Put down your guns! RVIPF announces ‘firearm amnesty’
Ag. Deputy Police Commissioner Alwin James made the announcement during an East End/Long Look Community Police Consultative Group meeting held at the East End Long Look Community Centre in collaboration with the RVIPF.
The Amnesty is effective from November 19 to December 19, 2012.
Mr James said, “One of our main issues in the Territory is the use of illegal firearms… we are doing so in partnership with the Christian Council, so all the churches in the territory are partnering with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force on this very important initiative and amnesty.”
He also revealed some of the statistics related to gun crimes in the Territory, “In 2007 we had 6 murders; 3 of those 6 murders were committed with firearms; in 2008 we had 8 murders, 7 of those murders were committed with firearms; in 2009, 1 [murder was committed with the] use of a firearm; in 2010, we have 3 also with the use of a firearm; in 2011 we had 3, all 3 with the use of a firearm; in 2012 so far we have 3 and 1 with the use of a firearm.”
The acting Deputy Commissioner further disclosed that for attempted murders committed with the use of a firearm, for 2007 there was 1; for 2008 there were 10; 2009 there was 1, 2010 there were 6; 2011 there were 7 and so far for 2012 there was 1.
The firearm recovery rates were also of some concern as it was revealed that 9 firearms were recovered in 2007; 10 in 2008; 9 in 2009; 11 in 2010; 7 in 2011 and 7 so far for 2012.
“What we know is, that within our society, somebody knows, it could be your friend, it could be a member of your family… we know that they are in possession of illegal firearms,” he added.
He urged, “don’t wait until it comes home, don’t wait until it’s a member of your family, a member of your household, you could do something, say something… if you have the information… you could use the new 311 [emergency] number, you could contact the Police.”
He also encouraged persons to contact Crime Stoppers noting that “you could call, no one is going to know your identity, you could pass along that information.”
“It is very important,” Mr James added, “we have to do something about ridding our society of illegal firearms.”
He also noted that it could happen to anyone’s child alluding to a robbery incident that occurred two weeks ago where someone was robbed of a gold chain in Huntums Ghut and the perpetrators fired at least 9 shots indiscriminately, hitting nearby homes and businesses in the area.
“Think about what could have happened, innocent people could have lost their lives… because of only a few people within our community who were behaving lawless,” he asked.
“We are making a plea tonight, we are making a plea to all the residents of the BVI,” Mr James continued.
He further noted that after the amnesty has expired, persons found with illegal firearms thereafter will be brought before the court and are expected to be dealt with as “stiff as the law provides”.
Persons can go to any station across the territory or even call an officer to come pick up their firearms – no questions asked he said.
“Please… hand them in,” the Ag. Deputy Commissioner concluded.
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