.

And while federal law does not always apply in PR, constitutional guarantees do.

And there are folks in the PR who either support the 2A, or believe that they'd lose the inevitable lawsuit, and wanted to get ahead of it.

View · by **jdege** on Tue Dec 24, 2019 10:18 am

The NRA finally noticed:

https://www.nraila.org/articles/20191223/puerto-rico-enacts-pro-gun-overhaul-of-firearms-laws