The arrest of a student who reportedly brandished a gun at a local high school (see Monday newspaper) once again confirmed the proliferation of firearms in the country. It’s not hard to imagine how unsafe this makes other students and their parents, but also staff, feel.
The same edition carried a story about a man who was allegedly shot several times in the Sucker Garden area. In this case too, police thankfully detained a suspect and seized the weapon believed to have been involved.
Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling said during last week’s budget debate that her ministry was taking concrete steps with the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM to introduce a firearm amnesty programme. This allows unlicensed gun owners to surrender such without facing related charges.
However, the submitted weapons must obviously first be checked to see if they were used in any crimes. The intention cannot be that serious offenders are somehow given a free pass.
While experience has shown that mostly otherwise law-abiding citizens make use of this offer and not so many – potential – delinquents, incentives may change that picture a bit. Rewards for providing information on suspected illegal weapons have proven effective as well.
Applications for firearms licences were also mentioned. The minister vowed a thorough and fair review strictly adhering to laws and policies in place, whereby applicants must demonstrate a legitimate need and provide evidence that there is no risk of misuse.
This is important because many originally licensed guns have ended up playing a role in crime situations. They can be lost or stolen and sometimes fall into the hands of less well-intended family, neighbours or acquaintances.
One of the best ways to get guns off the street is probably the kinds of controls authorities on both sides of the island have started conducting. Stopping and searching motor vehicles and persons even without probable cause especially in what are deemed to be high-risk areas should make a positive difference.
