Firearm News
Owners of Unlicensed Handguns Urged to Hand them to Bahamas Police
17 October 2011
Tribune (Bahamas)
Bishop Simeon Hall appealed to all persons in possession of an unlicensed firearm yesterday to turn them in to the authorities during the government's one-month amnesty period.
According to the Minister of National Security, Tommy Turnquest, this firearm amnesty period, which began on October 5 comes to an end on November 4.
Persons who have illegal firearms can hand them over to authorities without fear of prosecution to police stations in New Providence, Grand... (GunPolicy.org)
Caribbean,Bahamas,Jamaica,St Kitts & Nevis,Trinidad & Tobago,Antigua & Barbuda,Barbados,St Lucia,North America,Europe
Caribbean Nations Demand Global Gun Trade Treaty to Curb Armed Crime
11 October 2011
Caribbean 360 (Barbados)
NEW YORK, United States - Battling the scourge of rising crime and violence and some of the world's highest murders rates, Caribbean nations are appealing to the United Nation for help.
They are urging the world body to help them stem the unrelenting flow of guns and ammunition to the region.
From the Bahamas, Jamaica and St. Kitts-Nevis, countries with some of the world's highest homicide rates, Trinidad and Tobago, which already has a state of emergency in place... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Amnesty in the Bahamas a Bad Idea, Says Opposition Leader
5 October 2011
Nassau Guardian (Bahamas)
Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader Branville McCartney said yesterday the government should reconsider its moratorium on illegal firearms.
"If they have the gun then we need to deal with them,"McCartney said.
"Don't give them any amnesty. Let's find them, get them and deal with them. You want the criminal element to respect the law. We want them to know that they should not be doing things because there will be consequences. I don't know if what is proposed... (GunPolicy.org)
Bahamas Prime Minister Announces Amnesty for Unlicensed Guns
4 October 2011
Nassau Guardian (Bahamas)
Calling his address last night "one of the more distressing national addresses" he has ever given, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced an amnesty period for illegal weapons to be turned in, tougher penalties for people found guilty of gun crimes and the addition of two gun courts.
Ingraham advised that for a period of 30 days following the introduction of amendments to the Firearms Act tomorrow, all citizens and other persons are requested to turn in to police any... (GunPolicy.org)
Despite Strict Gun Laws, Problem of Illegal Gun Possession in Bahamas
2 August 2011
Nassau Guardian (Bahamas)
The court tasked with dealing expeditiously with firearms cases completed nine cases last week, The Nassau Guardian can reveal. Government re-established a gun court to address the problem of illegal firearm possession. Despite restrictive gun laws, firearms can be obtained with relative ease.
Just this year, police seized 255 firearms, although fewer than 100 persons possess special permits to carry handguns.
Last week, Gun Court Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt... (GunPolicy.org)
Bahamas Police Initiatives Credited with Significant Rise in Seized Guns
21 July 2011
Tribune (Bahamas)
Several new police initiatives, including Operation Rapid Strike and regular stop-and-search exercises are being credited with the significant increase in the number firearms removed from the streets.
The latest statistics from the Royal Bahamas Police force show a 23 per cent increase in the number of confiscated firearms compared to last year.
Superintendent of Police Stephen Dean told reporters that police have confiscated 244 guns in New Providence and 3,309... (GunPolicy.org)
Police on Pace to Break 6-yr Mark for Gun Seizure in the Bahamas
7 July 2011
News Weekly (Bahamas)
NASSAU, The Bahamas – Law enforcement officials are on pace to break a six-year mark for gun seizures in the country after confiscating 212 illegal guns from the streets of The Bahamas over the first six months of the year. The figure is just 100 guns short of the six-year high of 312 set in 2009.
The 212 represents 35 guns per month being taken off the streets over the first six months of 2011. In all, Police officials have rid the streets of the Commonwealth of... (GunPolicy.org)
Turks & Caicos,Bahamas,Virgin Islands (UK)
Firearms Involved in Most Robberies, Murders in British Virgin Islands
23 March 2011
BVI Beacon (British Virgin Islands), Editorial
The recent spate of shootings and armed robberies underscores the need for the Virgin Islands to take serious measures to combat gun crime.
Within the past two weeks, one person has been shot to death and a handful of others have been shot or robbed at gunpoint. Such violence must be stopped.
In recent years, guns have become a major problem here. From 2006-2010, firearms were used in 105 of 145 robberies and 14 of 20 murders, according to police... (GunPolicy.org)
Caribbean Lawyers, Prosecutors Can't Agree on Specialist 'Gun Courts'
12 February 2011
Tribune (Bahamas)
NASSAU, Bahamas -- Jamaican attorneys have expressed disagreement with local assessments of the Jamaican Gun Court.
While the court had its "teething pains" it is now an "established and accepted" part of the judiciary, attorneys claim.
