Posted on 12/11/2019 7:39:11 AM PST by cll
Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez just signed a new firearms law that greatly undoes severe restrictions in place for decades (facebook live at link just ended).
There were several layers of firearm licenses in Puerto Rico. Target Practice/Sport License (the most basic), home defense license (intermediate), and conceal carry. Each was very expensive to obtain, and included up to a mandatory hearing before a judge for the conceal carry permit.
Now:
It is a shall issue law. Cost goes down from up $1,500.00 to $200.00. All permits are consolidated into one license (conceal carry for all). It is not required that you obtain three sworn statements from persons vouching for your character. State must issue license within 45 days or the application becomes your permit.
It is still restrictive when compared to, say, Alabama's laws, but to us in the island it is a big step towards freedom of defense. It is actually a miracle that our legislature and governor approved this.
Good for you! A definite step in the right direction.
Excellent.
L
WUT? Bodega shootouts! Rivers off blood in the streets! Shootouts over parking spaces!
Based on my visit there, you needed this badly. My comment from my PR visit was that I’m nervous in a place where the locals are buying wrought iron security bars and razor wire by the metric ton.
Great for the US... when crime plummets.
Viva la revolucion!
Great to hear, but we all think PR is a Deep Blue territory - and given that, we’d expect just the opposite there with regard to gun rights.
So what’s the story - is PR becoming less like California and more like Alabama, and did it just slip by everyone up here?
Facebook link is useless. Got anything else?
About time.
It sounds like a large move in the correct direction.
I don’t think you can underestimate the importance of this. PR has been as bad as Hawaii on this issue. Making the leap from massive restrictions to “Shall Issue” is huge. It’s like New York banning abortion.
“Great to hear, but we all think PR is a Deep Blue territory - and given that, we’d expect just the opposite there with regard to gun rights.”
Maybe the crime problem is so substantial there that politicians eyes were opened to citizens need for self defense.
“Maybe the crime problem is so substantial there that politicians eyes were opened to citizens need for self defense.”
Anything’s possible, but how often does the Left fight crime in our cities by allowing more civilians to be armed, so as to protect themselves?
I looked at the link. There is about a 10 minute video in Spanish of the public announcement of the new law. The video begins talking about something I did not understand. After a minute or so the new Ley de Armas is announced. Someone was sleeping nearby so I could not turn up sound enough to hear much of what was said. However, I found a posting of the grounds for NOT allowing ownership in Spanish which I will post below and then translate.
Según la Oficina Federal de control de Armas y Explosivos, hay cierto tipo de ciudadanos que tienen prohibido adquirir armas de fuego. Estos son: According to the Federal Office of Arms and Explosives control certain kinds of citizens are prohibited from acquiring firearms:
Los que hayan sido condenados por un delito castigable con pena de prisión durante más de un año.
Those who have been convicted of a crim punishable by a prison term of more than one year.
Los fugitivos de la justicia. Fugitives from justice.
Los adictos a sustancias controladas. Those addicted to controlled substances.
Quienes sufren de enfermedades mentales o han sido internados en instituciones de salud mental.
Those suffering from mental illness or who have been placed in a mental health institution.
Los inmigrantes sin papeles o los admitidos en Estados Unidos con una visa de no inmigrante.
Immigrants without papers or those admitted to the US with a nonimmigrant visa.
Since I am not a lawyer I cannot vouch for the complete accuracy of the translation. I have placed “?” where I thought there might be other possible translations.
I am wondering if in the year after Maria there has been a noticeable increase in crimes against persons and homes?
Los que han sido dados de baja de forma deshonrosa de las Fuerzas Armadas.
Those who have been given a dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces
Los que, habiendo sido ciudadanos de Estados Unidos, hayan renunciado a esa nacionalidad.
Those who have been US citizens but have renounced this nationality.
Los que están sometidos a órdenes judiciales de prohibición de acosar o amenazar a su pareja o al hijo de esa pareja.
Those who are subject to legal orders of protection from harassing or threatening their partner or a child of this partner(?).
Quienes han sido condenados por faltas o delitos de violencia doméstica.
Those who have been condemned for faults(?) or crimes of domestic violence.
Looks as if they have simply copied U.S. federal law on those categories.
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