PM wants courts to be tough on gun crime

Magistrates are being encouraged to be firm and consistent when sentencing persons found guilty of firearm offences.{{more}}

The call was made on Tuesday by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves , who said that it was unacceptable to have one magistrate sentence someone to three years imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm while another person gets a fine of $3,000.

Responding to a question by journalists about the recent spate of shootings in the Paul’s Avenue community, Dr Gonsalves, who was at the time receiving a cheque from the Taiwanese Ambassador for continuing work on the cross-country road said that the Government’s position on gun crimes is clear.

He noted that his Government increased the penalty for illegal gun possession from one to seven years.

“If a law is seven years, if parliament says its seven years, it means that if you have a criminal

offence you will expect that there will be a penalty reflecting the seriousness with which parliament considers this matter,” he said, adding that he was glad for the opportunity to speak forthrightly on the matter.

Dr Gonsalves however said that he was not being critical of any particular magistrate neither was he trying to interfere with the judiciary. (KJ)