Rotary Club of Grand Cayman has got its sights firmly set on trying to tackle the country’s gun problem.
Its forthcoming ‘Ceasefire’ gun-buy-back – which starts on 1 November and runs through to the end of the month – is aimed at reducing the number of unlicensed firearms.
But even if only one weapon gets handed in, chairman David Kirkaldy feels the club will have taken a worthwhile shot at the situation.
‘Any illegal weapon that is turned in is a good thing,’ said Mr. Kirkaldy.
‘We recognise that the people committing the serious crimes are in all likelihood not the type of people to avail themselves of this opportunity.
‘But we feel there are a large number of unlicensed firearms in the hands of people who are genuinely very law abiding.
‘And the problem is if those weapons are ever stolen and fall into the hands of the criminal element,’ he said.
The last time the club ran a similar campaign was five years ago and that proved to be successful with more than 40 firearms being handed in, said Mr. Kirkaldy.
‘We would prefer not to have to do it all but there seems to be certain times when crime rises to a crescendo and the public is looking for an avenue to alleviate it,’ he said.
The programme, which also covers the handing in of ammunition, could not work without the support of the Ministers Association because it depends on the anonymity of weapons being handed in under their auspices, said Mr. Kirkaldy.
A payment in Chamber of Commerce gift certificates will be given for weapons turned in, with each week having a declining value from $400 down to $100, he said.
The scheme, which was decided upon several months ago, has the support of organisations including the Royal Cayman Islands Police and Crime Stoppers.
‘The public have to be aware that whilst there is an amnesty it does not exempt them from prosecution for possession of illegal firearms outside the parameters of the amnesty programme,’ Acting Police Commissioner Rudolph Dixon has pointed out.
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