Young men in Cayman should know that the minimum sentence for possession of an unlicensed firearm is 10 years, Justice Seymour Panton warned on Friday.
After arranging a trial date for a firearm case, he said he wanted to take the opportunity to remind young men in this country about the law.
Possession – however brief – of a firearm without a licence means 10 years imprisonment minimum.
Of course, young men are presumed innocent until proven guilty, Justice Panton said.
But they need to know what they face if they are contemplating possession of a firearm. It means 10 years of no nightclubs or bars, no girlfriends, no family, no education of note.
And 10 years is only the minimum; the sentence could be 20 years, he pointed out.
Another factor to consider is that judges will be very reluctant to give bail to someone charged with firearm possession.
Justice Panton said he was issuing this reminder so that no one could say he had not been warned.
He made his remarks after confirming a trial date for Todd Bowen, 22. Bowen pleaded not guilty to possession of an unlicensed .25 handgun. He is accused of having it in Bodden Town on 14 November 2006.
Trial was set for 1 October. The defence attorney is Mr. Clyde Allen.
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