DPS also announced that it stands to lose thousands of dollars in potential federal grants under the Project Child Safe program due to a law passed last year that exempts gun owners renewing their gun licenses from undergoing the mandatory firearms safety education class.
CNMI Range Master Ambrose Ogumoro said there are close to 2,000 guns in the commonwealth.
He said DPS has a list of all people with guns and will go after them if they don’t register on or before Jan. 16, 2009.
Under commonwealth law, illegal possession of firearm is a felony that carries a maximum penalty of $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years or both.
On Saipan, 1,010 individuals have guns but only 50 percent are registered.
On Tinian, Ogumoro said, there are more than 200 gun owners but only 67 are registered.
Rota has about 368 guns but only 160 are registered.
Ogumoro said the only licensed firearms allowed in the CNMI are 22 caliber pistols and shotguns.
Conflicting laws
Prior to the enactment of Public Law 15-62, all gun owners in the CNMI were required to undergo the Mandatory Safety Education Class before they could get or renew their firearm license as mandated by P.L. 14-51.
Under P.L. 14-51, all CNMI gun owners must attend the firearm safety education class before they could get their new or renewed permits.
Each must pay $20 for the firearms class. In return, the CNMI gets federal grants for the Division of Fish and Wildlife and DPS through the Project Child Safety.
Ogumoro said Senate President Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, sponsored P.L. 15-62 which mandates that only new gun owners need to attend the firearms safety education class.
“Senate President Reyes emphasized that the renewal of firearms identification card is very similar to the renewal of one’s driver’s license. The driver is not burdened to take another driver’s license test when merely renewing his license,” said Ogumoro during a press conference yesterday afternoon.
But he said there is no comparison between the two because some grants are premised on the mandatory firearms safety class.
“This amendment forfeited existing federal grants…. Bear in mind that having a driver’s license is a privilege; however, owning a gun is governed by the law,” said the range master.
He added, “Public Law 15-62 contradicts the firearms safety education being imposed on law enforcers in the United States and the CNMI, including the military, that they must attend safety classers prior to live fire exercises…. P.L. 15-62 has exempted promoting safety in the community.”
He said lawmakers should consider repealing P.L. 15-62.
Further, he suggested that the Legislature allow civilian gun owners to use the DPS Firearms Training Facility in As Matuis for recreational purposes. This facility is currently limited to military and DPS personnel’s use.
