Citing concern about the increase in violent crimes involving illegal guns, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is bringing back its gun amnesty campaign, last held in 2018.
The programme allows community members to surrender any illegal guns or ammunition without fear of facing prosecution.
RCIPS is working with partners to facilitate the programme for the entirety of July.
Police Commissioner Kurt Walton asked community members to help make life safer in the Cayman Islands by surrendering illegal weapons.
“If you have access to these guns, I am appealing to you to hand them over and make our islands a safer place for our children, our youth, our elderly and other vulnerable members of our community,” he said.
Leading the campaign is Superintendent Brad Ebanks, who said in a press release that officers hope the campaign will prove effective in protecting the public from the presence of illegal guns.
“We are giving these people an opportunity to reject a lifestyle that can end in only one of two ways: death or prison,” he said.
By law, the only people who may have a gun in Grand Cayman are residents with express consent from the commissioner of police, or in the Sister Islands with consent from the district commissioner.
Past campaign results
The 2018 outreach led officers to collect about 900 rounds of ammunition and 18 firearms, including 11 long guns and seven handguns, as well as a crossbow and flare gun.
Then-Deputy Commissioner Walton called it “extremely successful” considering they were able to get some newer weapons rather than older, rusty rifles.
Ebanks was also involved in the 2018 campaign. He shared his dedication to fighting illegal firearms after losing his stepson to a shooting.
In Tuesday’s statement, he noted the importance of making guns and ammo even a little less accessible to those who would use them to cause harm to the community.
Community rocked
The beginning of the year was marked by a shooting at Ed Bush Stadium, a multi-victim shooting unusual for the Cayman Islands.
Seven people sustained injuries when a shooter opened fire at the West Bay stadium in February, causing consternation in the community.
Police noted efforts this year to crack down on illegal firearm possession. Ebanks said officers have seized a dozen illegal firearms and arrested eight people for possession so far this year.
Legislators have also turned their attention to firearms, proposing amendments to the law that would outlaw 3D-printed guns and assembly kits.
Still, management of these illicit weapons remains a region-wide challenge.
A recent Cayman Compass feature on gun trafficking found the Caribbean is facing a flow of guns from the United States that is “almost impossible to stop”.
How to participate
Police and partners are offering four options for safely surrendering weapons.
Gun owners can drop off their unloaded weapons between 7am and 7pm daily to the designated drop boxes at police stations in West Bay, Bodden Town and Little Cayman.
“Any ammunition should be removed from the gun and packed separately, also in paper or plastic,” the release said. “The gun itself should be wrapped in paper or a plastic bag and taped securely.”
To transport firearms for surrender, people should keep weapons unloaded and safely stored in the trunk of the car, out of reach of any riders, and drive to the nearest drop-off location.
To make arrangements at the George Town, Cayman Brac or East End police stations, RCIPS said people should call ahead to 936-8026, as there are no drop boxes in those locations. Community members can call the same number to arrange a collection.
For those concerned about directly surrendering their weapons, police said they can opt to hand them over to a “trusted third party”, including participating pastors, elected officials and community leaders.
Participants can find more details at www.rcips.ky/gunamnesty.
Ebanks cautioned gun owners to abide by the amnesty guidelines or potentially face a minimum 10-year sentence for illegal possession.
“I know there are persons out there that are in possession of unlicensed firearms who have realised, ‘This is not a good idea,'” he said.
“This is now your opportunity to do the right thing and walk away.”
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