Dionne Rose and Ross Sheil, Staff ReportersCOMMISSIONER OF Police Lucius Thomas responded cautiously yesterday to a call by Opposition Senator Prudence Kidd-Deans to speed up gun licence applications. Making her maiden speech in the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday, Mrs. Kidd-Deans argued that criminals would be deterred by a better-defended public.
"I recommend, therefore, that every level of bureaucracy be removed to facilitate the application of every decent law-abiding Jamaica who has applied and who fits the criteria for a firearm licence, be granted one unhesitatingly and expeditiously that such a person can become a front-line soldier in his or her own defence," said Senator Kidd-Deans.
LEGAL RIGHT
Contacted by The Sunday Gleaner, the commissioner said he was not fully apprised of her speech, but fully supported the legal right of citizens to bear arms. "I didn't see the story, I'm not in a position to comment, but I would just want to hope that we would not put red tape in front of people applying for what is their legal right," he said.
He expressed confidence that the Gun Licensing Authority which is now in charge of all new applications would be capable of any such increase in applications, should Mrs. Kidd-Deans' call be heeded. The police still handle all renewals.
Senator Kidd-Deans also supported a proposal put forward by her colleague, Senator Authur Williams for the establishment of a firearm registry.
REGISTRY
This registry, she said would not only keep a record of the type of firearm and serial number, but would also keep a ballistic record of each firearm, which would assist in determining from whose gun a was bullet fired.
"Madam, this registry would do the checks and balances of the usage of an illegal gun as versus a licensed one," she said.
Senator Kidd-Deans spared no words in describing her colleagues on both sides of the House as hypocrites, as she said more than 75 per cent of them were licensed firearm holders. "They see the need to protect themselves and their families (and correctly so), but others must abide by the rules of the state and at the same time tremble with fear at the possibility of the gunman's bullet," she said.
