KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica police have charged 187 people for violating the new Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act which could result in penalties ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment.
“Since the new Act was enacted, just about 348 charges have been laid against 187 persons for various offenses. For January, 131 bills have been laid against 75 persons under this Act, “said Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson.
The legislation establishes a dual regime, distinguishing between prohibited or unregulated firearms and activities connected to them and guns duly authorized or registered.
The Bill also outlines the objectives that speak to establishing a framework that prohibits firearms and ammunition that are illicitly traded and which regards possession of those banned firearms and ammunition as the foundation on which other heinous and violent crimes are committed.
Breaches of the new Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction, and Regulation) Act, 2022, which is now in effect, will result in penalties ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment. Anderson noted that through local and international partnerships, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) seized 796 weapons in 2022, the highest gun seizure since 2017.
“Since February 4, 130 illegal guns have been seized, a 24 percent increase over last year. The collaboration with our local and international partners extends to all areas of transnational organized crimes.”
Illegal firearms feature in 85 percent of murders and violent crimes across the island. Last year, Jamaica recorded 1498 murders in 2022, and so far this year, the authorities said 86 people have been killed compared to 137 last year.
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