Gun licensing stymied by Criminals stealing legal weapons

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, December 29, 2023 – Criminals are targeting licensed firearm holders to steal their guns. It’s one of the reasons the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force says it is slowing down on granting applications.

“Two different firearm holders in recent months, were relieved of their firearms by criminals” Rodney Adams, Acting Commissioner of Police, told the media at a December 22 National Press Conference.

He maintained that “being a business owner” was one of the main reasons quoted by residents who applied for gun licenses, but it simply was not enough.

“We will not just be issuing firearms because you say you have a business, you must come up with a solid reason why you believe you need to possess a firearm. [Applications] go to a committee and are properly examined, and then recommendations are made to the Commissioner of Police.  But as long as I sit on the chair, I will not be issuing firearm licenses to anyone simply because they’re a business owner. That is not a good enough reason as far as I am concerned,” Adams maintained.

The Force had put a pause on applications for licenses but reopened the process in mid-2022. As for those with more concrete reasons, based on Adams’ criteria, Darron Williams, Deputy Commissioner of Police, had updates on those applications.

“We have not yet gotten to the stage where we will vet and process those applications. Hopefully, in the coming year, we can go through all of [them]. In addition to that we have a portal online where persons who have interest in a firearm can apply through,” he advised.

As for what constituted a solid reason, Adams advised residents to seek the law on what constituted the need for a firearm prior to their applications.