What is Belize's gun ownership policy and gun laws?
Boris Mannsfeld - Boris Mannsfeld & Associates
Belize does permit gun ownership and also concealed carry. There are some restrictions on the type of weaponry that can be imported into the country, the type of weaponry that can be carried concealed, and the amount of ammunition that can be held in storage per individual. As to what those specific types of guns and restrictions are, I couldn’t speak to at the moment, because they can change from time to time, but you certainly don’t have the relatively open-ended...
Belize does permit gun ownership and also concealed carry. There are some restrictions on the type of weaponry that can be imported into the country, the type of weaponry that can be carried concealed, and the amount of ammunition that can be held in storage per individual. As to what those specific types of guns and restrictions are, I couldn’t speak to at the moment, because they can change from time to time, but you certainly don’t have the relatively open-ended Second Amendment rights you’re supposed to have in the United States.
The only exam I know of necessary for gun ownership is an exam to make sure you’re not mentally unstable, to check, for example, if you’re the type of person who will get angry at someone cutting you off and shooting them. This is a legitimate mental test to determine if you are of sound mind to understand the lethal force that you could potentially have on your person.
The only exam I know of necessary for gun ownership is an exam to make sure you’re not mentally unstable, to check, for example, if you’re the type of person who will get angry at someone cutting you off and shooting them. This is a legitimate mental test to determine if you are of sound mind to understand the lethal force that you could potentially have on your person.
Posted December 1, 2014
Christian Burn
I flew in from my vacation last week with a man who was bringing a gun with him to Belize. As long as you have a permit for your gun and you bring it in a case that has extra locks on it, you can bring guns to Belize. You have to go through a certain process and that process is explained through the police customs website.
I flew in from my vacation last week with a man who was bringing a gun with him to Belize. As long as you have a permit for your gun and you bring it in a case that has extra locks on it, you can bring guns to Belize. You have to go through a certain process and that process is explained through the police customs website.
Posted December 2, 2014
Macarena Rose - Rainforerst Realty
Belize allows its citizens to own guns. If you come to Belize as an expat, then you must check your gun at the airport and you must apply for a permit. If you move to Belize, you must apply for a permit, then you can go and buy your gun. Either way, you must apply for your gun permit first, and then there is a vetting process. They will call you on the phone and bring you in for an interview. They will do a background check on you, and they will have...
Belize allows its citizens to own guns. If you come to Belize as an expat, then you must check your gun at the airport and you must apply for a permit. If you move to Belize, you must apply for a permit, then you can go and buy your gun. Either way, you must apply for your gun permit first, and then there is a vetting process. They will call you on the phone and bring you in for an interview. They will do a background check on you, and they will have a police check done from your place of origin, just to make sure that everybody is doing the right thing.
If people buy a property, such as a farm, they usually go and get a shotgun license, but they always have to apply for the permit. Once a year, on your birthday, you must imperatively always remember to renew the license.
(Mossburg 500 shotgun pictured.)
Posted January 27, 2015
Jim Hardesty - TropicChoice Properties & Investments, Ltd.
Firearm ownership in Belize is considered a privilege, not a right. Applicants for a gun owner's license in Belize must establish a legitimate reason for owning a firearm; e.g. self defense, hunting, etc.
Establishing residency first is usually necessary to be able to show such a reason. An applicant for a firearm license in Belize must pass a background check, which considers criminal, mental, medical and previous firearm ownership records and...
Firearm ownership in Belize is considered a privilege, not a right. Applicants for a gun owner's license in Belize must establish a legitimate reason for owning a firearm; e.g. self defense, hunting, etc.
Establishing residency first is usually necessary to be able to show such a reason. An applicant for a firearm license in Belize must pass a background check, which considers criminal, mental, medical and previous firearm ownership records and experience. Law enforcement experience is often a plus. Both exposed weapon and concealed carry permits are available.
The minimum age for gun ownership in Belize is 16 years old. Gun owners must re-apply and re-qualify for their firearm license every 1-3 years.
Civilians are not allowed to possess any assault rifles, automatic and semiautomatic firearms, rifles of caliber greater than 7.62 mm or 0.30 inch, sawed-off rifles or shotguns, shotguns of barrel length 21 inches or less, rifled shotguns, handguns of caliber greater than 9mm or .38inch, armor-piercing ammunition, silencers, or extended handgun magazines.
Private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is permitted under license, except handguns over 9mm or .38 caliber, or Magnum cartridges other than .22 inch or 5.6mm.
Licensed firearm owners in Belize are permitted to possess only the number of firearms indicated in the license and only the quantity of ammunition indicated in the license.
Typically, a gun owner may qualify for possession of both a hand gun and a rifle, but usually not multiple firearms in excess of that.
Penalties for illicit weapon or ammunition possession is stiff: 5 years in a Belizean jail.
There are a few shooting ranges in the country: The Placencia Gun Club, The Belize Gun Club, The Cayo Pistol Club.
Posted February 21, 2015
Jaseth Bassaragh - The Alpha & Omega Group
You have to be a permanent resident to qualify to apply for a license to hold a firearm. A firearm is what is licensed, not the individual, but you yourself have to meet those requirements, which are the following: You must be a permanent resident, you must be 18 years or older, and you must have a clean police record.
You have to be a permanent resident to qualify to apply for a license to hold a firearm. A firearm is what is licensed, not the individual, but you yourself have to meet those requirements, which are the following: You must be a permanent resident, you must be 18 years or older, and you must have a clean police record.
