Time for Another Gun Amnesty?

With close to fifty murders so far this year, the new Regional Commander of the Eastern Division South, Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett, is making his rounds – meeting with religious leaders, the business community, residents of the south side and other groups. Gillett has been receiving advice and dialoguing to find solutions for the crime and violence in the city. Today, Gillett met and spoke with the Chamber of Commerce on a gun buyback programme.  It’s called “gun amnesty,” which if instituted, will see the purchase of privately owned firearms. The end goal is to reduce the number of firearms owned by civilians as well as the risk of those weapons ending up on the street. Here’s how Gillett explains it:

Howell Gillett

Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“This morning the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Scotia Bank were talking about a gun amnesty. It is something that will be forwarded to our superiors in Belmopan to see if that is something that we can do. But the business community, I believe, will be sponsoring this and they are showing their support for it. So, if that is the way to go, I hold the opinion that it is something we should do. But, again, I am not the one who will make that final decision if we go that way.”