Lower House OKs on 2nd reading bill extending validity of gun licenses

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill that fixes the validity of firearm licenses and registration to a maximum ten years.

House Bill No. 10610 also allows a two-year validity of permit to carry firearms outside of residency or place of business.

The bill consolidates seven legislative proposals filed by Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Sur Rep. Deogracias Victor Savellano, together with Reps. Manuel DG Cabochan III (Magdalo Partylist); Luis Raymond ‘LRay’ Villafuerte (2nd District, Camarines Sur); Luisa Lloren Cuaresma (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya); Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija) and Horacio Suansing Jr. (2nd District, Sultan Kudarat), among other authors.

A similar bill had been passed in the Senate and is awaiting final reading approval of the Lower House’s counterpart measure.

HB 10610 proposes to amend Sections u and 19 of Republic Act No. 10691, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Savellano said the the bill seeks to streamline the registration and renewal process of gun ownership and possession.

He stressed that they intend to encourage firearm owners to register their weapon, thus, help address the pr

oliferation of loose firearms in the country.

Under the bill, the validity period of a license to own and possess firearm will be fixed to five or ten years, at the option of the licensee. The start of the validity period will be reckoned from the birthday of the licensee.

HB 10610 further ses the validity of firearm registration to five or ten years at the option of the licensee.

Permits to Carry Firearm Outside of Residence or Place (PTCFOR) of business will be valid for two years starting from the date of the approval of the application for such issuance.

Savellano underscored the importance of passing the measure as he noted that records of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) have shown that there were about 1.8 million regisgtered guns distributed among 1.16 million individuals and entities.

“There is now a need to reduce transactions with government agencies by providing longer period of validity for PTCFOR’s and licenses to own and possess firearms (LTOPF)”,” he said.