By Jamesetta D. Williams
Monrovia-The Liberia National Commission on Arms (LiNCA) has urged civilians in possession of unregistered firearms to come forward and regularize their firearms before the expiration of the government’s registration and licensing period.
LiNCA Vice Chairman Atty. Vahpanah B. K. Wymon made the call Thursday during a Ministry of Information press briefing in Monrovia, where he outlined the Commission’s ongoing efforts to register and license firearms in civilian possession across Liberia.
According to Wymon, the registration exercise is being carried out under Executive Order No. 162, issued on April 6, 2026, as an extension of Executive Order No. 141, issued by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on February 24, 2025.
The executive orders provide additional time for civilians in possession of firearms to come forward, register their weapons and complete the required licensing and competency procedures.
Wymon said the opportunity is intended to allow firearm owners to regularize their possession while helping the government establish a reliable national record of firearms in civilian hands.
“If you are in possession of an unregistered firearm, you are being encouraged to come forward, register it, and comply with the law,” Wymon said.
He emphasized that the opportunity is not indefinite and warned firearm owners against waiting until the final deadline.
Wymon disclosed that more than 100 individuals applied during the period covered by Executive Order No. 141 to legally possess firearms.
He said applicants were required to undergo the established registration and licensing procedures, while those who qualified were referred for firearms competency training.
According to the LiNCA Vice Chairman, more than 109 qualified applicants have completed firearms competency training conducted in collaboration with relevant institutions, with certificates of competency now being issued.
He described the response as encouraging and called on other firearm owners who have not yet registered their weapons to take advantage of the extended registration period.
Wymon said the registration exercise is also intended to address the lack of a complete and reliable national database on civilian firearms.
He explained that the government needs accurate information about the firearms in civilian possession, the individuals who possess them and whether those firearms are being stored and used responsibly and legally.
“For many years, we have not had a complete and properly aggregated national database on civilian firearms in Liberia,” he said.
According to him, the absence of reliable information creates challenges for public safety and national security.
He said proper registration would improve accountability and provide national security and policymaking institutions with better information for decision-making.
Wymon explained that the Liberia National Commission on Arms, formerly known as the Small Arms Commission, was established in 2012 in line with the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
The Commission is mandated to help prevent the proliferation and illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition while promoting their responsible management in Liberia.
He said the Commission’s work is particularly important given Liberia’s history of conflict and the potential consequences of firearms falling into the wrong hands or being improperly controlled.
“We know the destruction that firearms can cause when they fall into the wrong hands or are not properly controlled,” Wymon said.
The LiNCA official stressed that civilians who fail to register firearms within the prescribed period could face legal consequences.
He urged firearm owners not to be influenced by individuals who may discourage them from complying with the registration process.
“Do not wait until the deadline. Come forward and register your firearm now,” he said.
Wymon further encouraged individuals with questions or concerns about the process to visit the Commission’s headquarters and speak with its trained personnel for guidance on the registration requirements.
He said the Commission remains committed to working with firearm owners to ensure compliance with the law.
Wymon said the Commission’s broader objective is to improve public safety through proper regulation, registration and accountability of firearms.
He called on citizens to take responsibility for firearms in their possession and ensure that they are properly registered and legally possessed.
“The doors of the Commission are open to those who have firearms or have questions about the registration process,” he said.
He also thanked the Ministry of Information, the Minister of Information and members of the press for providing a platform to communicate the Commission’s message to the public.
Wymon concluded by urging firearm owners across Liberia to use the additional time provided by the executive order to complete the registration and licensing process rather than wait until the deadline.
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