Jamaica launches two-week gun amnesty

Jamaica has carried out a 14-day gun amnesty which can start on Wednesday, November fifth.

The announcement within the Home of Representatives got here as the brand new Firearms Prohibition and Restriction Act, which offers for penalties of 15 years to life in jail, took impact on Tuesday.

It additionally got here on the identical day that Police Commissioner Main Normal Antony Anderson disclosed that 652 unlawful firearms had been seized since January, representing an 11 % improve over the identical interval final yr.

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Minister of Nationwide Safety Dr Horace Chang stated the November 5-19 amnesty will permit individuals in possession of unlawful or unregistered firearms and ammunition to give up the weapons with out the worry of prosecution.

He stated it was not solely criminals who’re being inspired to show of their weapons.

“There are people who could have inherited a firearm from a grandfather or uncle who could have had it locked in a protected and simply had not paid any consideration to it.

“There may additionally be younger males residing in a tricky group who’re trustworthy, hard-working people; they may have utilized for a firearm license they usually didn’t get it, acquired a firearm with no intention of committing a legal act, and subsequently discover themselves uncovered. We’re offering a chance for them to give up the firearm,” the nationwide safety minister stated.

He warned that when the amnesty expires, the complete pressure of the regulation might be utilized to anybody present in possession of an unlawful firearm or ammunition.

In his contribution, Opposition Chief Mark Golding referred to as for a register to be established when a weapon is surrendered and a receipt generated for that weapon with its specifics, together with serial quantity and make.

“Proper now, it simply says go in and hand in a weapon, and there’s no paperwork round that and there’s no accountability. It might be that there’s an intention to implement that operationally, however I might have thought that the order itself would have required it,” he stated.

CMC