Puerto Rico Concealed Carry Firearm Laws

Puerto Rico: Gun Laws Summary

Puerto Rico is a shall-issue unincorporated U.S. territory with concealed weapons permits issued by the Office of Weapons licenses. A valid weapons or gunsmith license is required to acquire, buy, transport, sell, donate, transfer, have, possess, guard, carry, use and drive with weapons, firearms, ammunition and any regulated firearm accessories.

Concealed Carry Laws in Puerto Rico

Concealed carry is legal for residents with a Puerto Rico Weapons License (WL) issued under the Puerto Rico Arms Act of 2020 (PRAA) and any license issued previously under Law 404-2000. Puerto Rico requires the completion of a firearms use and management course prior to issuance of a WL. Licenses are available to any citizen or legal resident of the United States that is at least 21 years old. Only one concealed firearm may be carried at a time, although more than one firearm can be carried while on the premises of an authorized shooting club or places where hunting is practiced. Law enforcement officers may use government-assigned weapons without a license. In addition, members of the United States Armed Forces and the Puerto Rico National Guard may use those weapons assigned to them while they are on official duty without a WL. Active duty military veterans that meet the qualifications can obtain or renew their pistol permits free of charge. (source)

Traveling with Handguns to Puerto Rico

Although the PRAA indicates that there is reciprocity with any valid U.S. state permit, there is a caveat that states that reciprocity will be allowed for each state, “once the NPPR Commissioner establishes a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state.” As of November 2021, it appears that no MOUs have been established. (source)

Per Article 2.18 of the Regulations to Administer the PRAA (Reg. Admin.), once the NPPR Commissioner establishes a MOU with the state, any person who meets the established requirements and intends to introduce one or more weapons and/or ammunition to Puerto Rico must inform the Division of Weapons Registry and License Issuance by completing Form PPR-1062 (Notification of Intention to Introduce Weapons and/or Ammunition) within five business days before the introduction of weapons and/or ammunition to Puerto Rico. When feasible, the notification will be made through the following link: http://www.policia.pr.gov. In these cases, firearms will be registered in the REAL Plus System. There is also confusion as to whether anyone intending to travel to Puerto Rico with their handgun must provide notice five business days prior [Reg. Admin. Art. 2.18] or whether the airline can simply submit the form prior to the flight [Reg. Admin. Art. 11.01]. (source)

Self-Defense

In terms of self-defense, any person who defends his/her person, dwelling, property or rights is justified in using reasonable and proportionate force when he or she believes there is peril of imminent danger and to avoid or repel the danger. That is provided they have not provoked the attack and no more damage is inflicted than is necessary to avert or avoid the injury. When alleging self-defense to justify deadly force, it is necessary to have reasonable grounds to believe that the person was in imminent or immediate danger of death or serious bodily harm. To justify the defense of dwelling, the circumstances shall indicate trespassing or for the purpose of committing a crime. To justify defense of property or rights, the circumstances shall indicate an attack that constitutes a crime or that poses serious danger of damage or imminent loss. (source)

Liability

Any person who, in order to protect his or her own or another’s right from an imminent danger not provoked by him or her and otherwise inevitable, infringes a duty or causes damage to another’s legally protected interest, shall not be liable, provided that the damage caused is less than the damage being prevented and does not cause the death or the serious and permanent injury to a person. (source)

Puerto Rico: Gun Laws at a Glance


Open Carry	No. [Reg. Admin. Art. 2.02(e)(1)(iv)]
Concealed Carry Permit Issuance	Shall issue. [Reg. Admin. Art. 2.14]
Minimum Age for Concealed Carry Permit	21. [Reg. Admin. Art. 2.01(1)]
Concealable Weapons Other Than Handguns	No. Only one handgun can be carried at a time. [Reg. Admin. Art. 2.15(2)]
Non-Resident Concealed Carry Permits	Yes. [Reg. Admin. Art. 2.01(8)]
Ammunition Restrictions	Anyone with a weapons license may only purchase ammunition of the calibers that can be used by their registered weapons, unless they rent weapons of a different caliber while at a shooting range. Also, if a person purchases more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition in a year, the police chief may investigate to ensure the ammunition and firearms were purchased for lawful reasons. In addition, only licensed gun dealers are allowed to import ammunition. [Reg. Admin. Arts. 2.15(4), 4.07(3) and 14.03]
Permitless Carry	No.
Access to Concealed Carry Registry Information	No, however, the information is available for law enforcement. [Reg Admin. Arts. 2.04(8) and 15(a)(18)]
Handgun Magazine Capacity Restrictions	No.

