Delinquent licensed firearm holders could be arrested at airport come January 1

Non-compliant firearm holders seeking to leave the island could be arrested as of January 1 next year when the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) embarks on a compliance enforcement drive.

FLA CEO Shane Dalling said the enforcement drive is targeting some 4,000 licensed firearm holders who have not been renewing their permits annually as required by law.

According to Dalling, when the FLA began appealing to non-compliant holders to regularise their permits in December last year, there were 8,000 offenders including members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force.

He said only half of that number have since been regularised and investigations by the FLA have found that a few gun holders who had also been listed as non-compliant have actually died.

Dalling, speaking on RJR’s Hotline, said in many cases, relatives were unaware that the dead persons were gun holders and arrangements are now being made with the police to check the safety deposit boxes owned by the deceased to see whether the firearms had been secured.

IN PHOTO: Shane Dalling

In the meantime, Dalling said the FLA is entering a memorandum of understanding with the police and the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency with a view to finding non-compliant firearm holders.

House visits are also a part of the strategy.

Dalling said law enforcers will be provided with a list of the delinquents and asked to raise an alert once a non-compliant licensed firearm holder is found.

However, under the Firearms Act, they could be immediately arrested and upon conviction sent to prison for up to 12 months or fined the maximum $200,000.

This afternoon, Toni-Ann Kelly, Corporate Communications Officer at the FLA, said, since December 1, $36.1 million was collected in renewals and late renewals.

She said the FLA is also seeking to recover firearms whose holders who have migrated or are travelling overseas leaving the weapons in the care of family members.

"The Firearms Act allows you to store your gun at the FLA in storage or at the nearest police station while you travel. Anything else is against the law and should not be done," said Kelly.

About gun licensing
> A firearm licence is valid for five years.
> Although a firearm licence is valid for five years, the permit must be renewed every year.
> The permit renewal fee will be applied retroactively if any period is missed.
> Firearm permits may be revoked if they are not renewed annually.

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