Second Amendment Victory in Puerto Rico

[GaryS]

SAF LAUDS PUERTO RICO COURT VICTORY FOR GUN RIGHTS

BELLEVUE, WA – A surprising victory for gun rights in Puerto Rico has eliminated the firearms registry and licensing requirements to purchase and carry in the Commonwealth, the Second Amendment Foundation has confirmed.
As of now, according to Sandra Barreras with Ladies of the Second Amendment (LSA), the group that brought the lawsuit, "there is no regulation to purchase or carry (and) all purchases will be handled in accordance with federal firearms regulations." LSA is affiliated with SAF through the International Association for the Protection of Civilian Arms Rights (IAPCAR).

It's a fairly short article, so I only quoted a snippet per forum rules.

The case was brought in a Commonwealth court, not federal court. I don't have a link to the decision, but according to the article, Puerto Rico is now effectively a Constitutional Carry Territory.

 

[RobzGuns]

Fantastic news!
Thanks for posting!

 

[Old TexMex]

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

This seems to apply? As well as 14th.

 

[GaryS]

But Puerto Rico is a territory, not a state. I think, but I'm certainly not an expert, that there are different rules for territories.

At least that's how Ransom Stoddard explained it to me!

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

This seems to apply? As well as 14th.

 

[Old TexMex]

Yeah, as a territory you'd think the federal laws regarding other reserves would come in, this could could be way more important than just in Puerto Rico. ....maybe....

 

[GaryS]

The suit was brought in a Commonwealth court, which I take to be the equivalent of a state court. It wasn't filed in federal court, although per the article federal courts have a supervisory role.

I can see why it was not filed in federal court. While Puerto Rico has it's own Federal District Court, it fall in the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Which covers MA, NH, RI, ME and PR. Not the most 2A friendly Circuit Court.

Yeah, as a territory you'd think the federal laws regarding other reserves would come in, this could could be way more important than just in Puerto Rico. ....maybe....

 

[Kevin J.]

That is an unfriendly court, but could set up another Supreme Court challenge like Heller, which came out of a hostile 2nd amendment area.