Omar Anderson, Gleaner WriterTHE SENATE yesterday passed the Firearms Bill to establish a new centralised and independent Gun Licensing Authority that will grant and revoke gun licences, permits and certificates.
Entitled an Act to Amend the Firearms Act 2005, the bill was passed with several amendments.
The legislation also provides for the establishment of a Review Board to hear appeals following the refusal to grant or revocation of a gun licence,
certificate or permit.
OPPOSITION SUPPORT
The bill, which received support from the Opposition, was amended to delay the establishment of the licensing authority, as Opposition members raised several concerns about several clauses.
Amendments are also expected to come from the House of Representatives.
Yesterday the Opposition argued that the new body should be allowed to review all gun licences that may have been previously issued without proper procedure being followed.
They also took issue with the national security minister being able to appoint the members of the Review Board, while the Governor-General appoints the staff of the licensing authority.
REVIEW BOARD
Instead, they suggested that the Governor-General should appoint the members of the Review Board, following consultation with the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader.
In his contribution to the debate, Government Senator Trevor Munroe called on the United States Government to do more to prevent the flow of guns from its shores to Jamaica. He based his call on the alarming number of murders in the island in which gun is the weapon of choice.
For her part, Opposition Senator Dorothy Lightbourne emphasised the need for tighter regulations in issuing gun licences, noting that applicants should be carefully examined.
