A Brief Background on Aruba Gun Ownership
The general principles of gun ownership in Aruba are based on a licensing system that is governed by the Archaeological Institute for the Caribbean and Suriname (SLAC) and the Minister of Justice. The regulations surrounding this system state that anyone seeking to own a firearm on the island must have the appropriate permit.
The eligibility to own a firearm in Aruba is restricted to residents who can prove a need for a firearm, such as security personnel, or those engaged in a hunting profession. The second category is for those interested in hunting and target shooting to whom the government issues a limited amount of permits. The third category where individuals may purchase a firearm is for use on an Aruba registered yacht or pleasure craft that is docked in an Aruban port. Grocery stores , game shops and marinas are the three permitted locations where firearms may be sold and purchased with a valid permit.
The types of firearms permitted for use by civilians are limited to handguns up to a minimum caliber of 6.35mm and a maximum caliber of 11.43mm, and rifles with a maximum caliber of 6.35mm. Ammunition for hand guns with a maximum caliber of 11.43 mm and rifle ammo ranging from 6.35mm to 9 mm is permitted. Unlike in other countries, no automatic or semi-automatic hand guns or rifles, machine guns and grenade launchers are allowed. Only the government and military are permitted to possess fully automatic weapons.
How to Get a Gun License/Permit in Aruba
The process for obtaining a gun permit in Aruba is relatively straightforward, although applicants must meet a number of criteria and provide certain documentation to apply. First and foremost, applicants must be over the age of 21 and demonstrate a good reputation. Applicants who have been convicted of any serious crimes may not be eligible for a gun permit. Any applicants for a gun permit must also demonstrate a willingness to undertake firearm training courses. This requirement does not apply to those holding a valid gun permit from another country; however, these applicants will need to provide a transcript of their firearm training from their home country. The process for obtaining the necessary gun permit involves the following steps: Once the application has been approved, the applicant will receive a gun license. This license is only valid for five years, after which the license holder must renew it via the process outlined above.
Aruba Firearm Laws
Customers are permitted to use firearms in accordance with the following regulations:
- Children shall not use firearms. They shall be used, after obtaining Commission permission, by persons from eighteen years of age and older and by persons who are admitted to military service.
- Persons who have not been admitted to military service may only use the firearm for target practice with a shooting club or organization or with recreational shooting, subject to a distance of at least four hundred meters from any inhabited area.
- Users of firearms must, by law, wear a protection mask and lens in order to protect their eyes and mouth from inhaling the toxic fine particles that may be created from the expended gunpowder. This is especially so when firing blank ammunition.
- Firearm owners must notify the Commissioner of Police of a change of residence or of the use of a different location for the keeping of the weapon.
- Firearms must be kept under lock and key in such a way so as to prevent children under the age of eighteen years gaining access to them.
- The firing of a shotgun shall only be permitted with shot cartridges containing whole lead pellets. The use of shotgun cartridges with lead pellets that are not whole shall be strictly prohibited.
Criminal Sanctions for Gun Violations in Aruba
In the unfortunate event of a violation of gun laws in Aruba, it’s essential to understand the potential penalties and legal implications. Aruba maintains a strict policy on firearms, with various consequences outlined for those who would disobey established regulations. Generally, gun possession violations are categorized into minor offenses, which can lead to administrative fines, and major offenses, which can lead to criminal prosecution.
Minor firearm violations include possessing unregistered ammunition, carrying an expired permit, or driving with a firearm in a vehicle without proper authorization. For minor infractions, penalties usually involve a fine or other administrative action, rather than criminal prosecution. These fines can range from small amounts to several hundred Aruban florins, depending on the violation . As penalties for minor violations are regularly amended, it is advisable to verify the current fines through official sources. Given the potential of violating gun laws, visitors are encouraged to declare their firearms with giant at the time of entry to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
Major offenses, specifically regarding the possession of firearms or ammunition, are treated severely under Aruban law. The threat or use of a firearm against another person is considered a criminal offense and is subject to prosecution. It is important to note that even a perceived intent to use a firearm, such as pulling a pistol within 1000 meters of a public church or school, is a criminal offense with serious implications. In addition, murder, manslaughter, and aggravated assault, when committed with a firearm, incur harsher penalties. It is not uncommon for these crimes to result in more than five years imprisonment or a heavy monetary fine.
