A war of words is brewing between a well-known gun dealer and the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board over Belize’s newly updated firearm licensing system. The board is defending its process, saying it’s designed to strengthen due diligence and reduce administrative loopholes. But gun dealer Abner Murillo isn’t convinced. He says the system has become overly complicated, so much so that it’s now blocking responsible citizens from legally obtaining firearms. Murillo shared stories of rural applicants traveling long distances to Belmopan, only to be turned away and told to return the next day. He also claims he’s being personally targeted. The board, however, has pushed back, clarifying that only one valid ID is required and acknowledging the unique challenges faced by applicants in remote areas. The board also confirmed that Murillo has taken legal action. Here’s what he had to say.
Abner Murillo, Owner, Lock N’ Loaded
“When it comes to instructors, I am an NRA certified instructor in the U.S. I can teach anywhere in the U.S. But, what they did, and I don’t want to go too much into detail, but they are victimizing certain people and cherry-picking certain people. We have an instructor that teaches out of Lock N Loaded but it is not me. There are four or five instructors to teach a population of, what is the population right now? The last time I checked it was four hundred thousand, about four to five hundred thousand. So you have about a hundred thousand people for instructors. Does that make any sense to you. And there is a lot of qualified instructors in the country. They have taken away, revoked license. When it went from the police department and they took over, it was not a new application for new instructors. They should have honored everything already established. But they came and began revoking licenses left right and center. They revoked licenses for myself with no justification, no kind of explanation and it just seems like I am going to benefit this one and victimize this one, that is how it feels.”