THE EDITOR, Sir:THE GLEANER of March 1, 2005 carried a front page story that is of great importance. It is the item regarding the proposed Firearm Act which would establish and govern a new firearms licensing regime. This act is expected to be passed before end of this month (March).
This act would remove the granting and renewal of firearm licences from the hands of the police force and put it into the purview of an independent professional and untainted body.
The police force has shown itself too open to greed, graft and corruption. It has shown itself capricious and biased and therefore unsuited for the grave and important responsibility of the management, monitoring and control of this very deadly and important aspect of Jamaica's life.
The change is long overdue and will go a far way towards keeping guns out of the hands of unfit persons and placing them in the hands of law-abiding, deserving persons.
The legislation must address, as well, the strict monitoring and accounting of firearms, paying special attention to both government firearms and firearms which are exhibits in cases both during the hearing of cases and after the determination of cases before the courts.
I am, etc.,
MALCOLM ROWE ESQ.
Attorney-at-law