Aruba Gun Laws Compared to Nations with Similar Laws
When it comes to government regulations and their enforcement, not every jurisdiction plays by the same rules. For this reason, it helps to know how one country’s regulations compare to its neighbors. Aruba’s gun laws are relatively unique in the Caribbean, particularly when compared to the more restrictive gun laws of other islands in the region.
Only a few Caribbean islands recognize the right to own firearms for self-defense, and even then, only in limited circumstances and to a limited extent. A study of gun laws in St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda shows that these islands have strict requirements and limitations on the commercial import of firearms and ammunition. Furthermore, these islands’ gun laws limit ownership of firearms and ammunition to guns required for a specific hunting purpose, in specific calibers and quantities, and only by those individuals who have received a government-issued permit. Any unauthorized importation of firearms—commercially or otherwise—is strictly prohibited and subject to significant sanction of up to and including five years’ imprisonment.
By comparison, Aruba’s gun control laws are perhaps the most relaxed in the Caribbean. For that reason, many visitors to Aruba make the unfortunate mistake of assuming it is legal to carry firearms on the island. In fact, a small number of visitors to the island have in recent years been caught seeking to import weapons into Aruba and have met with negative consequences including an arrest and jail time.
While the laws of many other Caribbean nations explicitly require an owner or possessor of firearms to demonstrate a legitimate necessity to obtain those firearms, Aruba’s laws do not make that distinction. Instead, the country’s laws simply require gun owners to register their weapons with the Central Bank of Aruba and pay a fee. What is more, residents may apply with the government for a CC4 Permit, which requires successful completion of an examination administered by the Aruba Ministry of Justice and grants the holder the right to possess certain types of firearms with no limitation as to type, amount or number of rounds of ammunition.
Any gun you own in Aruba must be registered with the Ministry of Justice. However, even though most residents have no problem obtaining and possessing firearms, the laws governing the use of those firearms are extremely strict. It is illegal to hunt, trap, capture, kill or eat any animals, birds or marine life found in Aruba. Additionally, any discharge of a firearm other than at a designated shooting range is illegal. Under very limited circumstances, you may obtain a permit from the government to possess a shotgun, handgun or rifle, but only if you can prove (and not simply attest to) that you have a legitimate reason for seeking the permit. In other words, a simple desire for self-protection, personal security and the like will not be sufficient to convince authorities of the legitimacy of your need.
Gun Laws and Public Safety in Aruba
Aruba gun laws foster a moderate level of violence and the crime rate is low. The island frequently gets high rankings for security in the Caribbean with regards to murders. One 2016 report ranks Aruba second in security in the Caribbean. The rational behind the favorable ranking is that Aruba has a low crime rate, so the government doesn’t need to invest heavily on police and security efforts. While statistics are hard to come by, the overall crime rate for 2016 was 40 percent lower than the past decade. Although gun crimes are not common, the most current statistic for homicide gives Aruba a dilution of 1.4 people in 100,000. However, the nearby Caribbean island of Curacao, with more liberal gun laws, reflects a higher gun related crime at 5.5 per 100,000. A shooting incident earlier this year captured international headlines of a police officer shot in the neck and a teen aged boy shielded his mother from gun fire. This sad commentary is a stark reminder of public safety hazards in the Caribbean region.
Yet , the Aruba crime rate is 49 percent lower than the Caribbean average, according to tourism publication, Caribbean Journal, for the year 2014. In addition, Aruba ranks 22nd out of 174 countries in the 2018 Global Peace Index, which rates countries by levels of safety provided to its citizens. When looking at the safety of residents who have applied for gun licenses, 99 percent of issued permits to own a weapon are for handguns. Gun-related crimes are very rare on the island. Crime in Aruba is usually non-violent and few incidents are violent including muggings and theft. The island’s homicide rate was under one murder per 10,000 people in 2015. In Aruba, crime can be attributed to drug smuggling and drugs cause many economic problems. Many residents are too poor to afford legal representation in courts. The mostly Dutch speaking locals who lack legal representation suffer when they are embroiled with crime and law enforcement.