Strike down disclosure of gun owners
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT for keeping the identity of legal gun owners private has blunted the likelihood of public disclosure of this information.
Rare as it is, government and opposition members of a joint select committee reviewing the Firearms Act agreed that the proposal from a member of the public would do more harm than good, and could even make targets of legal gun owners.
In dismissing the idea, Opposition Senator Donna Scott-Mottley said it posed a danger to people rather than enhanced the security of the public.
We do not have the latest statistics on how many legal firearms were stolen by criminals, but we have the words of Mrs Marlene Malahoo-Forte, minister of legal and constitutional affairs, who said during the discussion, “We have too many examples of persons being targeted for the stealing of their firearms.”
With the recent imbroglio at the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA), where there were charges and counter-charges between board members, and the resignation of the former portfolio minister, a picture began to emerge of a flawed agency mired in corruption and steeped in inconsistencies.
These events are still fresh in the minds of citizens, who see no evidence that the serious allegations are being actively investigated, or that any form of wrongdoing will be punished. Against this background, one could reasonably be permitted to question whether this is an agency that can be trusted to maintain the anonymity of gun owners.
WEAK LINKS
The FLA has to be seen as one of the weak links in the institutional framework that has been designed to deal with the movement and control of arms in the country. Reforming the operational capacity of the FLA, to make it more transparent and trustworthy, should be a priority.
Jamaica has one of the highest homicide rates per capita, with more than 1,000-gun-related deaths each year. From police reports, few of these deaths involved legal gun owners. However, there is fear that publishing the identities of legal owners could create a pathway for criminals in search of a gun. Who applies for a licence, gets approval and buys a gun, should be protected information.
The Government’s biggest challenge includes staunching the flow of weapons into the country, their distribution, and disarming marauding gangs which are spreading their influence in every sleepy little village that once existed.
The Firearms Act must insist on tougher requirements for persons seeking gun licences. We like the idea of putting applicants through a process which requires them to take an examination on weapon use and safety. And, instead of a list of gun owners, there ought to be a list of persons who should be forbidden from ever owning a gun. Criminals should top such a list.
We also like the idea of creating weapon-free zones such as schools, hospitals and airports. A reformed act should dictate tougher penalties for trafficking in arms and the carrying of illegal weapons. It cannot be stressed the extent to which these weapons threaten public order and national stability.
We congratulate the committee for striking down this proposal, for we sincerely believe that its passage could lead to increased crime while also threatening law enforcement and public safety. Now, what are you going to do about the FLA?