by Linda Straker
- PM advises citizens should not underestimate there is a gun challenge in the country
- New firearm legislation projected to go into effect as of 1 August 2024
- Sentencing for those found guilty will receive imprisonment as high as 40 years
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has described the new firearm legislation that is projected to go into effect as of 1 August 2024 as draconian, as sentencing for those found guilty of gun related crimes will receive imprisonment as high as 40 years.
“We are going to parliament to debate it next week Tuesday and Wednesday. The changes to the sentencing for persons caught with unlawful firearms are going to be draconian,” the Prime Minister said during a townhall meeting on Monday held in St Andrew.
This was the second townhall meeting hosted by Government to mark its second year in office. The first was held in the northern parish of St Patrick. Two other meetings are scheduled to take place by 23 June, the date of the anniversary.
“The sentencings are going to move from fines and 6 months imprisonment, to a minimum of 5- and 10-years imprisonment, to in some cases, 20- and 40-years maximum imprisonment,” he told the hundreds of attendees.
Besides an increase in penalties, the new legislation also restricts magistrates from granting bail for firearm-related offences. Bail will only be granted through a High Court Judge. The amendment also provides for an individual who is in the company of another who uses or attempts to use a firearm or ammunition is deemed to also be in possession of the firearm or ammunition, once a reasonable excuse cannot be provided to the Court.
“A person who is proved to have in his or her possession or control any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other means of transport in or on which is found any firearm or ammunition shall, in the absence of reasonable excuse, be deemed to have in his or her possession that firearm or ammunition, as the case may be,” said the amended Firearms Act.
Prime Minister Mitchell who also carries the ministerial portfolio of National Security, said that data is showing a significant increase in gun-related crimes in the state, while other criminal activities are plummeting. “In recent times we know we had an upsurge in gun-related violence and, I want to re-emphasise that it is gun-related violence — in many instances other criminal activities are trending downwards… between January to June of 2024 the police have confiscated during those 6 months, as many as 35 firearms,” he told the meeting.
“That is not those who have given up their firearms voluntarily, I am talking about those that the police have intercepted, confiscated and arrested people for…that is more firearms than the entire year last year; it is more than the year previously. In fact, in the last 10 years it is more than any other time,” he said while advising that citizens should not underestimate that there is a gun challenge in the country.
Guns are not the problem rather it is the person using one to commit a crime.