Crackdown on legal guns coming

STORIES BY ALEXANDER BRUZUAL

alexander.bruzual@trinidadexpress.com

A CRACKDOWN is coming on the number of licensed guns an individual can hold.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has made recommendations to both the Ministry of National Security, as well as the Attorney General's office for the Firearms Act to be amended to limit how many firearms one individual can have.

There is currently no limitation to the number of weapons persons can legally own in this country, so long as the application for variations on their Firearms User's License (FUL) goes through the legal process and receives the requisite approvals.

This has led to people this year alone being held with 23 and 27 firearms during the course of police investigations-all which were legally obtained by application for variations.

Speaking with the Sunday Express yesterday, acting Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob said there was concern that there were persons in this country with access to over two dozen firearms of various types.

'I have noticed the concerns of several members of the public, regarding the incident that occurred in San Fernando (involving Shamzard Mohammed killing his wife Keisha Marina Bostic before taking his own life), and questions being raised on how this individual could have access to five firearms over a period of less than 16 months.

'I, too, want to express my concern over this situation, and I want to say right now, that this is a matter which the TTPS is actively investigating.

'Based on our current records, it is clear that this is not a one-off occurrence. There are currently citizens among us with two, three, four, or even five times as many firearms than what you would typically expect. They exist. They are all FUL holders, and these weapons that they have, they will claim are for their own benefits by the variations that they have legally applied for.

'So these are individuals that hold over 20 weapons. Individuals, mind you, not security companies. So you have persons sitting at home with more firearms than in some of our smaller police posts. This is the reality.

'And I believe this has created a serious risk to our security apparatus in the country, and when one looks at the increased number of home invasions we have had, and when suspects are being held with licensed firearms which were reported stolen or missing,' Jacob said.

Jacob said the TTPS was maintaining a conservative approach to the issuance of firearms, and had steered away from the previously more liberal attitude.

That being said, he noted that this did not mean citizens who have applied for FULs would be denied once all thresholds were met.

'All thresholds must be met'

'I want to be very clear. Once the legal parameters and thresholds are met, then persons will be issued FULs. That is what is required by law, and we will follow the directions outlined to us in the current legislation.

'However, we will be ensuring that all thresholds are indeed met, before acting, because the issuance of that sort of number (of firearms) to individuals should be curtailed. And I am giving the assurance to concerned citizens that it will not happen under my watch,' Jacob said.

When asked about the lack of limitations to variations of weapons an individual may have, Jacob noted that the Firearms Act is 'silent' on this number.

'Under the current law, you can give variations and there is no limit. But I would submit that the act was made then taking into account, noble, responsible, and prudent-minded individuals, dealing with the issuance of firearms. Yet we have had several experiences within recent months where individuals were held with 23 and 27 firearms.

'So I would also humbly submit that it would be wise for the government of the day to institute the necessary amendments, to curtail the amount of variations. There are arguments that an individual who may have a handgun, but has land for shotgun for pests so they need a variation, and then they need another variation for practising on the range.

'I acknowledge these logistical arguments, but I have not seen any justifying one individual having five, ten, 19, 23 or 27 firearms,' Jacob said.

'CURTAIL VARIATIONS': Acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob.