Ban on issuing of firearm licences

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
POLICE Minister William Onglo has signed a moratorium on guns and ammunition licence for 12 months.
There will be a blanket ban on new licences from last month to Oct 27, next year.
From the 2017 list of the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation that backs action on guns regulation, Papua New Guinea has about 52,000 illegal and unlicensed firearms.
This is the third moratorium signed by another minister with the last moratorium signed by then police minister Jelta Wong.
The ban stops all residents who wish to apply for a new licence for shotguns, rifles, pistols and high powered firearms.
Police Commissioner David Manning told The National that the moratorium would not affect those that were renewing their licences and those that applied for new licences prior to the moratorium.
Onglo said the moratorium was necessary to ensure the smooth running of the national general election next year.
He said the aim of the moratorium was to stop more firearms being acquired by members of the public.
Commissioner Manning said the moratorium was a step being taken to help ensure a violence-free election period.
“We want the election to be violence-free, and we know from past elections what can happen,” he said.
“I, as a signatory to the forms, will not be issuing any more licences to any firearm holder or renewing any licences for a year and that goes with ammunition as well, this is part of the moratorium.
“This will also give us a chance to take stock of the number of firearms and ammunition in the country; the disciplinary forces are exempted from the moratorium.”
Onglo made the declaration invoking powers conferred under Section 5A (1) of the Firearms Act.