By Katrina Gracia Consebido
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the measure fixing the validity period of firearm licenses, registration, and permit to carry firearms.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11766, approved on May 6 and released on May 17, amends several sections of Republic Act No. 10591 to extend the validity period of firearm licenses, registration, and permit to carry for five to 10 years “at the option of the licensee.”
Previously, the renewal for license to possess is two years, while firearm registration is every four years.
According to the new law, firearms shall be issued to people whose life is considered to be in “imminent danger” due to their profession, occupation, or business.
Exempted from the requirement of threat assessment certificate are lawyers, accountants, media practitioners, cashiers and bank tellers, priests, ministers, rabbi, imams, physicians and nurses, engineers, businessmen who are exposed to high risk of being targets of criminal elements, elected incumbent and former officials, as well as active and retired soldiers and policemen.
Failure to renew a license or registration will result in the disqualification of the firearm holder from applying for any firearm license. –ag
