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EspañolI do not have a restraining order against the abuser, and they have not been convicted of a domestic violence crime. Can they have a gun?
Even if the abuser does not have a restraining order against them or a conviction for domestic violence, there might still be other reasons they cannot legally have a gun.
In Guam, a person must have a firearm identification card to have, buy, get, or use a gun.1 Someone cannot get a firearm identification card if they:
- are a convicted felon;
- are not a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident;
- have open criminal charges for a felony offense;
- have been determined incompetent by a judge;
- have been committed to a mental institution;
- are under 18 years of age;
- have violated the Uniform Controlled Substances Act;
- have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving a personal injury or firearm during the past 10 years; or
- have been determined by the police chief to suffer from a physical or mental disease, which would negatively affect their ability to safely use a firearm.2
There are certain types of guns that are always illegal to have in Guam, including machine guns and automatic rifles. To see a list of the prohibited firearms, go to Section 60102 on our Selected Guam Statutes page.3 There are also more rules about getting a firearm silencer if someone is under 21, which you can read in Section 60108(b)(5).2
1 10 Guam Code § 60106
2 10 Guam Code §§ 60108(b)
3 10 Guam Code § 60102
I’m worried the abuser has a gun. What can I do to stay safe?
Even if you are able to have the abuser’s guns taken away, there’s a possibility that they can get one illegally. When an abuser has a gun, it makes it more likely that they could hurt someone.1 So, it’s important to think about your safety.
A safety plan might include leaving the area or going somewhere the abuser doesn’t know, like a domestic violence shelter. We have tips on our Safety Planning pages, and you can contact an advocate at your local domestic violence organization who might help you create a personalized plan.
1 See Everytown for Gun Safety’s report on Guns and Violence Against Women
I've read through all of this information, and I am still confused. What can I do?
Trying to understand both federal and state gun laws can be confusing, but there are people out there who can help you better understand the law and your rights under the law.
- You can write to our Email Hotline.
- You can contact a local domestic violence organization in your area. See our GU Advocates and Shelters page for referrals.
- You can also contact the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit to get more information about the federal firearm law and how it applies to you: 1-800-903-0111, ext. 2
