Volume 47 · 573
Public Law 72–418
To regulate the carrying and keeping of arms in the Canal Zone.
Approved July 5, 1932
Statutory text
AN ACT
To regulate the carrying and keeping of arms in the Canal Zone.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That it shall be unlawful for anyone to carry on or about his person any firearm or any dirk, dagger, or other knife, or other weapon, manufactured or sold for the purpose of offense or defense, or any slung shot, air gun, sword cane, blackjack, or any knuckles made of metal or other hard substance.
Sec. 2.
That the preceding section shall not apply to a person
Exceptions.
engaged in the military or naval service of the United States, or as a peace officer or officer authorized to execute judicial process of the United States or the Canal Zone, or in carrying mail or in the collection or custody of funds of the United States or the Canal Zone, while such officers or persons are engaged in the performance of
Gun or pistol clubs.
their respective duties; nor to a member of a gun or pistol club organized for the promotion of target practice, a certified copy of the constitution and by-laws of which have been approved by the Governor of the Panama Canal and filed with the chief of the police and fire division, when such member is going to or from a target range or is engaged in practice at the target range. A certificate
Certificate of membership.
of membership in the gun or pistol club shall be issued by the organization and approved by the chief of police and fire division, which shall entitle the holder to carry firearms as is provided in this section.
Neither shall the preceding section apply to any person authorized to have or carry arms by permit granted under the terms of this Act.
Sec. 3.
That the Governor of the Panama Canal may authorize
Permits by Governor.
the granting of permits to have and carry arms, as follows:
1.
To hunt upon the public lands of the Canal Zone or upon lands
Hunting.
occupied by private persons, when authorized by the latter.
2.
To have arms in residences, offices, business places, and plantations
Possession of arms in residences, etc.
and to watchmen or overseers of plantations, factories, warehouses, docks, or piers. Applications for such permits shall be made
Applications.
to the Governor of the Panama Canal, and shall contain the full name, residence, and occupation of the applicant; and if the applicant is a minor it shall not be granted without the consent of his parent or guardian; but no permit shall be granted to a minor under fifteen years of age.
3.
To carry arms in private aircraft for hunting or protection
Arms in private aircraft.
of crew or cargo.
Sec. 4.
That when an application is granted by the governor for a
Fee
permit to hunt, he shall indorse his approval thereon and file the application, and he shall cause a permit to be issued to the applicant, upon his payment of a fee of $1.
Hunting permits issued by virtue of this Act will allow the holder
Hunting areas.
thereof to have, carry, and use firearms in the area or areas prescribed by the Governor of the Panama Canal, and on the conditions imposed by him under such general or special rules and regulations
Designation by Governor.
as he may issue from time to time. And the governor is hereby empowered to designate the area or areas of the Canal Zone in which hunting is permitted, and the class of arms that may be used in hunting in such areas; and no hunting shall be allowed outside of the areas so designated by him. And the Governor of the Panama
Regulations.
Canal may, in such general or special rules and regulations, impose such other conditions in respect to hunting as he may deem necessary in the interests of public order and to prevent injury to persons or property.
A permit granted under this section shall run for the fiscal year
Validity of permits.
in which it is issued, and it may be revoked at any time for cause by the Governor of the Panama Canal.
Sec. 5.
That permits heretofore issued by authority of law, to
When issued prior hereto.
have and use firearms, shall not be affected by this Act, but such permits shall continue in force until the expiration of the period for which they were issued.
Sec. 6.
That anyone not authorized by this Act, who carries on or
Violations unlawful.
about his person any of the prohibited arms mentioned in section 1 of this Act, or who hunts or engages in hunting without first obtaining the permit provided for in this Act, or who after obtaining such permit engages in hunting in violation of the provisions of this Act or any rule or regulation established by the governor hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Sec. 7.
That penalties for the infringement of this Act shall be
Penalties.
in addition to such punishment as may be imposed upon the offending person for any other offense that he may have committed in connection with the carrying or using of arms in violation of this Act.
Provisions repealed.
Sec. 8.
That sections 449 to 460 of the Penal Code of the Canal
Executive Orders Nos. 1857, 3243.
Zone, and the Executive orders of December 1, 1909, November 3, 1911, November 7, 1913, and March 6, 1920, and all other laws in conflict herewith, are hereby repealed.
Approved, July 5, 1932.