Posted April 28, 2015
Mark Leonard
In Belize, nobody really has firearms other than some people who aren’t’ supposed to have them, the police and the Defense Forces. If you carry money because you work at the casino or if you are a vendor that carries money, they have armored car service like anywhere else. I don’t really see a need for anybody to carry a handgun although you can get a permit for that. The caliber is no more than 9 mm. You can get a shotgun for...
In Belize, nobody really has firearms other than some people who aren’t’ supposed to have them, the police and the Defense Forces. If you carry money because you work at the casino or if you are a vendor that carries money, they have armored car service like anywhere else. I don’t really see a need for anybody to carry a handgun although you can get a permit for that. The caliber is no more than 9 mm. You can get a shotgun for hunting.
In Belize, all firearms are required to have a permit and the ammunition is also required to have a permit. You cannot have more than a certain quantity of rounds per weapon.
If I would compare Belize to Florida, well, in Florida, a lot people pack firearms! In Belize, nobody really has firearms other than some people who aren’t’ supposed to have them, and the police.
Shotguns? No problem. You have to get a permit for it and again, ammunition is counted. I’m not sure of the amount of rounds. For larger caliber rifles, I really do not know the requirements. I would have to leave it to the government of Belize’s website for the caliber allowed.
But generally, you can get a gun and you can bring one in, too if you want. You just have to have the serial numbers and make sure it is of the right caliber and pre-registered so when it comes in you’ll have the paperwork there to bring it so it is not confiscated or you’re arrested.
As a foreigner, you can own weapons, but I believe you have to be a Belize Resident. I am not sure if you are under special circumstances if you are a developer and you are out in the bush somewhere, what the regulations are. Those things you can do, you just have to have your paperwork in place. If you come to a checkpoint, you are required to have your paperwork with you in the car and show them that you can carry that firearm and have the ammunition you’re allowed.
(Irish Guard training in the jungles of Belize (at that time, British Honduras) 1979, pictured.)
Posted May 27, 2015
Karen Wilkinson
You can own a gun in Belize but you have to do it "by the book" and it is relatively expensive. You have to have a license and get background checks. We had a gun in our home for a number of years which belonged to my husband when he came down to Belize. The licensing fee runs $500 Belize a year for non-citizen (US $250). We figured that that we could spend US $250 per year in a lot of better places so ultimately...
You can own a gun in Belize but you have to do it "by the book" and it is relatively expensive. You have to have a license and get background checks. We had a gun in our home for a number of years which belonged to my husband when he came down to Belize. The licensing fee runs $500 Belize a year for non-citizen (US $250). We figured that that we could spend US $250 per year in a lot of better places so ultimately we gave up the gun.
Belize restricts firearms. They wouldn’t welcome somebody coming in with an AK-47 that they want to police around their property. That would definitely be found out.
(Pictured: AK 47)
Posted June 3, 2015
Howard Oldham - Tropic Real Estate
Getting a gun license here in Belize is fairly easy. Whether or not you can get a gun and what firearms they will allow you to have really depends on the reason why you want to have a gun. As for me, I'm a businessman who lives in the countryside, so they see it as legitimate that I own a pistol and a shotgun for security purposes. You go through a certain process when applying for a gun license in Belize. You have to get a police report and they do a...
Getting a gun license here in Belize is fairly easy. Whether or not you can get a gun and what firearms they will allow you to have really depends on the reason why you want to have a gun. As for me, I'm a businessman who lives in the countryside, so they see it as legitimate that I own a pistol and a shotgun for security purposes. You go through a certain process when applying for a gun license in Belize. You have to get a police report and they do a background check on you to make sure they have nothing bad against you. Once you're cleared, the head of the police is the one who will approve your request.
You also have to consider that there are a lot of gun and ammunition restrictions here in Belize. Also, typically, they don't allow automatic weapons, AR-15s, or high-grade weapons. They may take you down to a lower-grade gun. Generally speaking, the only shotgun they allow is a single-shot. So, it's pretty much up to the police as to what type of gun you're going to get.
(Pictured: country road in Belize.)
Posted June 22, 2015
Virginia Krohn - Villa Cayo Belize
Yes, you can have guns in Belize. You can have a personal protection gun and a shotgun for farm use. My husband and I both carry personal protection guns. Small ones that fit into your boot or on your belt but others carry larger pistols like the Glock. You could also carry them in a purse or put them in the glove box of your vehicle. You have to have your permit to carry with you at all times. There is a fee every year to keep your permit current. ...Yes, you can have guns in Belize. You can have a personal protection gun and a shotgun for farm use. My husband and I both carry personal protection guns. Small ones that fit into your boot or on your belt but others carry larger pistols like the Glock. You could also carry them in a purse or put them in the glove box of your vehicle. You have to have your permit to carry with you at all times. There is a fee every year to keep your permit current. Ammunition is not licensed but you have to show a license to purchase it and the quantity is limited. If you bring guns in from the states they will be left at the airport until you obtain permits and then you can pick them up. Sometimes it can take a period of months to accomplish this. I think it is far better if you are going to buy the gun to buy it here. They will help you get your paperwork together and tell you what to do.
Since I sell real estate I travel around a bit and have strangers in my vehicle but I have never felt the need to use the gun. The only time I have ever used it is to do practice rounds on my property.
(Ruger Mark II, pictured.)
Posted June 17, 2016