The Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition (SLCCAA)  has on the 3rd October, 2023 informed all citizens who have obtained firearms from the commission and have failed or refused to renew their licenses to do so with immediate effect.

The Press release reads; The Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition (SLCCAA) has noted with grave concern that some civilian firearms owners who obtained licenses from the Commission have failed, or refused, to renew their licenses annually as stated in Section 23, subsection 4(b) of the Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition Act No. 24 of 2023

The significance of the renewal of these licenses, among others, is for the owners to carry and use their firearms legally as set out in the SLCCAA Act of 2023, and to generate the much-needed resources for the Government of Sierra Leone. Therefore, the Commission HEREBY URGES ALL CIVILIAN FIREARMS OWNERS who have failed, or refused, to renew their firearms licenses to do so with immediate effect.

The Commission wishes to inform all its clients that, failure to renew their firearms licenses is an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not less than ten thousand Leones (New Leones) or to imprisonment for a term not less than 5 years, or to both the fine and imprisonment as set out in Section 23 subsection 8 of SLECCA Act of 2023.

In view of the above, the Commission is strongly advising all civilian firearms owners, who have failed to renew their licenses to do so, or to surrender their firearms for safe keeping to the Commission’s Headquarters at State Avenue, in Freetown, on or before the 20th of October 2023, until such time they are able to renew their licenses. Failure to do so will leave the Commission with no option, but to inform the police to take the necessary lawful actions against defaulters as appropriate.

The Commission also wishes to reiterate that, it is her responsibility to regulate the manufacture, transfer, sale, possession and use of arms and ammunition throughout Sierra Leone. Thus, anyone found in possession of firearms without a valid license issued by the Registrar of SLCCAA will be prosecuted and the full penalty of the law as ansted in Section 23 subsection 8 of the SLCAA Act No. 24 of 2023 will be enforced.