Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar is encouraging law-abiding citizens to apply for their firearm users’ licences (FULs). She says her Government has also already begun to work on “Stand Your Ground” and anti-home invasion laws.
While campaigning before the April 28 General Election, the United National Congress (UNC) had indicated that the country’s existing self-defence laws were inadequate and it would address them to give citizens more protection against the criminal element.
At Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference, the Prime Minister said the laws governing FULs were being assessed and encouraged citizens to apply to have and own legal firearms.
“We will be reviewing shortly the firearm licence laws. Remember, we’ve said we will consider giving legal firearms to law-abiding citizens? But they will only be given to persons who want it,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“I see some people complaining and saying, ‘No, No, No!’,” she observed.
“If you don’t want it [a FUL], you know what to do. Do not apply.”
The UNC made legal gun ownership, ‘Stand Your Ground’ and anti-home invasion laws a pillar of its election campaign strategy.
“Our proposal means putting into our laws the legal principle that allows a person to use force in self-defence without retreating. Right now, you can only use reasonable force. But this principle, also castle doctrine, states that individuals have the right to use force, including deadly force, to protect themselves against an intruder in their homes. The law will protect homeowners, businesspeople and occupiers when they use force, including deadly force, against any intruder who unlawfully and forcibly enters their residence,” Persad-Bissessar had said during the campaign.
The UNC had promised that once in government, it would create a home invasion offence in law with a 25-year jail penalty.