P.R. Laws tit. 25, § 457c

2019-02-20 00:00:00+00
§ 457c. Target shooting permits

(a) Any person who holds a weapons license issued pursuant to this chapter, may request that the Superintendent issue a target-shooting license. He/she shall provide all the information required in the application forms prepared for these purposes by the Superintendent, under oath before a notary, which shall at least require an internal revenue voucher of twenty-five dollars ($25), a two (2) inch by two (2) inch photograph, and a stamp from a sports shooting federation. The Superintendent shall issue the requested permit within the term of thirty (30) working days after receiving the application unless there is just cause for its denial.

(b) No target shooting permit shall be issued to any person whosoever who is not a member of a gun club or organization and a shooting federation duly recognized by the Secretary.

(c) The target shooting permits shall expire together with the weapons license of the licensee, and may be renewed according to the procedure established in the above subsections. The application for the renewal of such permits shall be executed together with the renewal of the weapons license through a sworn statement and its cost shall amount to ten dollars ($10) payable with an internal revenue voucher in favor of the Puerto Rico Police. After six (6) months from the expiration date of the weapons license, the petitioner shall be bound to initiate the process indicated in subsection (a) of this section.

(d) The holder of a target shooting permit shall keep in effect his/her affiliation to a gun club duly recognized by the Secretary and to a sports shooting federation during the effective term of said permit. If this requirement is not met, the target shooting permit shall be automatically revoked. This particular revocation does not entail the cancellation of the corresponding weapons license and shall not impede the interested party from de novo requesting a target-shooting license on a subsequent date.

(e) The target shooting permit shall be incorporated by the Superintendent to the weapons license of the licensee, stating the target shooting category as established in subsection (f) of § 456a of this title.

(f) The target shooting permit shall empower the holder to transport an unlimited number of firearms and ammunition, and to fire weapons in the target shooting facilities or ranges and participate in any championship, competition or tourney sponsored by any gun club or organization, provided he/she fulfills the right to participate required by the organizing entity; Provided, That the official of the club in charge of the registrations shall refuse the use of the facilities to any person who does not present his/her weapons license with the target shooting category and evidence of being an active member of a gun club, or the permits provided in this chapter.

(g) Upon certification by one of the sports shooting federations, the Superintendent shall issue a target shooting permit for the effective term of the weapons license of the father, mother, tutor or person in charge of a minor, to minors who engage in the sport of shooting firearms, provided they have reached their seventh (7th) birthday and have the authorization of the father, mother, tutor or custodian, provided that he/she also has a target shooting permit. The father, mother, tutor or person in charge of the minor shall submit a target shooting license application together with a sworn statement in which he/she shall assume liability for any damages caused by the minor while he/she uses the target shooting weapons. The father, mother, tutor or person in charge of the minor who signs the sworn statement must have a target-shooting permit in force. The minor may only use and handle target shooting weapons in a gun club, provided he/she is accompanied by and under the direct supervision of his/her father, mother, tutor or person in charge.

The application for a permit for minors shall also include a twenty-five dollar ($25) internal revenue voucher and two (2) photographs, two (2) inches by two (2) inches, one of which shall be attached to the special target shooting license, which shall be printed on a blue background and be sufficiently small so as to be carried in a regular wallet, it shall be laminated, and shall contain, in addition to the minor’s photograph, his/her full name, date of birth, the number of the permit and a federation seal. It shall not bear the address of the petitioner nor a description or mention of any weapon. It shall also contain the date of issue of the license and the date on which the card shall be renewed. This special target shooting license may be renewed for additional five (5)-year periods upon compliance with the requirements established in the above paragraph and the payment of a ten (10) dollar fee in an internal revenue voucher. However, no renewal may extend the date of effectiveness of the current special license beyond one hundred twenty (120) days as of the date on which the minor becomes of legal age. The application for renewal shall be made on the form provided by the Superintendent for such a purpose. The Superintendent shall issue the permit thus requested within a term of ten (10) days after receiving the application, unless there is just cause to deny the same.

The minor shall always use the firearm in the presence of and under the supervision of his/her father, mother, tutor, person in charge or custodian certified by the sports shooting federation. No minor may practice the target shooting sport with firearms unless he/she holds the permit provided in this chapter.

History —Sept. 11, 2000, No. 404, § 3.04; Jan. 10, 2002, No. 27, § 15; June 3, 2004, No. 137, § 13.