More Jamaicans purchasing guns

Jamaica's Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) is reporting an increase in the number of  persons applying for gun permits.

Dr. Kenroy Wedderburn, Chief  Executive Officer of  the FLA,  who was at the latest RJR Group News Forum on Friday, said the number of applicants has increased significantly in the last four years.

    
Dr. Wedderburn stated that, with the application time shortened, there has been an influx of  persons seeking gun licences, with an average of 450-500 applications per month, or approximately 6000 per year. Of that number, only 10%-15% are denied, he reported.

There are currently more than thirty thousand licensed firearm holders in Jamaica.                                   

     

 

Dr. Wedderburn also revealed that more women are applying for gun permits, including "some fairly unique categories of individuals... like primary school principals, nurses, housewives."