Earlier this year, a Magistrate's Court in Nassau was assigned to hear gun related matters, in a similar fashion to Jamaica's Magistrate's Court handling drug crimes.
The move to establish a "so-called gun court" was heavily... (GunPolicy.org)
US Touts Arms Control as Caribbean Gun Running Melds with Gangs, Drugs
4 January 2008
Caribbean Nets News / BIS
NASSAU, Bahamas — The continued cooperation between the United States of America and its law enforcement agencies, other gun manufacturing countries and CARICOM, is critical to the region's ongoing efforts to combat the illicit trafficking of firearms across the region, the Bahamas Minister of National Security 'Tommy' Turnquest said last month.
Turnquest said the illegal gun trade has created a "black market" for the sale of firearms in the Caribbean. That "black... (GunPolicy.org)
Cooperation Key to Curbing Illicit Gun Trafficking from US to Bahamas
13 December 2007
Freeport News / Bahamas Information Services
NASSAU — The continued cooperation between the United States of America and its law enforcement agencies and CARICOM is critical to the region's ongoing efforts to combat the illicit trafficking of firearms across the region, Minister of National Security the Hon. O.A.T. "Tommy" Turnquest said Tuesday, December 11.
Turnquest said the illegal gun trade has created a "Black Market" for the sale of firearms in the Caribbean. That "Black Market", he said, has led to... (GunPolicy.org)
Virtually Impossible for Bahamians to Legally Possession a Firearm - Minister
24 November 2007
Bahama Journal
It is virtually impossible for Bahamians to legally come into possession of a firearm, according to Desmond Bannister, Minister of State For Legal Affairs, who says firearms legislation in this country is among the toughest in the region.
Mr. Bannister said the police are quite diligent and strict when it comes to the licensing of firearms.
He said the problem with The Bahamas is that its archipelagic nature, which law enforcement officials acknowledge makes it is... (GunPolicy.org)
Students Smuggling Guns from US Campuses to Gangs in Bahamas
24 November 2007
Bahama Journal
Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Intelligence Christopher McCoy has revealed a new link between Bahamian university students in Florida and illegal arms trafficking into The Bahamas.
Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Intelligence Christopher McCoy has revealed a new link between Bahamian university students in Florida and illegal arms trafficking into The Bahamas.
Recently the country has been gripped by a crime wave, highlighted by murders... (GunPolicy.org)
Bahamas Struggle with Gun Smuggling, Armed Pleasure Boats from US
29 September 2007
Bahama Journal
Curbing the flow of so-called "small arms and light weapons" from the United States, and other countries that manufacture them, into The Bahamas — where such things are a plague — has been described as "a work in process" by a top Bahamian police officer.
Meanwhile, one US Embassy official has acknowledged that his country has its own problem with small arms, and said that internal Bahamian governmental decisions cracking down on small arms is something US... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Locked in US-Bahamas Gun Smuggling War
7 March 2006
Nassau Guardian
Two high-ranking police officers have admitted that the firearms business is a growing trade in The Bahamas.
Central Detective Unit head, Chief Superintendent Marvin Dames and Superindent Christopher McCoy, who were both guests on Love 97 talk show "Issues of the Day" yesterday, said their fight against the trafficking of weapons is no easy task, as the perpetrators continue to find ingenuous ways to smuggle guns into the country.
"Most of our goods we import, so... (GunPolicy.org)
Police in Bahamas Report Growing Concern Over Crime Gun Rentals
7 March 2006
Bahama Journal
As part of their refocused effort to target illegal weapons, senior police officials indicated on Monday that there is growing concern about gun rentals in the country.
Chief Superintendent Christopher McCoy said one of the concerns the police have is that the same weapons are being used to commit some crimes, and intelligence suggests that criminals are able to rent weapons and return them, allowing other criminals to rent the same weapons for the commission of their... (GunPolicy.org)
In Spat With US, Bahamas Cite Drug War/Gunrunning Links
23 September 2005
Bahama Journal
In a hard-hitting address before world leaders, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell indicated on Thursday that it is "unfair" for the United States to continue to name The Bahamas as a major drug trafficking nation.
"We have consistently pointed out that The Bahamas neither produces these substances, nor is it the ultimate destination for them. That does not stop those who consume the drugs from blaming countries like ours for this scourge. It is most... (GunPolicy.org)
Bahamas,Caribbean,United States
US Law Seen as Key in Caribbean Gun Control
1 March 2000
Reuters
NASSAU, Bahamas — Stricter gun controls in the United States are the key to curtailing an emerging gun culture in the Bahamas and the Caribbean, Bahamas National Security Minister Frank Watson told a regional conference Wednesday.
"Stricter gun control laws in major weapons-producing countries bode well for Caribbean nations, which are experiencing far too many crimes perpetrated by gun-toting hoodlums," Watson told the opening session of the 15th Caribbean Nations... (GunPolicy.org)