More legal guns on the road - Thousands of firearm licences approved in last two years
Published:Sunday | August 11, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Tyrone Reid, Senior Staff Reporter
Jamaica's gun-control authority issued more than 8,000 new gun licences to private individuals between July 2011 and early August 2013.
That was more than the total number of gun licences issued during the previous five years the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) had been in existence.
The 8,000 does not include permits granted to security guards authorising them to use their company's firearms.
According to the FLA, the number of armed security guards is approximately 4,700. Because one security guard can receive multiple permits to use different guns while on duty, the FLA explained that the number "means guards who have been issued permits to use the company's firearm".
In July 2011, The Sunday Gleaner reported that more private citizens were arming themselves with guns, as data from the FLA, established in 2006, showed that hundreds of licences were being approved and issued to citizens and companies since the gun-control body relaxed several stipulations it previously enforced.
Written test removed
In 2009, the written test, which was the most difficult moving target for many applicants to hit, was removed.
The FLA also reduced the practical shooting test pass mark from a perfect 10 to eight out of 10.
This drew the ire of some critics who feared that the public was being placed at risk.
At that time, figures provided by the FLA revealed that in 2007, the gun-control body issued 76 gun licences.
In 2010, the number of gun licences issued by the authority swelled to 2,386.
The FLA data also revealed that between 2007 and July 2011, the gun-control body issued some 6,055 firearm licences. Most of the licences were issued in 2010.
Data provided by the FLA last week showed that between July 2011 and August 8, 2013, the authority approved 8,147 applications, denied 996 applicants and revoked 134 licences.
Dr Kenroy Wedderburn, the recently appointed CEO of the FLA, told our news team that there hasn't really been a spike in the total number of applications received by the gun-control body.
"I wouldn't say there has been a spike. There has been a marginal increase in applications. However, word is getting out that instead of the process taking two or three years it has been reduced to six months now for new applications," said Wedderburn.
Improved efficiency
Asked whether the relaxing of certain stipulations once enforced by the FLA has contributed to the increase in the number of firearm licences being granted, Wedderburn maintained that improved efficiency in processing of applications is the No. 1 factor for the sizeable number of approvals.
"The increase in the number of firearm licences is contributed mainly to the authority's board working assiduously to clear the backlog," he insisted.
Wedderburn also hailed the opening of the authority's regional office in Montego Bay, St James, and the implementation of quicker turnaround time for applications as other factors that have contributed to the increased efficiency being displayed by the FLA.
The gun-control boss believes the increase in the number of licensed firearm holders will be a shot in the arm for the overall safety of Jamaicans.
"Yes, the authority believes that the spike in the number of gun licences will redound to the benefit of national security," he said.
There are approximately 30,500 licensed firearm holders in Jamaica.