New Firearms Law could mean two decades behind bars for offenders 

Hon Kurt Tibbetts Leader of
Government Business

Thursday,  October 6, 2005

With the Government’s continuing focus on crime part of a new bill to strengthen the judiciary and sentencing could see some offenders incarcerated for considerably longer periods than in the past.

At a recent Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Wharf Restaurant, the Leader of Government Business Hon Kurt Tibbetts announced a number of new measures to address crime including changes to laws to help in the process of capturing and convicting criminals.

Bullet Proof vests are soon to be outlawed in the Cayman Islands and firearms offences will land perpetrators behind bars for a minimum of 10, and up to 20 years.

The “no escape” warning about firearms offences has been issued in the form of the new Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2005.

“One of the key changes proposed is the introduction of a minimum sentence of 10 years upon conviction of importing, exporting, possession or use of specified firearms,” Mr Tibbetts told the Chamber gathering.

Set to be a trap for firearms crimes and criminals that have wreaked havoc on the stability of the Cayman Islands over the past year, the new law which will come in to force after the passage of the bill, will be further reinforced with the introduction of new list of offences.

Among these new offences is the unauthorised importation and possession of bullet-proof vests.

These new offences will carry a maximum sentence of 20 years and a fine of $100,000.

Speaking with Cayman Net News about some of the changes to the law Inspector Kenrick Hall said that formerly the law had never covered bullet proof vests. “This is a welcome addition,” he added.

As far as anyone was aware bullet-proof vests had never been brought into the Cayman Islands with the knowledge of Customs Officers, but they have been arriving on the Islands illegally, Mr Hall explained.

The new law also gets to the very basics of firearms offences and starts at the very beginning by redefining the term “firearm.”

In the current law, the definition is wide enough to include air pistols and air guns, as well as any component part of any such weapon and ammunition.

With the amendment to the law, the term firearm is given a narrower definition. In this way, the bill is aimed at targeting the use of weapons such as machine guns, sub-machine guns, rifles, shotguns, pistols and similar lethal barrelled weapons.

The Firearms Amendment Bill 2005 is the first in a series of law-tightening measures that are aimed at helping the police capture criminals within the community, but to then help the judiciary secure convictions which stick and then ensure those found guilty serve appropriate sentences depending on their crime.

The draft bill also covers the matter of illegal importation of weapons as well as their use and possession.

Those convicted of importing, exporting, possession or use of specified firearms will under the new law serve a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years. In addition to the minimum sentence, courts have the discretion of imposing a period of incarceration up to 20 years and fines of $100,000 should circumstances of the crime warrant.

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