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Ban pellet toy guns in VI– Cromwell Smith

- said such toys may be having psychological effects on children that can turn serious
Talk show host Cromwell Smith aka Edju En ka has complained that pellet shooting toy guns, while not extremely harmful, could be having a phycological effect on children in the Virgin Islands and contribute to more gun crimes. Photo: Photo: Internet Source
Mr Smith was at the time interviewing Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) on ZBVI 780 AM last February 13, 2023, where he also called for a ban of the guns, hinting that it could lead to more gun Crimes in the VI. Photo: Facebook
Mr Smith was at the time interviewing Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) on ZBVI 780 AM last February 13, 2023, where he also called for a ban of the guns, hinting that it could lead to more gun Crimes in the VI. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI– Talk show host Mr Cromwell Smith aka Edju En ka has complained that pellet shooting toy guns, while not extremely harmful, could be having a phycological effect on children in the Virgin Islands and contribute to more gun crimes.

Mr Smith was at the time interviewing Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) on ZBVI 780 AM on February 13, 2023, when he called for a ban on the guns, hinting that it could lead to more gun Crimes in the VI.

“There's got some guns in the community… they have like magazines, and they shoot little pellets like an automatic rifle. You squeeze the trigger, it's battery operated, and it spits pellets like a machine gun like it was M16 or AK47,” he detailed.

Smith said within the community children would wear goggles and hoodies to protect their skin and would engage in full gang wars in areas like the Greenland field.

'I've been hit a couple of times' - Smith 

Mr Smith said in the 'friendly' gang wars children would tell each other, "I’m going to kill you," in a playful manner; however, it can become more serious.

“I've been hit a couple of times and it has a little sting, it's not a handful in that sense, but I think it's hurtful, you know, psychological,

“From a psychological perspective, that psychological development, you could see this graduating into something more serious,” he said while calling for a ban on the toy guns from the VI community.

27 Responses to “Ban pellet toy guns in VI– Cromwell Smith”

  • Communist Smith (17/02/2023, 11:12) Like (15) Dislike (8) Reply
    Next he is going to say violent movies, rap music and video games.
    • who he (17/02/2023, 12:18) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Him used to talk about everythink but no so much recent - him gettin into talk season. Does any persons call he Edju - I dont think so.
    • Fuji (17/02/2023, 15:06) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
      We grew up with the caps on paper toy guns and we never grew up thinking we should shoot somebody. Banning everything because irresponsible adults act like fools is ridiculous because before you know it, there will be no toys left to play with.
  • HMMM (17/02/2023, 11:26) Like (27) Dislike (6) Reply
    Boss go sit down chatting nonsense, trying to be relevant. The main reasons it have so many illegal guns is because the BVI is living in the stone ages for what they want. Why can't you legally own a firearm in the BVI providing the requirements are met, especially for business owners, security companies, etc. Potential criminals would think twice, people should be able to protect themselves and what they have worked so hard to gain. Most people prefer to take the chance with having an illegal gun to protect what's there's, instead of waiting until the police decided to show up. Just my 2 cents.
    • @hmmm (17/02/2023, 14:43) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      While I agree with what your saying, the reality is such that we as community on a whole have failed to demonstrate responsibility, love, kindness and respect for one another. Had we been living by those standards, instead of pellet guns in our kids hands it would be tools for building, repair, engineering jobs etc. We wouldn't have so much crime that people would be having to register weapons. Cromwell's suggestion is a patch job to slow down the behavior but the only fix is education..... we need to be bringing value systems back into the homes and schools.
  • Call Of Duty (17/02/2023, 11:28) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    Wake Up to Reality.
    The Only thing Affecting our Children are the Electronic Devices that we allow to raise them. they now have access to limitless information. Music promoting violence (even from our local artists) and Sex all Mold their minds. not all but most. I have Played call of duty, Grand Theft Auto etc. and turned out just fine..
    toy guns are the least of the problems.

    when a bird on my mango tree i need that pellet gun parna,
  • From long... (17/02/2023, 11:43) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    ...boys have been playing with toy guns and girls with dolls. I am 60+. Where are you coming from or going to with this mess? I may lend a listening ear to the thought that the video games may contribute to the psychological thoughts of the youths (not being able to distinguish virtual from reality). But face it, toy guns are as old as Crom Well. Toilet paper clogs the sewerage lines so should we ban that as well?
  • Ban Pellet Toy Guns (17/02/2023, 12:13) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    I totally agree with Cromwell.

    I was driving home in the west on more than one occasion, and I have seen a group of young boys about 6 of them in Hannahs Estate between 15-18 years walking from Billy's Suprette with long black pellet guns and black hoodies over their head. They act like they are bad and try to frighten people. This made me so nervous, because I dont know whether they were real or not. Inciting fear in people with the crime rate in our country is not cool or a game. if this continue to be ignored, you never know when they will hold the real thing and hurt someone.

    Parents need to monitor their children, especially their sons, and tell them stop keep bad company. Even with the video games they are playing with at home is making a big impact on their minds. They are becoming prone and sensitized to violence. It is like nothing to them.

