No guns given up as amnesty passes half way point
(CNS): Police were expressing their disappointment on Monday as this year's gun amnesty passed its half way point with no firearms being handed in. A senior officer revealed that so far only ten rounds of ammunition had been dropped into the special boxes with less than two weeks to go before the window of opportunity for no questions asked closes. Superintendent Kurt Walton said given the recent increase in gun violence in Grand Cayman police had hoped that more people would have taken the chance to help make a difference by bringing the weapons that they know about into a police station anonymously. He urged people to hand in the guns somehow and said the police did not care who brought them in so long as someone did.
“If you are concerned about coming to the police office you have a number of options available; you can call us or talk to a trusted friend or your pastor. We don’t care who brings the guns in, or how they are delivered to us, the important thing is to get them off the streets,” he urged.
Following the slow start eighteen days into the amnesty Walton said, “We are disappointed, particularly in light of the recent escalation in gun crime and the senseless shooting incidents that have taken place, that people are not taking advantage of the opportunity to get rid of illegal, unwanted and unlicensed weapons.'
He added that last year guns and ammunition came into police stations steadily but the number of weapons surrendered picked up considerably towards the end of the month long initiative.
'We hope that this year the same thing will happen,' Walton said. “But this is a reminder that time is running out. If you have a gun in your home that is unlicensed the choice is yours – hand it in, risk that gun getting into the wrong hands, or face ten years in jail. Collectively, we need to do all that we can, both as law enforcement officers and as members of the wider Cayman Islands community to disrupt the supply and availability of guns to stop the indiscriminate use of these weapons.
Walton has been in attendance at all of the district meetings held to inform the public about the amnesty and to talk about gun crime. He said he was impressed with the level of interest shown by the community.
“While the turnout at many of the meetings was low, those who did come along were very passionate about the need to get rid of illegal weapons and to do all that they could to help keep the Cayman Islands safe and free of gun crime.,” he added as he urged people not to let this chance slip away.
Until 31 July guns and ammunition can be dropped off at George Town, West Bay, Bodden Town and Cayman Brac police stations seven days a week from 7am until 7pm – anonymously.
Anyone who has information about gun crime in the Cayman Islands should call the RCIPS confidential tip-line 949-7777 or Crime Stoppers 800-8477(TIPS). In an emergency call 911.
Category: Crime
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/registry+misery/5134803/story.html
There's a reason we call 'em criminals, fellas!
"Illegal, unwanted and unlicensed weapons" – then again maybe they are not "UNWANTED" or they would turn them in.
This is "The RCIPS is intelligently aggressive"?
That criminals who are brazen enough to rob and shoot are not giving up their guns is of no suprise to any rational thinking person!
What needs to happen is for the Police/Govt. to allow for more Police and also Law Abiding Residents to be trained and possess guns for self/family/home protection.
What is a law abiding person to do when an armed criminal invades his/her home? Call the Police….and wait….and pray….and wait….and pray….????
A major function of any "functioning" Govt. is to help with the provision of Security. Currently (and for some time now) Cayman has been failing miserably with this most important function….and inocent persons have become sitting ducks.
It's time we demand our Right to Self Protection!
Ayatollah Yuso! The turn-in-your-guns program can be scrapped.
Da hommies wit da gunz aint no fools. Dey aint droppin dey weapons in no box 'cause dey 'fraid dat dey get mugged for dey piece by one a dem ganstas hangin' round.
An' a lot of 'em tink dey need dey gun for pertection 'cause of all de crime all 'round yah.
Can yah blame 'em?
This the WRONG TIME for a gun amnesty…. in the midst of all the shootings which criminal is gonna just 'give up' the 'attempted murder weapon' just like that….. and which gun permit owner is gonna 'give up' their only means of protection because of stipulations in the law about owning 'protection' other than a legal gun…. i.e. mace etc…. Gov't wrote the laws…. Cayman stays unable to protect their personal…. so…. this should be of no surprise to the force….
Try again Bobo…..
Once again the RCIPS proves its own stupidity. This is a time when guns are in high demand. Both by criminals and innocent people wanting to protect themselves
In fact, if someone would offer me a gun right now I would be tempted to buy it just to add a level of protection to my home. The RCIPs is or has failed to do that.
Someone has already said the criminals are smarter than the cops and now the cops have proved it!
As mentioned many times before (which the RCIPS should take note of) Criminals are for one not going to hand in their firearms and an everyday Joe that may have a firearm in his house just for protection, legal or illegal is not going to give up his only means of potential protection. It needs to be realized that the public no longer has faith in the police to take care of them and they can hardly be blamed.
