House to address AG’s gun law concerns

House Speaker Rafael Demapan (R-Saipan) said yesterday that they would discuss all concerns pointed out by Attorney General Edward Manibusan regarding the Special Act for Firearm Enforcement, which became Public Law 19-42 after Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signed it last April.

PL 19-42 or the SAFE Act aims to regulate the possession of firearms in the CNMI. Manibusan, however, wants the Legislature to expedite the passage of his office’s initiative of updating all gun control laws in the Commonwealth.

Demapan told Saipan Tribune that they met with Manibusan and other members of the Attorney General’s Office to discuss the provisions that the AG wanted to update under the SAFE II bill. He said that they had already received Manibusan’s recommendation.

Rep. Glenn Maratita (R-Rota) has introduced House Bill 19-181 or SAFE II that would provide possession and management of firearms in the Commonwealth. He is the House Judiciary & Governmental Operations Committee chair.

Demapan said Maratita’s bill is now at the committee level where they are discussing the provisions on the AG’s proposal. “We discussed the issues on those provisions that would be included on the proposed initiative. We also had meetings with the [committee] members.”

The House speaker added that the committee is working double time to pass the measure that would include the recommendations made by Manibusan but is making sure it would not be in conflict within the existing laws in the CNMI.

“The committee is doing its due diligence, making sure it is conformed with whatever laws that we have in the Commonwealth. Also, we’re trying to put things in legal format. The committee will again meet soon to discuss the proposed measure and other provisions on the bill,” he said.

The Department of Public Safety would be the implementing agency of the SAFE II bill once passed and signed into law by Torres. The DPS would accept and approve all applications, and issue the gun licenses.

“Of course the DPS will be the main authority in making sure that anyone who wishes to have handguns or any type of weapons that they would have to go though the entire process,” said Demapan.

Demapan added that DPS would also make sure that all applications they received or submitted to their office would follow in whatever gun control laws that the CNMI has here.

AG Office’s proposals

Manibusan, in a press release published yesterday, said with SAFE II the DPS “can process firearm applications consistent with the Second Amendment requirements.” He has urged the Legislature to expedite in passing the SAFE II initiative that his office is proposing to update CNMI gun control laws.

“We also discussed changing the scope of the Second Amendment and the litigation that is occurring across the country,” said Manibusan in the release after their meeting with House members.

DPS, under the OAG’s SAFE II draft proposal, will have the power to conduct federal background checks on individuals once they applied for gun licenses or register their firearms. SAFE II also has a provision that would govern the commercial sale of firearms in the CNMI.

Background checks by DPS would ensure criminals would not acquire guns and other firearms.

Also included in SAFE II is a 10-day waiting period for an individual in the CNMI who wanted to buy firearms.

Deputy AG Lillian Tenorio, OAG chief solicitor James Zarones, and assistant AG Charles Brasington joined Manibusan in the meeting with House members.