Firearms Control Act 1983
TITLE 7 – PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 12 - FIREARMS CONTROL
sRepublic of the Marshall Islands
Jepilpilin Ke Ejukaan
FIREARMS CONTROL ACT 1983
Arrangement of Sections
Section Page
§1201. Short title. .............................................................................................................................. 3
§1202. Interpretation. ....................................................................................................................... 3
§1203. Firearms control. ................................................................................................................... 4
§1204. Special cases of need. ........................................................................................................... 4
§1205. Identification card. ............................................................................................................... 5
§1206. Surrender of firearms. .......................................................................................................... 5
§1207. The prescribed date. ............................................................................................................. 5
§1208. Regulations. ........................................................................................................................... 5
TITLE 7 – PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 12 - FIREARMS CONTROL
sRepublic of the Marshall Islands
Jepilpilin Ke Ejukaan
FIREARMS CONTROL ACT 1983
AN ACT to provide for the control of firearms.
Commencement: February 11, 1983
Source: P.L. 1983-17
§1201. Short title.
This Chapter may be cited as the “Firearms Control Act 1983". [P.L. 1983-17, §1.]
§1202. Interpretation.
In this Chapter :
(a) “airgun” means a device which hurls a projectile by means of
the release or expansion of carbon dioxide or air, other than a
device designed or redesigned for use solely as a signaling,
line-throwing, spear-fishing or industrial device;
(b) “automatic weapon” has the same meaning as in the Weapons
Control Act;
(c) “concealable firearm” means a firearm with a barrel length,
including any revolving, detachable or magazine breech, not
exceeding nine inches;
(d) “firearm” has the same meaning as in the Weapons Control
Act, except that it includes an airgun, and automatic weapon;
(e) “prescribed date” means the date fixed under Section 1207 of
this Chapter;
(f) “semiautomatic weapon” has the same meaning as in the
Weapons Control Act. [P.L. 1983-17, §2.]
§1203. Firearms control.
Subject to Section1204 of this Chapter and notwithstanding any thing in the
Weapons Control Act:
(a) an identification card shall not be issued under that Act with
respect to a firearm; and
(b) on the prescribed date, all identification cards issued under
that Act are canceled and cease to have effect. [P.L. 1983-17, §3.]
§1204. Special cases of need.
(1) Subject to Subsections (2) and (3) of this Section and notwithstanding
Section 1203 of this Chapter, if the Attorney-General is satisfied that:
(a) a person has a genuine need for a firearm of a particular type;
(b) he can be trusted to possess, carry and use a firearm of that
type with safety to himself and others, and in accordance with
the Weapons Control Act and any other applicable law; and
(c) he otherwise complies with the provisions of the Weapons
Control Act relating to the issuance of identification cards in
relation to firearms of that type, the Attorney-General may
issue an identification card under that Act to that person in
relation to a firearm of that type.
(2) Subsection (1) of this Section does not permit the issuance of an
identification card if the card would not have been issued under the
Weapons Control Act, in the absence of this Chapter .
(3) Except as provided in the regulations made under Section 1208 of this
Chapter, Subsection (1) of this Section does not apply to or in relation
to:
(a) concealable firearms or other pistols or revolvers;
(b) firearms that have been reduced in length; or
(c) automatic or semiautomatic weapons. [P.L. 1983-17, §4.]
§1205. Identification card.
An identification card issued under the Weapons Control Act by virtue of
Section 1204 of this Chapter :
(a) relates only to the specific firearms listed thereon, the details of
which are entered on the card; and
(b) expires at the end of the period of twelve (12) months after its
issue. [P.L. 1983-17, §5.]
§1206. Surrender of firearms.
(1) A person who is lawfully in possession of a firearm may, on or before
the prescribed date, surrender the firearm to the office of the
Attorney-General or his delegate.
(2) A person who surrenders a firearm in accordance with Subsection (1)
of this Section is entitled to prompt and just compensation for it,
which compensation shall be calculated as if Section 1203 of this
Chapter had not been passed. [P.L. 1983-17, §6.]
§1207. The prescribed date.
The Cabinet may, by written notice, fix a date for the purposes of
Section 1203(b) of this Chapter, which in its opinion, occurs sufficiently long
after the effective date of this Chapter so that persons affected by it have a
reasonable time to minimize any resultant loss. [P.L. 1983-17, §7.]
§1208. Regulations.
(1) The Cabinet may make regulations, not inconsistent with this
Chapter, prescribing all matters that are necessary or convenient for
the furtherance of the purposes of this Chapter, and in particular for:
(a) exempting from the operation of Section 1204(1) of this
Chapter any firearm or type of firearm to which
Section 1204(3) of this Chapter applies in cases where the
Cabinet is satisfied that there is a special, genuine need for the
issuance of an identification card under Section 1204 of this
Chapter and the card can be issued with safety to the
possessor of the firearm and to others; and
(b) prescribing the form and contents of identification cards
issued under the Weapons Control Act by virtue of
Section 1204 of this Chapter .
(2) Regulations made under Subsection (1)(a) of this Section may provide
exemptions subject to conditions. [P.L. 1983-17, §9.][Section was formerly numbered as1209, re-numbered as 1208 former 1208 was “Reserved” ]