Its sad that the governent would rather force these people to be unprotected and threaten the innocent with prison time than understand the real need to catch these people responsible for these crimes.
A great line was mentioned below which is a large percentage of peoples perspective now and I agree "I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6" Its a risk worth taking with the conviction record currently!!
IDIOTS!! Ofcourse criminals are gonna turn in their guns! Ofcourse this will solve the gun crimes! Ofcourse!!!! If I hear one more cop stand up and spout off about another gun amnesty, like that's something to be proud of I'm going to puke!! Lord… the criminals are still smarter than the police and until that changes we're all doomed!
I never ever thought I would come to the point where I actually think its a good idea to have a gun for protection. I'm seriously thinking about getting one – legally – if I can. Now that the criminals have decided to shoot their victims for whatever reason, we certainly need protection. I hate to beat up on the Police but really let the records speak for themselves. This is quite terrifying for everyone but if you have kids its even worse. I don't go anywhere much anymore unless i have to but our kids like to go out and socialise with other kids. They are not safe anywhere. Cayman is small and unlike big cities, there are not really any areas where you don't go in order to avoid crime. I mean, the Jerk stand right next to a theatre – who would really expect to be almost murdered at a place like that – same for the gas station in BT. I know a lot of people hang out there but its not like the drug hang out right next to BT Police Station which the Police seem incapable of doing anything about. Unless someone really takes charge of this situation, we are doomed. Time for Police who respond to armed crimes to be armed. Sending them unarmed is like sending sheep to the slaughter.
People aren't turning in their guns so in case they get robbed (so common nowadays) they can defend themselves. I don't blame them; I wouldn't turn mine in either if I had one….especially since you can't rely on the RCIP for protection of any sort.
This amnesty has never worked in Cayman…I, for one wish I could cut thru the red tape and have my own weapon for defence. At least I have a good dog…I have always been in support of arming the Polis with guns so they can fight fire with fire if need be. Sadly, they cannot seem to find these perpetrators…strange on such a small Island.
People, be prepared to see vigilante justice soon as many aren't going to take this anymore. If you dont feel protected by your Police, you have to protect yourself.
The Gun amnesty call will not work in Cayman any more that is for sure, that need to scrap.
What we need is for police to pull down people at random day and night. Places are watched by robbers in the day time to be robbed at night. Police need to drive by gas stations and other places during day time, and observe those who are sitting in cars or just hanging out. Write down licence plate numbers for suspicious looking cars. Another thing is that Gas stations want to be protected, 24 hours, but do you think they would give a cop a free cup of coffee or a sandwich. Shame on you people. A donut/sandwich and coffee stand should be available to cops on duty at all times. Stop being mean and help the police too.
I don't know who is surprised that no firearms have been handed in thus far but it certainly dosen't surprise me. By the end of the month, maybe an old rusty flare gun or someone's great grandfather; whose rusty bolt action shotgun that had been lying in the ceiling catching dust and cob-web's for the last 50 years, will be handed in. Hardened criminals are not turning in their guns and law abiding citizens that have acquired an unlicenced firearms for protection of themselves and their family, are afraid to turn in their's and then become a victim of a shooting or robbery the next day or the week following. I guess law abiding citizens are saying to themselves, "It's better to be tried by twelve than carried by six" Sad to say but it's true !!
Just wondering how a "law-abiding citizen" could possibly acquire an unlicensed firearm and still be law-abiding?
In any event, given that the US, a country with widespread gun ownership, has a homicide rate far in excess of pretty much every other industrialised nation (in addition to a fairly substantial casualty rate from firearm related accidents), not sure that those unlicensed guns are the best way to avoid being "carried by six".
you may mean well kurt, but don't bother wasting your time… no one is listening anymore… we have become an accepting society to this scourge.
Police: Umm, Sir, we'd like you to hand in your weapon.
Criminal: Umm, yeah, let me think about that. No!
Me thinks people are holding on to their guns.
Well there are only so many obsolete guns on the island, most of which were turned in last time. The criminals arenot turning in their guns. A better program would be to license peoples guns if they already have them and are not disqualified by Law. People are not confident in the RCIP and are looking after their own safety.
Since the RCIP has shown it can not protect us and cant catch any of these robbers, stop hindering the peoples right to defend themselves as provided for under the firearms law.
the cops must be crazy if you think these theives gonna give up their lively-hood.
What do you expect with the increase in robberies on-island?
The crims aint giving them up because they using them for criminal purposes, and the regular non-crims are hanging on to them to protect themselves from the crims.
The way things are going people are starting to think they need to hang onto them for home protection. It's a rational risk/benefit calculation.