Readers’ reactions

Lawyers stage silent protest over mandatory gun sentences

Not a lawyer but can’t they put together a case and sue in an effort to change the law? Do mandatory minimums violate the Constitution? - @jagpratar3

Lawyers protesting in this manner? The game has changed. - @born_baddest

Where’s this energy for the sex offenders registry? - @DaleSpaniard

Well, I’m always complaining that the lawyers and judges don’t advocate much legislatively. - @agapekevon

I’m really encouraged to see this kind of collective advocacy from some of the legal fraternity. We have to continue to disrupt the proceedings with our objections. Justice needs voices or it will be silenced and suppressed. - @iamdonisha

And I think there’s an interesting question underneath all of this: Where should Jamaica draw the line between judicial discretion and Parliament’s desire to make gun penalties extremely severe? That’s really what this lawyers’ protest is about. That’s not being soft on gun crime. It’s recognising that a 15-year sentence for possessing a weapon used to terrorise somebody and a 15-year sentence for possessing an imitation firearm for a non-criminal purpose are not necessarily the same thing. The current debate exists precisely because the law can treat such very different circumstances alike. And, importantly, I’m not saying the judge should be able to reduce a sentence simply because they personally disagree with Parliament’s policy. The exception should be based on legally defined circumstances and subject to review. That, to me, is the proper boundary between the legislative and judicial branches. - @regalroyallevi

I join in full solidarity with the judiciary. Water guns and imitation firearms cannot be given the same mandatory sentence of 15 years as a real firearm. The government is taking away the discretion of the judges by this mandatory sentencing. Yes a water gun or imitation firearm can be used to commit a robbery and yes it’s wrong, but let the judge use their discretion in the sentencing of same. There are three arms of government: the legislative, executive and judicial. All these arms must be in the decision-making. - @faithyanike

This is interesting and disturbing at the same time, of all the things. - @deandra_cj

Never thought I’d see the day when lawyers are protesting. - @retlawthafuture

Readers’ reactions sourced from The Gleaner’s X and Instagram pages. Compiled by Khanique McDaniel