Assistant Superintendent of Police Darron Williams says that it won’t be business as usual as it relates to the re-issuing and new firearm licences.
Williams in a recent interview said: “We have enhanced the process because we see the need for it. We just don’t want to give people firearm licenses without ensuring that they are aware of the safety aspects of it and what the law says about drawing your firearm on someone, or the use of force with firearms. So, we have put a new process together, on the approval of the Commissioner of Police. That is currently on the table,”
In the meantime, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police is reminding licensed firearm holders that their license should have been renewed by the 31st December 2011. According to the police, holders who failed to immediately take the necessary steps to update their license, since technically they are carrying an illegal weapon and “can be in serious trouble with the law”.
There are approximately 208 licensed firearm holders in the TCI and about 30 applications in the processing stages.
Additionally, Superintendent Williams said that the applicant must demonstrate your knowledge of safety handling for firearms with a firearm’s instructor of the police department, because the issue of firearm licenses is a serious matter, that carries criminal liability, hence those with responsibility for issuing them must be certain and convinced that the individuals applying are persons that can be considered fit.
He further pointed out that even after all the requirements for application are met, there is no guarantee that a license would be granted. He said, too, that if the holder of a firearm’s license failed to adhere to any of the stipulations, the license will be in jeopardy of be revoked and the firearm seized.
