20 Years! NSC recommends higher minimum sentence for gun possession; new crime for adults grooming kids to carry firearms"

The National Security Council (NSC) has recommended an increase in the mandatory minimum sentence for illegal gun possession to 20 years in prison, a statement from the Office of the Cabinet has revealed.

The current mandatory minimum sentence for illegal possession of a firearm is 15 years.

The announcement comes over a month after criminal defence attorneys protested the current mandatory minimum sentence, arguing that judges should retain the flexibility to impose sentences that are based on the merits of individual cases.

The NSC also disclosed that under proposed amendments to the Firearms Act, a new criminal offence will be created for adults who groom children to use, store, transport, or acquire illegal guns.

“This is necessary to address the gap whereby gangs seek to recruit and enlist minors in the commission of gun crimes,” said the statement released on Sunday.

It said the NSC also agreed that further consideration should be given to how cases involving children found with illegal firearms are handled and that a review will examine matters surrounding firearms with expired licenses.

Further, the NSC, which is chaired by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, said concerns raised by the public about possession of imitation firearms will be “clearly addressed to distinguish between toy guns and guns designed to realistically imitate a weapon”.

The Ministry of National Security and Peace has been directed to have the draft legislation with the proposed amendments ready by the end of November this year for wider consultations, the statement said.

However, the NSC has indicated that before the new provisions take effect, the government will implement a gun amnesty and cash buyback programme to give persons holding an illegal gun the opportunity to surrender it.

Holness said the proposed amendments will strengthen the law while keeping it fair, according to the statement from the Office of the Cabinet.

It said the recommended increase in the mandatory minimum sentence for illegal gun possession is in keeping with the government’s commitment to refine the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act, 2022 to make it tougher while protecting the innocent and vulnerable.

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