Tavares-Finson cautions against any substantial changes to Firearms Act

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Attorney-at-law and Government Senator Christian Tavares-Finson is cautioning against any substantial changes to the Firearms Act which came into effect in November 2022. Tavares-Finson said in a statement that, while, in principle, he is not opposed to a review of the Act, substantial changes to its provisions would be ill-advised. He is also expressing his full support for the mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years under the Act, which pertains to the possession of an illegal firearm and the use of a firearm to commit a crime. “It is good to review all legislation from time to time, especially legislation that was recently passed. But I am of the view that the Firearms Act of 2022 has served as a deterrent for some individuals who would have otherwise been minded to commit crimes using a firearm. Data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Court Administration Division (CAD) both confirm a double-digit decline in gun crimes and serious gun-related cases placed before the court subsequent to the passage of the Act in 2022. I am not of the view that this should be regarded as a mere coincidence,” he said. Tavares-Finson said it would be advisable for the Government to stay the course in terms of maintaining the mandatory minimum punishment of 15 years for possession of an illegal firearm or the commission of a serious offence where a firearm is the weapon of choice. “We should not forget where we are coming from as an island where murders had consistently exceeded 1,000 annually for over 20 consecutive years. The Andrew Holness-led administration has been able to effectively partner with the security forces and drastically reduce that number. Certainly, we have seen an over 55 per cent reduction in murders when the tally in 2022 is compared with last year’s murder figures. Now is not the time to take our feet off the legislative pedal in terms of our policy posture,” Tavares-Finson concluded.