The Cabinet has announced an amnesty period for unlawful firearms that will run until April 30, 2025. During this period, individuals possessing illegal weapons can surrender them to the Police without fear of prosecution.
Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister, Lionel Hurst, expressed optimism about the program despite historically low participation rates.
“We’ve seen it before, though the numbers have not been exceedingly good. Fewer than 10, for example, have been the record for these voluntary surrenders,” Hurst said. “Nevertheless, over some time, these numbers can be significant.”
The government hopes the amnesty will help reduce gun violence in communities. “One less gun on the street is one less gun on the street, and therefore the likelihood of being harmed by an unlawful firearm is reduced, even if the numbers might not be as significant as we would wish them to be,” Hurst stated.
The Chief of Staff also highlighted the increased penalties for illegal firearm possession, which now include mandatory jail time rather than just fines. “The difficulty which those in possession of firearms will face is that if they are caught, they’re going to go to jail,” he warned.
Hurst addressed those who claim to possess illegal firearms for self-defense, particularly business owners, advising, “It just does not make any sense at all to be in possession, because if someone threatens your life, even if you’re the owner of a small business or something, it is better to surrender the money than to appear with an unlawful firearm to defend yourself at that time.”
Government officials believe that while some may claim self-defense as a reason for possessing illegal firearms, “the vast majority of those who do have unlawful firearms are criminals,” according to Hurst.
The Police Department will oversee the collection of weapons during the amnesty period, implementing protocols similar to those used in previous surrender initiatives.