Home Affairs Minister Supports Independent Audit of Gun Registry
Kareem Musa
The Leader of the Opposition has called for a moratorium on the issuance of gun licenses, claiming at that questionable characters have been getting gun licenses. Many are of the opinion, and these recent cases are suggesting, that the process of vetting and approving gun licenses has gaps. Some say it’s who has the money. Today, Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa was also asked about the system and if he would support an independent audit of the gun license registry. In fact, Minister Musa says that he is looking at introducing a gun reform system.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“We are in the process of introducing firstly to cabinet and then by way of legislation an entire gun reform system. And so that is forthcoming and included in that has to be an audit. In terms of who will do that audit at this point, we don’t know yet, but I agree with you that that is something that should be done.”
Reporter
“Independent and outside of the police department though?”
Kareem Musa
“In terms of keeping it classified though because that is very personal information. I have no problem with an outside from civil society looking at it but there has to be a level of confidentiality because it is an individual’s private personal business. But I agree with you, having an independent person look at it would be good.”
Reporter
“Did the commissioner act wrongly when he encountered a fraudulent vetting of Marybeth Wade? Yet looked around and said you do it cause it have your name and the guy said dah noh me boss. Alright the band plays on, let’s continue. Nothing to find here, let’s go on. Was that wrong?”
Kareem Musa
“No, no. Had the commissioner upon learning that the vetting was fraudulent allowed the individual to keep her license then I would say that is fraudulent. But the commissioner revoked it upon learning that; I believe one month after, something like that. One month after learning that the vetting was fraudulent, that particular license was cancelled so I don’t see any fraud being committed day. It is a matter of what the commissioner knew at the time of being presented with that vetting, which we now know to be fraudulent. But as I understand it, the commissioner has already initiated an investigation into that particular file and others because I understand that the individual claims that there may be five others. So if we can certainly look over those five to see if a similar type fraudulent vetting was done, then the chips have to fall where there may in terms of whichever officer it was that actually produced that fraudulent vetting.”
