ComPol Weighs in on Firearms and Ammunition Control Board

Earlier this month, Cabinet announced that it had considered and approved the establishment of a Firearms and Ammunition Control Board. The board, according to a Cabinet release, will be established to receive, consider and process firearm application, as well as to provide regulations and criteria for the approval of firearms licensing. That approval came after numerous media reports revealing that gun licenses have been falling into the hands of known criminals. This morning, Chester Williams, the Commissioner of Police, was asked about the change and whether he thinks the new system will prove effective in the issuance of gun licenses. Here is what he had to say.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Still the current system that is being used until the amendment to the law and the new board to be put in place.”

Reporter

“By when would you expect that to happen?”

Chester Williams

“I don’t know, that would be a question to the minister.”

Reporter

“You had welcomed that there be an audit in relation to the issuance in the past, are mechanisms for the processes being put in place for that to happen?”

Chester Williams

“Certainly yes. I don’t know what the composition of the board is going to be. We are yet to see exactly what it is going to be like and then we see how it goes from there. But you are hopeful that is going to be a way better system that what it is right now. Well I don’t know if it is going to be better because the truth is Jamaica has a board and since the board came into place many criminals in Jamaica end up with gun license, so it became worst in Jamaica. So, I am not going to say that the board is going to make it better, we will have to wait and see how that goes when the time comes.”