For the first time a document providing guidance on the issuing and licensing of firearms has been published by the Royal Anguilla Police Force. The ten-page document, available on the Government’s website, is dated October 2016.
An introduction to the document has been signed by Governor Christina Scott and Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks and reads in part:
“Legal gun ownership in Anguilla is relatively low with only 41 firearms licensed and 7 shotgun licences in place in January 2016. It is only in an extremely small minority of cases that legally held firearms are misused. When they are, however, the results can be devastating both for the immediate families and communities around.
“The Anguilla Constitution does not give anyone the right to bear arms. As such, ownership of any firearm is a privilege and not a right. Public safety must always be paramount. The conditions for determining gun ownership are set out in…the Anguilla Firearms Act and are based on two tests: the first is ‘good reason’ and the second ‘suitability’.”
The introduction continues: “In the opinion of the Government of Anguilla firearms licences…require clear supporting guidance for both those applying and those making the determinations in respect of applications, thereby ensuring a more transparent and consistent process.
“In writing this guidance the Royal Anguilla Police Force has worked to ensure that guidance on firearms licensing is made as clear and concise as possible for the police, the legal firearm user community and the general public of Anguilla. Executive Council endorses this guidance and commends the police for taking this initiative forward.”
According to the policy document, in order to determine whether a person is fit to own a firearm, “the appropriate licensing authority will conduct a number of checks that will usually include interviews, visits to the person’s property, criminal records checks and references from friends.”
The document provides that “permission to possess, purchase or acquire a firearm will be granted to an individual who is assessed by the licensing authority as not posing a threat to public safety and having good reason to own a firearm.”
Members of the public, wishing to obtain further information about the guidance to the issuing and licensing firearms, should visit the Anguilla Government’s website.
