By Carl Greaux
The Firearm Act of St. Kitts-Nevis defines firearm as “any lethal barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged, or any restricted or unless the context otherwise requires, any prohibited weapon, and includes any component part of any such weapon and any accessory to such weapon designed or adopted to diminish the noise or flash caused by firing the weapon but does not include any air rifle, air gun, or air pistol of a type prescribed by a caliber so prescribed by the Minister of National Security and of a caliber so prescribed”.
In combating illegal firearms, I would like to recommend that we take a systematic approach which will include an examination of the problem, understanding the factors that contribute to gun violence, and developing and implementing interventions.
As a police officer, I was taught at the Police Training Complex that a firearm was made for one purpose, and that is to kill; after which we were taught the uses of a firearm and how and when to use it. In St. Kitts and Nevis, we know and can attest that firearms are a major facilitator of violence, particularly lethal violence.
Police have noted the growth of this problem. For example, we have noted the increased percentage of homicides committed with firearms and the increase in guns and drugs seizures which have been documented. This wave of gun violence is not just in St. Kitts and Nevis but throughout the Caribbean Region. In this region, there is a general perception that the problem has increased in recent years and linked to the globalization of the drug trade as well as the gun/drug nexus.
In St. Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean, patterns are similar to those observe worldwide. In countries with relatively high level of gun ownership such as the United States and Canada, legal firearms are often used by their owners in domestic and suicide scenarios. Countries with relatively strict gun laws, however, are vulnerable to guns flowing from countries where controls are more permissive. Caribbean countries are caught in the flow of guns from the USA as well as from post conflict countries in Central and South America.
According to research in this hemisphere, the US is one of the largest sources of illegal firearms. It has 280 million people with approximately 230 million guns (one third of them hand guns) and very few control. Every year, half a million of these guns are stolen, thus entering into the illegal market. Other forms of diversion include illegal sale, ‘dirty dealers’, gun shows, etc. For example, in Canada, while rifles and shotguns (which are readily available) are used in crimes, in large cities smuggled guns account for more than 50% of the handguns recovered in crimes. US guns account for 80% of guns recovered in crimes in Mexico, 1/3 of guns recovered in crimes in Japan and a large proportion of guns recovered in crimes in the Caribbean region, which includes St. Kitts-Nevis but most in Jamaica, which filter back down to the smaller countries.
Further research, coupled with information exchange between law enforcement and tracing, is essential to ‘mapping’ the gun problem.
In addressing this problem, or “arresting the problem” as we say at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), I will very briefly outline my five (5) point plan, which is a document I have created entitled ‘Combating Illegal Firearms In St. Kitts-Nevis’. As I always say, “complex problems require multi-faceted solutions’, and this problem is no different.
1. Addressing and Arresting the Root Causes
Although this is a long term project, the root causes of violence must be addressed and arrested, particularly by investing in our children. Programmes aimed at social and economic development and changing the culture of violence are important. It is also critical to link strategies to curtail substance abuse, with those aimed at preventing guns violence.
2. The Encouragement of Community Base Efforts
The involvement of the community, particularly health care professionals, teachers, women’s organizations and faith-based groups such as the Moravian Church, has been critical in implementing integrated strategies to address and arrest gun violence.
3. Strengthening the Local Intelligence Office (LIO)
Information is the lifeblood of policing, and strong information and intelligence systems are critical to the supporting law enforcement efforts. Adequate record keeping about seizures and firearms used in crime, for example, is a fundamental basis for supporting strategies to counter illicit trafficking. Policies, training and capacity building must be considered at all levels.
4. Securing our Borders and Strengthening Import/Export and In-transit controls
St. Kitts and Nevis has inherent protection, in that they are islands. Patrols must be done by our coastguard in securing illegal entry of firearms. Improved international coordination along with new international agreement such as the OAS Inter-American Convention against the illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms (1997) and the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime, Firearms Protocol establish international standards for import, export and transit shipments of firearms. These must be followed up with appropriate technical support and implementation.
5. Strong Firearm’s Legislation
This will help to prevent the diversion of legal guns to the illegal market. For example, licensing of firearm owners reduces the chances of high-risk individuals being able to purchase guns. As well, registration ensures that gun owners are held accountable for the whereabouts of their firearms, thereby encourage safe storage and curbing the number of gun theft.
Combating illegal firearms is a priority for our economical survival and we should work together in arresting this problem.
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