Draft bill 185.

Summary.

The draft bill establishes a framework for acquiring, possessing, carrying, transporting, storing, and transferring firearms, ammunition, and related materials within the Republic of Panama. It covers private individuals and legal entities, with special provisions for public security institutions and other state bodies. It defines possession and carry licenses, training, psychosocial assessment, and the registry. Its governing principles include due process, confidentiality, data protection, institutional coordination, proportionality, and traceability from manufacture to destruction.

A possession license would require applicants to be over 21, be Panamanian citizens or permanent legal residents, have a verifiable address, pass training and a psychosocial assessment, demonstrate knowledge and safety measures, and meet the conditions concerning criminal history, violence, and judicial incapacity. A carry license would also require proof of a specific risk through a complaint or a high-risk occupation, 20 additional hours of training, and financial capacity to obtain civil liability insurance for B/. 50,000.00. The bill prohibits the categories of firearms and ammunition listed in Art. 7.

Initial training consists of 40 hours taught by instructors certified by the Public Security Investigation and Analysis Directorate (DIASP); its certificate is valid for 10 years. A psychologist registered with DIASP conducts the psychosocial assessment. An unfavorable assessment results in denial, which the applicant may appeal within 10 business days by submitting a new assessment. A firearm must be stored unloaded in a safe, with ammunition separate and access restricted. The holder certifies these measures annually; home verification requires written consent or a judicial order under the stated conditions. DIASP reviews documents, criminal history, and residence and decides applications within 30 days.

The holder must begin renewal at least 60 days before expiration, and DIASP has up to 30 days to decide. Expiration without renewal results in automatic revocation and requires deposit of the firearm within 10 days. The bill lists other grounds for revocation and provides for notice, a defense, a reasoned decision, and an appeal under Law 38 of 2000. It also requires reporting address changes and notifying DIASP and the National Police (Policía Nacional) of theft, loss, or destruction. Carrying is prohibited in specified places, including educational and health facilities, judicial premises, bars, demonstrations, public transport, and international transport terminals.

Minor, serious, and very serious administrative offenses carry fines and, according to their classification, suspension or revocation of the license. The sanctions procedure provides for a written report, a defense, evidence, a reasoned decision, an appeal, and collection of fines; for appeals, Art. 22 cites Law 38 of 20006. DIASP administers a centralized, restricted-access registry containing holder, firearm, license, and incident data and publishes statistics without personal information. The registry incorporates ballistic fingerprints under Interpol protocols and biometric data. A voluntary firearm surrender program runs for the 12 months following commencement, with destruction of surrendered firearms and monthly reports.

The bill creates the National Arms Control Commission (Comisión Nacional de Control de Armas) and requires periodic technical reports and confidentiality for collected information. It repeals Law 57 of 2011 and conflicting provisions, allows 12 months to bring existing licenses into compliance, gives DIASP 90 days to implement the registry, and sets 60 days for regulations. It would take effect upon promulgation. The measures involve DIASP, the Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Pública), the National Police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministerio Público), the Institute of Legal Medicine (Instituto de Medicina Legal), the National Customs Authority (Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores); they concern firearm holders, instructors, health professionals, private security, cash transport, and the firearms trade.