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Legal Information: Puerto Rico

State Gun Laws

Updated: 
November 25, 2023

I do not have a protection order against the abuser, and s/he has not been convicted of a crime. Can s/he have a gun?

Even if you do not have a protective order against the abuser and s/he has not been convicted of any crime, Puerto Rico law makes it illegal to buy or have a firearm if a person does not have a weapons license. A person cannot get a weapons license if s/he:

  • has charges pending for:
    • a felony or attempted felony;
    • a violent misdemeanor;
    • a domestic violence-related offense;
    • stalking;
    • abusing a minor; or
    • violating gun laws;
  • has a mental illness that would disqualify him/her from owning a gun;1
  • is under 21 years of age;
  • is habitually intoxicated;
  • is addicted to drugs;
  • has been declared mentally incompetent by a court;
  • has been dishonorably discharged from the military or a law enforcement agency of Puerto Rico;
  • has belonged to a violent group or a group that wants to overthrow the government;
  • in the last 12 months has been the subject of, a protection order that says s/he cannot harass, stalk, threaten, or be near an intimate partner, a partner’s family member, or any person even if that protection order is not currently valid;
  • is not a United States citizen or a legal permanent resident; or
  • is banned by the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 from receiving, transporting, or sending firearms or ammunition.2

If none of these situations apply, you can still make a plan for your safety. See our Safety Planning page for more information. You can also contact your local domestic violence organization for additional help. You may want to talk to them about whether leaving the area - either long term or for a little while - might help improve your safety. See our PR Advocates and Shelters page to find a local domestic violence organization near you.

Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun under other circumstances. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

1 25 L.P.R.A. § 462h
2 25 L.P.R.A. § 462a