Gun amnesty cleared to begin after Senate approves Order

 

Holders of illegal or unregistered firearms and ammunition can, as of Saturday, November 5, surrender their weapons to the state, without fear of prosecution.

 

The Senate on Friday rubber stamped the Firearms Amnesty Order, 2022, previously approved in the House of Representatives.

 

The amnesty will end on November 19.

 

Government Senator Matthew Samuda said illegal guns have been a major factor in the commission of violent crimes.

 

He outlined that the amnesty is a key element in the government's crime reduction strategy, suggesting the measure has been similarly used successfully across the world to reduce high levels of armed violence. 

 

For the last 25 years, he pointed out, "Jamaica has recorded on average 1,270 murders annually" - the majority of which have been committed with illegal firearms. 

 

"The proliferation of illegal firearms continues to hinder national growth and advancement and has become the biggest threat to citizens' peace and security," he lamented. 

 

 

Opposition Senator Peter Bunting expressed concern about the documentation of the weapons being returned.

 

Senator Bunting said, while the Order explains how lawyers should report firearms returned to them, there needs to be clarity on how firearms otherwise collected would be documented. 

 

He cited incidents in the past where there have either been allegations or it was proven that "firearms were planted at crime scenes by members of the security forces". 

 

Senator Bunting said incidents like these highlight the need for proper accounting. 

 

'Already a success' 

 

In response to concerns that the amnesty may not yield a significant number of illegal firearms, Senator Samuda said the implementation of the measure is a success in itself.

 

"Anything that gets a firearm, a dozen firearms, a hundred firearms off the road is absolutely important and is a small win in a very large problem. But the more important point that we would want the country to understand is that this is more about the opportunity for those who do not want to get caught with an illegal firearm after the morning of November 20, to disassociate [themselves], to disconnect [themselves] of that weapon - and for that we stand behind the Order here today," he said.