rishard.khan@guardian.co.tt
Acting Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob is assuring there is no intention to close down the firearms unit of the TTPS or stop granting firearm user licenses (FULs).
His promise came during a press conference on Friday at the Gymnasium Police Academy, Samaan Drive, St James.
“There is no intentions by me or the administration of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to close down the FUL department or even to cease the issuance of firearm user’s licenses,” he said.
“Once persons reach the relevant threshold that is required, they will be, in fact, granted a firearm.”
He said since June this year, some 120 FUL applications have been processed, with the Firearm’s unit completing some 800 relevant processes to its operations.
He noted, however, there were issues occurring with FUL holders such as losing their weapons, the guns not being stored properly or even loss of them through theft and robberies.
He said this was the origin of the 108 legal firearms used in criminal activity over the last five years.
He said these were some of the issues they hope to resolve by reworking the Firearms Act.
“Yes, I mentioned we are reviewing the firearms act together with the Attorney General’s office headed by OLEP and that is being done to tighten up particular procedures that are within the firearms act to ensure that the majority of persons in Trinidad and Tobago can in fact be protected.
“We saw the loopholes and it is necessary that we work on it.
“So all our efforts with the aspect of legal firearms is to ensure the safety and security of the holders of the firearms, their families and the other persons who exist in the community,” he said.
He said this was because there were instances where FUL holders accidentally discharged their weapons harming themselves or others around.
We already have the problem existing with illegal firearms. We don’t want the problem now where legal firearms now turn into illegal firearms in the hands of others or causing death in our country,” he said.
“So when we talk about the issue of legal firearms, it’s not to prevent persons from obtaining FULs but to tighten up things for the benefit of all of us in the country.”
As part of mitigating this, he said the police intend to work with trainers for FUL holders to ensure a comprehensive program is instilled in them to reduce such instances.
Also speaking at the press conference was Public Information Officer Inspector Michelle Lewis who indicated this week the TTPS seized its 600th illegal firearm.
She said 103 of the illegal weapons seized this year were high-powered rifles.
She also said 12,850 rounds of various ammunition were also seized for the year to date.
While these are alarming figures, Jacob admitted, he said it is not enough work and more needed to be done to get these weapons off the streets.