National Security Minister Charles Savarin says the government of Dominica is considering a fire arms act for the country that will include a total ban on the importation of imitation guns.
Savarin was speaking on the heels of concerns by Consultant/Opthamologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital Dr. Hazel Shillingford-Rickets who said in a statement that eight persons have received treatment at the Princess Margaret Hospital, so far three of whom have been admitted due to serious eye injuries from these toy guns.
“That draft is currently with the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Legal Affairs. We are currently going through the draft to ensure that it meets with the provision of the constitution of Dominica and that it achieves the objectives of seeking to increase the penalty – severely – for the illegal possession and use of firearms,” the minister said.
He said one of the provisions is to make it illegal to import, offer for sale and to own toy guns. According to Savarin, the guns must be removed from the hands of “so many young people”.
“I am hoping that it is brought before parliament at the next sitting because some of these toy guns are so realistic that people can commit crimes with those guns because a person will not be able to differentiate between a real one and a toy one,” he said.
Regulation versus legislation.
I would like to comment that our Canadian and the US governments are not in favour of those big businesses losing money. How much they genuinely care about the health, welfare and safety of citizens is another matter.
To those who state that pellet guns in Canada of all are only regulated, when the Canadian Federal Parliament and the Ontario Legislature resume after the New Year holiday, I will be contacting my MP and MPP to ascertain what is this regulation about and what it entails. My advice comes from government authorities and not hearsay or what others state.
If all residents/citizens would do their civic duties wherever they reside by writing/emailing/ telephoning their MP and also MPP much more could be achieved and there would be more legislations and not regulations.
We certainly wished that the police could be everywhere all the time to catch perpetrators but this is an impossibility.
I take the time to perform my religious duty, my civic duty and societal duty. They are not all words but action. God wants action and not merely talk, words and statements and with genuine practice of the faith. This is the only way society could be changed. If it is not changed after all is done, knowing the evil forces, at least we have tried. This will be our personal satisfaction.
It is stated that God will not ask us if we were successful but did we try. Amen!
Legislation ? Regulation ? Call it whatever u want..this is a over reaction.. With or without pellet and toy guns injuries will happen.. Recent stats show that the weapon of choice for murder in Dominica is the Knife. What should we do? Should we ban the importation of knives..
Profiler I get your point on that. Its nothing but over reaction
Why is it that so much amphasis is being placed on these toy guns when the real ones have taken so many lives thus far?
Question, is the ministers portfolio equipped with the leverage he needs, to execute this plan, and if so, does he have the votes to get it through parliament? if it becomes law what then are the penalties?
18 to 3
I am against gun and anything that looks like a gun. However, Savarin has failed us and his presence brings more fear to us than that of a gun because he is that dangerous. He was the one that introduced blood shed to us and now as minister of security he is trying to pass legislation. What a man! Savarin with 15 murders in 2010 is a sign that you and yopur government cannot do the job and you all ought to resign or be kicked out. While you all think that gun is the problem, the facts don’t support you. think of this: Out of 15 murders 11 were cutlass/knife related and 3 were gun related. I guess you all need to pass a law to restrict the use of knives and cutlasses as well because they did more damage to Dominicans than any other weapon. Another key thing you and your administration must take a close look at is the fact that 14 out of the 15 murders we had in 2010 took place in RED constituencies. What does that mean? It means the blood of our late leaders, Rosie and Pierro are crying on you guys because you all have poluted the party they gave their lives to build with honesty and justice being the pillars of their belief. You, Skerrit and others used that base to build a selfish, greedy, get rich fast by any means, currupt, lawless and the list goes on administration and their curse is following you all. That’s the mess we are in now and it is contrary to the vision of our founding fathers.
There is alot more stuff to worry about right now than banning Toy Guns. I mean come on, this is very petty, who cares about toy guns. Toy guns aint committing crimes. The government should instead focus on better equipment for police, so that they could be more effective in their duties. I cop without a gun is no cop at all.
The Chinese will always find a way to bring them i would like to see Savarin stop them.? The real guns are the ones to concentrate on . I do not support guns as toys but you guys are too biased. You will stop the local people from bringing it in but “your people” meaning the chinese, bring Guns, swords, camoflash, everything that is not legal and all u make them pass with it, so shut up with the bullshit and concentrate on bigger fish. I feel sorry for our beautiful Island as when we will decide to make a change it will be too late, Savarin doh have small children so none of them doh care. God bless Dominica always regardless of allu corruption and stupidness
Dear Dominicans
What ever your political affiliation(choose your colour) employed, unemployed, rich ,poor,and thoese that want more.Tie your waist, COMMING; is YEAR of BAD TASTE; Be prepare, because when the rain fall, it falls on all , though not all get wet , when the fire come, all shall burn, there is no place to run.All the players in this political( shame) they call game, are jockers.
