Citizens need guns

THE EDITOR: The recent incident of a policeman shooting a bandit who was trying to steal a car from his garage is a perfect example to make my point. And that point is, it is time for the government and people of TT to reconsider the licensing of handguns to citizens? I believe the time has come for such a though and debate. It is obvious that the Government (police service) cannot adequately protect the citizens of the country from the criminal elements among us, as evidenced by the record number of murders and kidnappings plaguing the country. As such, people should be allowed to protect themselves, if they so desire. It is a good thing that the car thieves went to the right house; that of a police officer, who was able to defend himself, his family and his property.

This licensing should not be an automatic right (as it is in the USA by constitutional guarantee) to own guns but should be a licensing programme only to people of good character. I believe that the laws should be changed to allow people without a criminal record to legally buy and own a firearm for theirs and their family’s protection. That person would have to undergo extensive firearms training to include safety training to qualify for the license. This training should be conducted by licensed and certified weapons experts. Only after passing a written exam, and meeting basic gun safety and actually firing a weapon on the range, should a person be so licenced. They should also be required to keep a “trigger-locking device” on the weapon and to secure the weapon in a safe place and away from children. Provisions should also be written into the law for stiff penalties and jail time for the careless handling of a weapon to include leaving a weapon where a child could have access to it.

KELVIN C JAMES, Sr
USA