ComPol Weighs in On Firearm and Ammunition Control Board

Chester Williams

So, what are the Commissioner of Police’s thoughts on the establishment of a Firearm and Ammunition Control Board? The ComPol, under the old system, has been responsible for signing off on firearm and ammunition license. That responsibility will now be stripped from him in the midst of public scrutiny. He says that we will have to wait and see if a board can prove effective.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Like I said we cannot be naive to think that a board is going to solve our problem. I have given example of Jamaica where there is a board and right now as we speak there is queries in Jamaica because of the fact that there are number of criminals who get gun license through the board. I always believe that the police, regardless of who the commissioner of police may be, the commissioner of police will always be more stricter in granting gun licensed, because we know that when gun license are issued what the effect it can have not only on the society itself, but on the police officers who respond to criminals and criminal activities and so we’re going to be extremely slow in granting gun licensed to persons who do not meet the criteria. So, to say that the board is going to make it better, I’m not going to say that. I’m not going to say either that the board is going to make it worse. The proof of that is going to be when it happens, then we see how it goes from there.”