Congress approves firearms law reforms

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives ratified late Wednesday a bicameral conference report on the measure that amends the country’s gun regulation law, including the extension of the validity of all types of licenses to possess firearms and ammunition, and will soon be forwarded to President Duterte for signing into law.

During their respective sessions, both chambers of Congress reconciled the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 1155 and House Bill No. 10610, and approved a unified bill amending Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, extending the validity period of the license to own and possess as well as the permit to carry firearms.

Under the measure, all licenses to possess a firearm, regardless of type or classification, will be renewed every five or 10 years—instead of every two years as mandated by the current law—at the option of the licensee, which shall be reckoned from the birthdate of the licensee unless sooner suspended or revoked.

Renewal of registrations of firearms will likewise be extended to five or 10 years instead of every four years under the bill.

“We are extending the validity of licenses to encourage more responsible gun ownership,” said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, author and cosponsor of the bill, on Wednesday.

“The easier we make the registration and renewal process, the more we will be able to account for every firearm and every carrier in the country,” he said.

Zubiri hoped that the amended measure would encourage “gun owners to register and not be put off by bureaucratic processes.”

“In this way, we are hoping that all firearms in the country can be accounted for, and we will hopefully have fewer criminal activities involving unlicensed and unregulated firearms,” he said.

The new measure’s implementing rules and regulations will be drafted by the Philippine National Police for the guidance of more than 1.7 million licensed gun owners in the country.

The bill also recognizes two additional classes of persons to be exempted from the requirement of a threat assessment certificate, owing to the danger posed by their profession: elected incumbent and former officials; and active and retired military and law enforcement personnel.

Additionally, the measure states that license to carry firearms outside of residence or place of business will only be valid for two years from the date of the approval of the application, unless sooner suspended or revoked.

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