Move aside 007, intoxicated man says, “I have a license to shot”
Hopeton Westby Jr
Also in court, a Belize City man was arrested and charged for discharging his firearm in public. What’s even worse, at the time of the incident, the man was reportedly under the influence of alcohol. According to the police, a shot rang out on Marine Parade Boulevard at five-twenty a.m. on Saturday morning. Officers rushed to the scene and found thirty year old Hopeton Westby Junior sitting on the sea wall, and near him, a black gun and a magazine containing seven live rounds. The officers also found an expended shell on the ground. According to reports, Westby told the cops, “I have a license to shot.” He was observed to be under the influence and Westby was immediately carted away to the Queen Street Police Station. Though Westby had a valid license for the nine millimeter gun, the fisherman of Oleander Street was charged with two counts, one for discharging a firearm in public and the second one for possession of a firearm whilst under the influence of alcohol. In court this morning, he pleaded guilty to both charges, but the chemist report on the gun was not ready by two this afternoon, and since the firearms act does not allow for bail, Westby was remanded to the Hattieville Prison where he is spending the night. The case will continue in court.
they should take away his license. this man is carzy.
They should left his … right in there because that one shot could have kill someone innocently i don’t give a ….. if he have license or not .
Unfortunately, the system doesnt work that way, He will be charge with the following: (1.discharging a firearm in a public place (2. Having a Firearm oh him whilst under the influence of alcohol.I doubt he will be spending along time. He will be slapped with a fine n dats it. However, the only reason he was remanded is because an ammunition was involved… dats automatic GO TO JAIL~ until Court date.
It’s a pity that people like him give all firearm license holders a bad reputation. We are in Belize and soon SOMEBODY will generalize and say that all firearm license holders should have their weapons recalled because of such an incident. Iam a holder of gun licenses for the past 20 years and at no time I have misused my firearm (done a lot of practise and used it only three times against somebody to protect MY life and a would be victim of rape). Prior to getting a license I had to undergo gun proficiency and safety courses with the Belize Rifle Club, which Iam a member. Plus, I had to do a practical test to receive a certificate in gun proficiency and safety. It seems that now all an applicant needs is to be have strong conections with politicians. Guns (like alcohol) are not for everybody and unfortunately some licensed gun holders should not have been given a license in the first place, but the police were coerced into granting a license by the politicians (better not dare refuse to do so or else risk being assigned to barranco or foot patrol with BDF at border or demoted). Licensed firearm holders in many instances have helped the police with their duties and have helped reduce criminal activity, but of course there are a few who have abused this privilege and sad to say may have even cooperated with the criminals (let’s not forget the incident in Orange Walk Town where the assistant compol Leal’s son [licensed firearm holder] was caught with a trio of thugs with unlicensed firearms and masks in a vehicle after an alleged holdup). This man should have had his license revoked and further investigated, but again he is the son of the assistant compol….. nepotism at its best…
This man will be in the news again, they will drop the charges, give him back his gun and he will go out drinking again and this time he won’t simply discharge his weapon but will shout some one because he was drunk and yet again be set free. Isn’t Belize justice just exemplary….hahaha
U all would be singing a different tune if it was ur family wouldn’t you? What I have learnt is the police likes to falsify things especially right now to look good in d publics eye sometimes they leave out very important pieces of a situation to make people look bad and as far as the news goes how many times have they reported the wrong thing be careful people don’t belive everything u hear or read in the news they can be very misleading. I am not taking up for him but i happen to know him and he is no thug.
I think we need 007, James Bond to use his license against this fool.
Discharging a firearm in public??? Where else would you discharge a firearm????????
Exactly EarlGray i don’t think the whole story is being told he has a license to protect himself who says thats not what he was doing was they police there to witness what happen. Here the police goes charging a civilian for being drunk when many times they can be seen drinking on the job in their uniforms and you all know this is true.
Lead by example PD