Firearm licence will not be issued just because you’re a business owner, says Acting Commissioner of Police

“Many times, we have persons that apply for firearms and one of the mains reasons for wanting a firearm is because they are business owners. We’ve had incidents recently where two licensed firearm holders in recent months were relieved of their firearms by criminals. We will not just be issuing firearm licence because you say you have a business. Yu must come up with solid reasons why you believe you need to possess a firearm,” he said during a press conference on Friday December 22nd, 2023.

He added: “The (firearm) application goes to a committee, it is properly examined and then a recommendation is made to the commissioner of police, but while I sit in the chair, I certainly will not be issuing firearm licence to anybody who simply say because I am a business owner. That is not a good enough reason as far as I am concerned. The law is clear on firearm licences and what should be done and it is not for me to suggest to persons what they should be saying on their application. If you feel strongly that you need to have a firearm licence, you need to put your application forward with the reasons why.”

Meantime, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Darron Williams confirmed that the force has received a number of applications for firearms.

“We do have a lot of applicants for firearms. We have not yet gotten to the stage where we have to vet and process those applications as yet, but hopefully in the coming year our committee can meet and we can go through all of those applications. In addition to that, we do have a portal online where persons who have interest in applying for a firearm they can now apply through that portal,” he said.