Título V. Armerías y polígonos de tiro

For purposes of this Law, gunsmith shops shall mean establishments engaged in the repair and servicing of firearms. For the operation of gunsmith shops to be authorized, individual persons shall comply with the following requirements:

a)To file an application with DIGECAM, on the form to be provided by it, to which fiscal stamps in the amount of one hundred quetzales (Q. 100.00) shall be affixed; such application shall contain: given names and surnames of the applicant, age, marital status, nationality, profession, personal identification document number, nationality, address of their residence, workplace and place for receiving notifications.

b)The following documents shall accompany the application:

1.Legalized photocopy of the personal identification document.

2.Certification of lack of criminal and police records, issued by the corresponding authorities.

3.To establish that the person in charge of the establishment has the scientific and technical knowledge necessary for the repair and maintenance of firearms.

4.Legalized photocopy of the commercial patent of the business.

c)Legal persons shall also attach the following documents:

1.Legalized photocopy of the certified notarial copy of the constitutive deed, duly registered in the Mercantile register.

2.Legalized photocopy of the appointment of the legal representative and of the respective commercial patents.

Upon issuance of the respective license, the interested party shall keep a control book for the recording of the firearms entrusted to him for repair and/or maintenance, in which shall be stated the name of the owner and his domicile, make, serial number, caliber, as well as the record of the possession license therefor.

The control book must be authorized by DIGECAM, and the interested party shall submit a written report of activity therein at the end of each month.

Inside armories, arms must remain duly identified and stored, taking the corresponding physical, technological and human security measures, in accordance with the respective regulation, to prevent thefts or losses; in case any incident occurs, immediate notice shall be given to DIGECAM and to the competent authorities.

Gunsmith shops are not authorized to carry out purchases and sales of weapons and/or ammunition, nor reconditioning of cartridges; nor may they modify the functioning of the weapon by converting it into an automatic weapon, nor manufacture or repair reducers, suppressors or noise silencers. Likewise, they are prohibited from receiving weapons for repair or service that are not covered by the possession card or the carrying license issued by DIGECAM.

Likewise, they are prohibited from keeping gunpowder or explosives in storage, and may keep only the ammunition and primers necessary for the corresponding functioning tests.

For purposes of this Law, shooting ranges shall mean establishments that have the necessary infrastructure for the practice of sport or defense shooting. The facilities shall comply with the safety standards established by the respective Regulation of this Law and keep the corresponding records of the shooting practices conducted. Individual or juridical persons must obtain authorization from DIGECAM for the installation of shooting ranges for the practice of shooting with firearms.

Individual or legal persons interested in obtaining authorization for the installation and operation of new firing ranges for firearms shall comply with the following requirements:

a)To submit an application on the form provided for such purpose by DIGECAM, affixing fiscal stamps for a value of five hundred quetzales (Q.500.00); such application shall contain:

1.Names and surnames of the applicant, marital status, nationality, profession and occupation, residence, personal identification document number, address of his/her residence, of the workplace and place to receive notifications.

2.Indication of the place where the firing range will operate.

3.To submit plans of all the facilities, prepared by a university professional in the field, in which the characteristics of the construction shall be specified, in accordance with the specifications established by DIGECAM.

4.To submit an environmental impact study.

5.To submit a draft regulation of the firing range, according to its objectives.

b)To attach the following documents:

1.Legalized photocopy of the personal identification document

2.Commercial patent of the company.

3.Certification of lack of criminal and police records, issued by the corresponding authorities.

Legal persons shall comply with the following requirements:

1.Legalized photocopy of the testimony of the constitutive deed, duly registered in the Mercantile Register.

2.Legalized photocopy of the respective commercial patents.

3.Legalized photocopy of the appointment of the legal representative.

Shooting ranges that meet the requirements contemplated in Chapter II of Title V and the provisions of Articles 55 and 56 of this Law may commercialize ammunition exclusively for sport and defense shooting practices, only within their facilities and for weapons contemplated as for civilian and sporting use. For the foregoing, a monthly report shall be submitted to DIGECAM, in which the sale and consumption of ammunition for the sole purpose of the aforementioned practice is justified and proven.

Failure to comply with this provision shall constitute an administrative offense, which shall be punished with temporary closure of the shooting range, in accordance with the Regulation of this Law, in which shall be contemplated, among others, the manner of rehabilitating it again. If there is recidivism in selling ammunition for activities other than the shooting practice contemplated in this Law, it shall be punished with permanent closure and cancellation of the corresponding shooting range license, without prejudice to any other criminal liability incurred by the legal representatives or owners of the shooting range.

Upon verifying that the required documentation is in order, DIGECAM shall proceed to approve the plans, if they meet the specifications established in the respective regulation, so that the Interested Party may begin construction of the range. Such approval does not substitute for the construction license of the respective municipality.

DIGECAM may carry out, during construction, such inspections as it deems necessary; and prior to the authorization to open the shooting range to the public, a final inspection shall be conducted, based on the certifications to be submitted by the interested party, in which it is stated for the record that the construction meets the safety measures established by DIGECAM. If deficiencies are found, DIGECAM shall order the pertinent modifications and, once made, a new inspection shall be conducted. The shooting range may not be opened to the public until it has fully complied with the established requirements.

Persons who use the shooting ranges shall be entered in the control book duly authorized by DIGECAM, in which they shall record their full first and last names, number of the personal identification document or passport. Likewise, the identification of the firearms shall be recorded, including make, model, serial number, caliber, number of the carry license or possession card issued by DIGECAM, and the user's signature.

Users of a shooting range may purchase the ammunition they are going to use in their shooting practice, without affecting the monthly quota referred to in this Law. Shooting ranges must be connected to the Computer Department of DIGECAM for all controls established by this Law and its Regulation.

In firearm shooting ranges, the following is prohibited:

a.Using firearms whose possession is not registered with DIGECAM or for which the user cannot present said register.

b.Using firearms prohibited by this Law State of Guatemala.

DIGECAM, for the operation of the respective range.

c.Using silenced firearms and any class of explosives.

d.Conducting firearm shooting practices within the hours between eighteen hours and six hours of the following day, except with special authorization and supervision of DIGECAM.

Any person who teaches courses or acts as an instructor at firearm shooting ranges duly authorized by the DIGECAM must have express authorization from that General Directorate in order to engage in such activity. The regulation shall establish the requirements and qualifications that a person must have to practice as a firearm shooting instructor. However, the DIGECAM is empowered to issue the administrative provisions necessary for the effective control of this activity. If the instructor is of foreign nationality, the instructor must hold the respective work permit issued by the competent ministry.

DIGECAM shall authorize young shooters, even minors, until the day before turning twenty-five years of age, to engage in sport, Olympic, or any type of shooting practice, who must prove by themselves or through their parents, guardians, or legal representatives, as applicable, that they effectively practice sport and Olympic shooting and that they have the endorsement of any of the sport shooting federations, clubs, or associations duly authorized to operate in the Republic of Guatemala. The firearms used by said shooters may not be transported by them. The transfer shall be carried out through the person or persons authorized by DIGECAM to the practice range, to the competition venue, or to the port of embarkation, when these are abroad.