who this 2 tongue man think he fooling? The real Gungs are in already, and where are they going to dump these trash? Why can’t these guys stop this tasteless radio Drama both on q95 and kairi, is a talk and a backtalk, they are the same . lennox angelo savarin astaphan or lennox savarin angelo astaphan( mem bet mem puwell) add a little mat on dat and voila, dominica’s weekly menu of confusion.A set of these people need to be burried in a coal mine for a month together, (not even 69 days like the chilians), with one roast yampee a roast dasheen ahand of boil fig with a bottle of water each,,and their only way out; is to come to a common understanding on the well being of Dominica.Stop all these talk n talk n talk n talk iam fed up you all screwing up the country.COME ON MAN…POWER TO DOMINICA;
why don’t you put yourself forward to lead and stop “talking”
Nice one Mr. Savarin but remember the so called toy guns did not take the life of anyone though eight according to the doctor carried eye injury. But Mr. Savarin as minister responsible for security, you don’t seem to be doing your job because one year into your position we have recorded 15 deaths and not one was toy gun related. According to my count, nine of them had to do with cutlass/ knife stabing and three had to do with the real gun. What’s up mr. security minister? I guess along with passing laws dealing with toy guns, you need to fire yourself because you are a total failure and yet you continue to get a salary. Are you also going to pass a law reguarding the purchase and use of knives and cutlasses seeing that they more than any other weapon accounted to 9 deaths and many attempeted deaths? The real problem is the sin of our leadership. They show the young people how to disreguard the rule of law and as a result, thier spirit is rubbing on the people. That’s the real problem we need you all to deal with.
Savarein is mor concerned about closing down Brisbane for speaking the truth about his corrupt regime than to take care of guns in Dominica…This man is just a pure embarrassment..
The minister think that we are foolish eh. Since when we need legislation to prevent something like a toy gun from entering our ports. Customs have the rights to prevent them from coming in, remember the bandits of long ago they were banned after the attempted take over by the labour party. They, were actually prevented from coming in the island from Guadeloupe etc. Customs did that, Sex toys are also banned in D/ca one can’t bring them in are there legislations for that?
For years now, Inspector Weeks have been talking about those guns and nothing was done. What does China have on us?
A ban is not necessary but regulation is. In USA & Canada it’s illegal to have these pellet/bb guns if you are under 16 yrs old. If you use one of the guns to commit a crime you are charged as if you were in possession of a real gun.
My kids, nieces & nephews have these pellet guns & none of them have ever shot one another or anyone else. Parents take some responsibility for the behavior of your children instead of always being quick to blame someone else.
Also, in speaking on this issue can we say “pellet guns” instead of toy guns?! Water guns, cap & rubber band guns are also “toy guns”. You can’t seriously be trying to ban them as well!!!!!
yah savarin we need this to pass speedily in parliament n be implimented with enforcement but how come u haven’t address the christmas day violence that happened plus the recent crimes in wesley n castle bruce combined,,,well i guess boys love to deal with toys cah blame them
I think the toy guns should be band right away I can still the xmases pass where chikdren would make wooden guns or get a battery pole and a nail and matches to make the fire cracker it did not this things it have today the things it have to day is not toy that can and do hurt people stop them from coming in before its to late
Read what you writing before you post it
without the government intervention these guns would not be on the streets
Thats pure rubbish Savarin!!,A very speedy move to ban toy guns and real guns remain in the hands of criminal. For the last two yrs violent crimes have been on the rise and govt has sat on its bot and do nothing- because their friends will be implicated- remember de bubbles gun saga where the powers that be demanded that the illegal gun be returned to him?
Where else in the world does toy gun leglislation take preceedence over the real gun laws?Only in dominica i guess!!!. I am also tryig to find out where else is toy made illegal to possess. Somebody help me
voice from the wilderness
don’t be a fool
if u can handle a gun from young
when u get older u can buy a real one
why my grand dad and your grand dad don’t know bout guns
its because they were not expose to it at a young age
but this generation was expose to it at a young age
Please treat this legislation with urgency. It is desparately needed. On another note, I hope this is the last term of ministrial post for Mr. Savarin.
Hmmm…. I remember that the first company who started selling those was that cheap store on old street (Good things cheap)… After a certain incident took place, the police went to that store and asked them to remove all those guns off their shelves. They could not or decided not to even remove the rest of the guns that they had in Government bond…. these guns disappeared off the streets for a while… all of a sudden chinese come in town and these guns are being sold all over and the police cannot do the same? All of a sudden they need legislation???
They should then apologize to this first company and compensate them for all the money they could have made from selling those guns….
F.Y.I…. the first company’s guns were not as realistic and were very light plactic guns. any child would notice it was a fake unlike the guns we see being sold today…
Iwas wondering how are they going to stop the importers of these guns, let’s see you mr savarin if you say you are a man.
i will support my labour party again, but only when charles savarin a political vampire like creature who fooled many to establish a salary and secondly the unhonorable roosevelt skerrit who lies cheat and stealk to often