Puerto Rico: Carry Locations


Can you carry a concealed firearm in state/national parks, state/national forests and Wildlife Management Areas in Puerto Rico?	Unknown.
Can you carry a firearm in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol in Puerto Rico?	Unknown.
Can you carry or possess a firearm on hotel property in Puerto Rico?	Unknown.
Can you carry a concealed handgun in a vehicle in Puerto Rico?	Yes. Residents with a Puerto Rico Weapons License or non-residents with any valid state permit are allowed to transport more than one firearm at a time, if the other weapons are unloaded in a closed case that does not reflect its content, provided it is not in plain sight. Weapons and ammunition must be transported within closed cases that do not reflect the content or are hidden. [Reg. Admin. Art. 1.05(40)]
Can you carry a firearm in an airport in Puerto Rico?	Per federal law, an individual may not have a weapon on or about the person or accessible property when entering or in a sterile area of an airport or when attempting to board or onboard an aircraft for which screening is conducted. Airports in Puerto Rico must have signs posted in Spanish and English indicating that anyone without a valid weapons permit issued in any state, enclave, possession or territory of the United States of America who brings a firearm to Puerto Rico, must give immediate notice to the Ports Authority Security Office and an officer of the Police Bureau of Puerto Rico upon arrival. The Ports Authority Security Office and/or an Authorized Agent will inform the individual on how to proceed with his or her weapon. [Reg. Admin. Art.11.01]

Puerto Rico: Key State Laws


Brandishing	No definition of brandishing was found in Puerto Rico law, although open carry is prohibited. [Reg. Admin. Art. 2.16(A)(1)(a)]
Duty to Inform	The Puerto Rico Arms Act of 2020 does not address if there is a duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Puerto Rico.
Red Flag Law	Unknown
Concealed Carry Permits for Non-Residents	Yes. Licenses are available to any citizen or legal resident of the United States that is at least 21 years old.

Puerto Rico: Handgun Purchase and Possession


Are background checks required for private gun sales in Puerto Rico?	No, however, all purchases or transfers of firearms will be made through Form PPR 379 (Request for Purchase or Transfer of Firearms). In order to carry out the transfer it will be necessary to verify that the weapon license or gunsmith license is in force and that the firearm is legally registered. [Reg. Admin. Art. 13.02]
Does my current Puerto Rico concealed carry permit exempt me from needing a background check when I purchase a firearm?	Yes. [Reg. Admin. Art. 13.02]
Do handguns need to be registered in Puerto Rico?	Yes. Any acquisition, purchase, sale, donation, assignment or form of transfer of ownership of a firearm and ammunition must be done by a person with a gunsmith license and will be registered in the Electronic Registry of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. In addition, any loss of control, possession or custody of a firearm and/or ammunition, must result in notification, as soon as possible, but always no more than 48 hours after which the person becomes aware of the loss by filing a complaint with the Police Bureau. [Reg. Admin. Arts. 2.13 and 2.21]
What is the minimum age to possess and transport a handgun in Puerto Rico?	21, as a Weapons License is required. A Special License for Minors from the Weapons Licensing Office authorizes a minor — that is at least 7 years old — to practice shooting with firearms, provided they have authorization from a parent, guardian or custodian, who has a valid weapons license. [Reg. Admin. Art. 2.01(1) and 3.08]
Is a permit required to purchase a handgun in Puerto Rico?	No. A concealed carry permit or a gunsmith license is required in order to acquire, buy, transport, sell, donate, loan, transfer, have, possess, guard, carry, use and drive with weapons, firearms, ammunition, and any permitted firearm accessories. Temporary transfers of firearms and ammunition between licensees is allowed, although the Weapons Licensing Office must be notified within 48 hours of any transfer for periods of more than 72 hours. If the temporary assignment extends for more than 30 days, the firearms must be returned to the registered owner or the registration must be formally transferred to the new owner. [Reg. Admin. Arts. 2.15 and 2.22]