  • jah know (17/02/2023, 12:32) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    So then we will have to ban water guns too? Video games, movies, music videos??? A toy is a toy, that's up to the parents to teach their kids that it's just a toy and how dangerous a real one can be. I also think toy guns shouldn't be given until a certain age where they can understand those teachings I previously stated.
  • WO (17/02/2023, 12:35) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    I 100% agree for once
  • Native senior citizen (MoG) of the British Virgin Islands (17/02/2023, 12:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr.Cromwel Smith, I am glad that you and the Hon. Minister, Marlon Penn. Had face to face discussion on this critical topic issue. It is of a paramount issue that should not be overlooked by none, even by those that have opposing opinion. However, the Hon. Minister should not have waited until it came close to him. He should have fought against all crimes, especially gun related crimes, that is fastly on the rise here in the BVI, from the very first day that he was elected to office.

    Allowed me please to to help show you why it not guns that shoot people, but rather, people use guns to shoot others, sometimes self.
    Of the two, self enflict wounds are more harder to overcome, because when the human mind is set to on doing harm to their neighbors, and or self, it has first been harmed by selfish hatred against self. All acts against others and self are self enflict wounds that can be cured.

    The BVI is a wounded Overseas Territory of the UK, because of the lust of our mind mostly for the things that gratify our fleshly desires. Political power probably top the list.

    Note: 1. when human shoots a fish or other creatures for food, they eat them. If you and I have no desire to eat humans, we should not shoot to kill them, either. But we have the God given right to defend, the best we can, against evil shooters, for defensive reason, only.

    Note: 2. Thou (You nor I) shalt (should) not murder our neighbors. Amen.
  • WTF (17/02/2023, 13:02) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVI Criminal Code 1997:

    See section 4 regarding "imitation firearms"

    70. (1) Any person who caries or has in his possession any offensive weapon or any explosive or incendiary device, in any public place or outside his own house or premises, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, or both.
    (2) Where the offensive weapon is a firearm, a person does not commit an offence under this section if he is in the possession of a firearm license, issued under the Firearms Ordinance and a permit in writing, signed by the Commissioner of Police, giving him permission to carry the firearm outside his house or premises.
    (3) Where the offensive weapon is a knife, a person does not commit an offence under this section if he proves that he was wearing or carrying the knife outside his own house or premises for some lawful purpose, for which the knife was necessary.
    (4) For the purposes of this section and imitation firearm shall be deemed to be an offensive weapon and “imitation firearm” means anything which has the appearance of a firearm, whether or not the same is capable of being fired.
    (5) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent any police officer or member of Her Majesty’s armed forces from wearing or carrying any firearm, sword, staff or other weapon issued for the purposes of his duty.
  • OF I MAY ADD (17/02/2023, 14:30) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    A pellet gun can blind someone if struck in the eyes ????, so far No one has mentioned that / water gun won't kill you or hurt you
  • all (17/02/2023, 14:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ban all type of toy guns toy knifes every toy weapons. I said so a long time ago they smiled look at what we have now the wild wild west. No body listen so take what you get now. Only them have brilliant minds politicians now waking up when it's to late the monsters are raiding the territory and elsewhere
  • Really (17/02/2023, 14:43) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    The internet now a day more harmfully then a toy gun .
  • Norris Turnbull (17/02/2023, 14:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ WTF Say no more.... Punchie and Minister need to research before going on air making ong pong.
  • parent (17/02/2023, 14:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I never bought toy guns for my kids nor my grand kids. It starts with parents and godparents. The items dont have to be banned. Parents and godparents needs to stop purchasing these items for their children
  • Pellet guns (17/02/2023, 14:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is not a good move for kids. In the ild days we had the tape. The pellets are a bit much and poses a danger.
  • Really!!! (17/02/2023, 15:12) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    PLEASE...first, what research are you basing this idea on.

    Secondly, There are much more critical topics to discuss, like the lack of funding for proper mental health service here in the Virgin Islands. Let's stay focus of the real issues.
  • Hmm (17/02/2023, 16:28) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think he does be there coaching why he don't just take all those kids and train them for a sport.
  • MrMan (17/02/2023, 16:32) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    What is this man talking about? Who has pellet guns here? I tried to get one year ago and was told I had to write to the police commissioner and request permission and pay $75 for the application. The shippers don't allow them to be cleared or received without the permit so once again who is this man talking about with pellet guns. You running out of things to talk about bro. That's a sign buddy,time to retire.
    • @mr (18/02/2023, 09:52) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I think he's talking about the gel blaster water guns. Those orbeez gels have to be soaked before they can be used. lots of people here have orbeez as air refresher when you soak it it swells up.
  • cromwell (17/02/2023, 19:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    BAN THE SCOOTERS FOR THEY ARE KILLING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE
  • 76% (17/02/2023, 20:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    76% of the now grown people with guns was once “children run around the festival village saying pow pow. I never liked the idea of toy guns.
  • @hmmm (18/02/2023, 18:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I say no to people owning guns just because they have a business. It's a poor excuse to possess such a weapon that can result in someone's life being taken Carelessly. Especially for the fact some owners do not know how to control their anger.
  • facts (18/02/2023, 20:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Things folks shouldn't have
    First nation and Ameridians.. Alcohol
    Afro Caribbean/Afro Americans..guns.

    How many times till you see..jeez man
  • Bannnn (19/02/2023, 09:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Updeislun folks flitting from pillar to post dropping their spawns here there and everywhere with no care.


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