Two former Ministers of National Security, Robert Montague and Peter Bunting, have taken issue with the Integrity Commission report on its probe regarding the granting of gun licences by the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) from 2012 to 2018.
Mr. Montague and Mr. Bunting were flagged for approving licences for persons with criminal traces, who were initially found unfit to hold a firearm by the FLA.
Mr. Montague approved six such licences and Mr. Bunting, two.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Montague said the Integrity Commission report is grossly misrepresentative and incomplete.
He said he was not given the opportunity to respond to what the commission sought to assert as facts.
According to Mr. Montague, the report also failed to take into consideration that his actions were informed and guided by the recommendation of a panel of experts which he asked to assist in assessing appeals made to him in his capacity as Minister of National Security.
He has referred the Integrity Commission report to his lawyers for further review.
Bunting
In a statement Thursday afternoon, Peter Bunting shed light on two firearm application appeals which occurred while he was National Security Minister.
He said one case involved a person who had been charged ten years earlier with cocaine-related offences while they were a student in Florida, and whose record was subsequently expunged.
The second case involved an individual who had been accused of molesting his wife's relative.
Mr. Bunting said this was told to the investigator, but a formal report was never made to the police.
Mr. Bunting noted that based on his recollection, the Firearm Review Board recommended that the licences be granted or restored, and as minister, he acted in accordance with their recommendations.
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