(a) A period of moratorium of one hundred and eighty (180) days from the effectiveness of the amendment of 2004 to this act is hereby established for each person who has become an owner of a firearm or of ammunition by inheritance, or by any legal manner certified by means of a sworn statement before a notary public, or who has possessed a firearm or ammunition legally, but has permitted the authorization to own said weapon to lapse, to request a weapons license by virtue of this chapter and for the registration of said firearm or ammunition, if the person does not have a weapons license without any criminal procedure being initiated for such illegal possession.
(b) A sixty (60)-day amnesty, counted from the effective date of the amendment to this act, is hereby declared for any person who has or possesses a firearm or ammunition unlawfully obtained, to dispose of the same lawfully by surrendering them voluntarily to the Police, without any criminal procedure whatsoever being initiated against said person. Any person who voluntarily surrenders to the Police any firearm unlawfully acquired, found without knowledge of its origin, or that otherwise unlawfully comes into his/her hands or possession, and which constitutes illegal possession or ownership, shall not be charged nor prosecuted for violating any statute or law that penalizes such possession or ownership; that is unlawful and inconsistent with the law; be it understood that this amnesty is strictly limited to the incidental possession of a firearm for the consequent surrender thereof.
The Government of Puerto Rico shall not initiate any type of investigation, open a file, nor shall it file criminal charges for the illegal possession or ownership of a firearm surrendered to the Police by the persons who avail themselves of this amnesty and voluntarily surrender a firearm pursuant to this chapter. Provided, That in order to avail themselves of the benefits of the amnesty enacted in this chapter, it shall be necessary for the interested party to invoke this chapter or for said party to perform affirmative actions that clearly indicate that the alleged beneficiary of this amnesty had the apparent intention and desire to voluntarily surrender the pertinent weapon or firearms, or ammunition.
During the effectiveness of this amnesty, the Superintendent shall carry out an extensive advertising campaign, through the written press, radio, and television to raise public awareness of the amnesty and the process to avail themselves of the same in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
History —Sept. 11, 2000, No. 404, § 6.11, renumbered as § 7.11 on Jan. 10, 2002, No. 27, § 28; June 3, 2004, No. 137, § 28; Jan. 20, 2012, No. 34, § 1, eff. 30 days after Jan. 20, 2012.