New firing range

A new firing range is being constructed at Arnos Vale at the cost of EC$1.6 million.

{{more}}Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made this announcement on Monday, October 19th, 2009, at the official opening of the Questelles Police Station.

Gonsalves told the public 80 per cent of the project has been finished and the rest of the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

“You know why we are doing that? There are a lot of people who have applied for firearm who don’t know how to use a firearm,” said Gonsalves.

He reminded the gathering that a firearm is a dangerous instrument if one does not know how to use it.

Gonsalves said some persons may wish to have a firearm to help protect their property, but if they cannot use it properly, what is the use granting a firearm license to them.

He said at the range, persons desiring to have a firearm license will be able to receive training that will teach them how to responsibly use a firearm.

The prime minister then used the opportunity to make an appeal to Vincentians to effectively restore the death penalty by voting ‘Yes’ in the November 25 Referendum.

Before closing, Gonsalves stated that he is convinced that the death penalty is a deterrent to murderers, having represented close to 50 persons across the Caribbean charged with homicides during his 20-year career as a lawyer.(HN)