JAMAICA | Peter Bunting Flays FLA for denying Gun Permit to Cop because of where he lives

KINGSTON, Jamaica September 24, 2022 - Opposition spokesman on National Security and former minister of the portfolio, Senator Peter Bunting, has lamented the practice of the island's Forearm Licencing Authority  to deny policemen gun permits  because of where they live.

Debating the Firearms Prohibition Restrictions Act in the Senate Thursday, Bunting who is also Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, described as disgraceful and shameful the alleged denial by the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) of a personal gun permit to a policeman who has served in the Jamaica Constabulary Force for five years because of the community in which he lives.

Bunting told the Senate that he received a letter from a policeman outlining his dilemma, that he had been denied a personal gun permit as a result of where he lived.

The Opposition spokesman on National Security read a letter from the FLa to the policeman which said: “Applicant’s area of residence is of concern and is likely to pose a greater risk to the applicant if a firearm is introduced.”

Bunting told the Senate that the FLA’s response was “unfair and elitist and is going to demoralise the members of the police force..This is a police officer with a wrong address. This is a police officer that we are asking to face down criminals on a daily basis,” pointing out that if the policeman who was denied the personal gun permit did not receive a “keep-and-care firearm” from the State, he was forced  to return to his home in a tough community without a weapon to defend himself.

#Timecome to stop denying Police Officers firearm licences based on their addresses.

Here's an excerpt from my presentation during the Sitting of the Senate earlier today. pic.twitter.com/64fmgQOeYT

— Sen. Peter Bunting (@PeterBuntingja) September 22, 2022

Bunting said it was unfair that young Jamaicans who have been asked to take on criminals are being denied a personal gun permit because of their address. He argued that the community where the police officer lives placed him in a situation where he is more likely to have to defend himself than if he lived in Cherry Gardens or Jacks Hill in a gated community with 24-hour security.