OAG: Ex-Ranger Murphy now allowed to register Glock pistol

The Office of the Attorney General has notified the federal court that former U.S. Army Ranger Paul Michael Murphy, who sued over the alleged confiscation of his firearms and ammunition in 2002, is now allowed to register his Glock pistol pursuant to the Special Act for Firearms Enforcement or SAFE.

Assistant attorney general Charles Brasington, as counsel for then-Department of Public Safety commissioner James C. Deleon Guerrero and Department of Finance secretary Larrisa Larson, filed on Monday a notice of change in law before the U.S. District Court for the NMI.

Brasington said Public Law 19-42, the Special Act for Firearms Enforcement (SAFE), was signed into law.

Brasington said SAFE removes the ban on possession of handguns.

He said SAFE also establishes new rules for transporting and using firearms.

Brasington said SAFE maintains the prohibition on rifles in calibers above .22 and .223, and shotguns of gauge greater than .410.

He said SAFE creates an assault weapon ban.

The assault weapon includes a semi-automatic rifle in a caliber greater than .223 that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine.

Brasington said the government believes that the WSAR rifle that Murphy wishes to possess falls within the assault weapon definition, but further research is needed before the Commonwealth files a motion to that effect.

Murphy’s lawsuit seeks to repeal the CNMI Weapons Control Act and all associated legislation, licensing, taxation, recording, administration, and processing.

Murphy alleged that DPS withheld all his firearms and ammunition until the issuance of a firearms, ammunition, and explosive identification card on Sept. 20, 2007.

He said his two firearms were sent to Guam Police Department armory for holding, while the ammunition is being held by the CNMI DPS Firearms Section. He said DPS has denied his repeated requests to carry and possess his rifle and pistol.