Gun-related crimes
“Our homicide rates are so much larger than other industrialized countries, by like a mile. Most of that is attributable to the easy, ready availability of firearms, particularly handguns. As long as you can go in some neighbourhoods and it is easier for you to buy a firearm than it is for you to buy a book, there are neighborhoods where it is easier for you to buy a handgun and clips than it is for you to buy a fresh vegetable, as long as that’s the case, we’re going to continue to see unnecessary violence.” This statement was reportedly made less than a week ago and has been attributed to U.S. President Barack Obama. The content is easily applicable to this small developing country in South America. Persons who are worried about the increase in gun crimes in Guyana are no doubt astounded by the quarterly statistics regarding the prevalence of this type of crime as well as the startling number of illegal guns seized each year. On an annual basis it has become no surprise when the police reveal that there were hundreds of gun-related crimes. It can be safely said that there is one every day. There have been relatively few seizures of illegal weapons, most of which were revolvers and pistols, but the yearly haul sometimes includes shotguns and at times submachine guns or assault rifles. To say the least, this is a most frightening state of affairs. The figures reflect a trend that has gained momentum in recent years. It is even more disturbing that these statistics represent only the known gun crimes and illegal firearms. There are certainly more gun crimes than have been reported; not all cases of robbery or intimidation involving the use of guns are reported. Also, there are evidently many more illegal guns in circulation than the police have unearthed. The police are aware of the extreme gravity of the threat of rising gun crime, but given the brazen nature of the ‘new generation’ of bandits, the lawmen seem powerless to reduce it. Guns reportedly featured in most of the armed robberies last year. Over the past few years the police have discovered several large arms caches and armed gangs routinely use sophisticated weaponry with firepower far superior to that of the police. But although recognition of a problem is usually the first part of the solution, there is still no consensus on the solution to the problem. In the not too distant past there were many persons who suggested amnesty and recalls of guns, such as has been tried in North America; others of course want stricter enforcement of the law. Still others want a total withdrawal of guns from the civilian population or a much stricter licencing system that would ensure the weapons are only in the hands of responsible people. The statistics continue to show that stakeholders need to press hard for consensus on a solution using all available expertise and resources. If the way forward requires the provisional adoption of some or all proposed solutions, so be it. The important thing is to take immediate action even if this has to be by trial and error in the early stages. One of the most serious difficulties in confronting this problem has been the easy availability of illegal guns in Guyana because the country’s borders are notoriously porous and extremely difficult to police. Dealing with this would require multinational police action, so it is important for the Force to beef up its international relations, especially with police in neighbouring nations. It is absolutely intolerable that Guyana has to endure such an extraordinarily high incidence of gun crime and illegal firearms. This has undoubtedly contributed to the appalling statistics that place Guyana at the wrong end of the scale in terms of murder rate per capita. The only way for the public to adequately express total abhorrence for the rise in gun crime is to agitate for even firmer and faster police action, especially as regards implementing and enforcing new gun control laws.