Police send strong warning on sale and use of toy guns

A toy gun may look like the real thing

Police Superintendent, Richmond Valentine, has sent a strong warning against the sale and use of imitation firearm or toy guns, especially during the Christmas season.

Valentine stated that business owners and individuals must not import or sell such toys.

He mentioned the conditions surrounding the use of firearms according to the Firearms Act and concludes that “the realistic imitation firearm is very difficult to distinguish whether it is real as opposed to a toy.”

Valentine made it known that there are strict punishments for business owners or individuals who import or sell such items.

“It is an offense for any person to sell a realistic imitation firearm or bring a realistic imitation firearm into Dominica or cause a realistic firearm to be brought into Dominica,” he said.

He explained that any person convicted of contravening the section of the Firearms Act, which deals wich such matters, is liable to pay a fine to the amount of E.C. $3000 or imprisonment of 1 year, or both the fine and imprisonment.

Under the Customs Act, according to Valentine, the discovery of such toys will be confiscated at the port. 

“A realistic imitation firearm imported into Dominica is liable to forfeiture under the Customs Act,” Valentine stated.

He sent a strict warning to the public and business owners to not display for sale toys that resemble a firearm.

By definition under the Firearms Act, “an imitation firearm is any toy or object having the appearance of a firearm whether or not it is capable of discharging a shot bullet or other missile,” he explained.

A realistic imitation firearm, by definition under the same Act, is “any imitation firearm which has an appearance that is so realistic as to make it indistinguishable from all practical purposes of a real firearm,” according to Valentine.

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33 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    December 31, 2022

    A bogara u be well go up and sit down in a prison if is not freedom you want…a bunch of retarded alone you guys like to comment

  2. Anonymous
    January 20, 2017

    A bunch of bs!!why can’t i buy an airsoft/bb gun for entertainment? I would want this type of toy gun for entertainment like in America where they have airsoft battles,its not fair for one person to suffer from a law that has been placed,they make it sound like everyone who has these toy guns will rob someone

    • DA fails
      July 10, 2018

      Dominica next level…

  3. December 27, 2016

    I don\’t think toy guns have ever been illegal in Canada.

    We had water guns and cap guns. And we had realistic looking imitations.

    As a kid I played guns with my best buddy next door.

    Because of the discipline and training in our homes imitation guns would not influence us.

    However, imitation guns are used by real criminals to commit real crimes.

    Police have shot down criminals in defense of others or in self defense who used an imitation gun in a threatening manner.

    I think Dominica is giving us a good example in this matter. Thank you Superintendent Valentine.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.

  4. December 26, 2016

    Why are these toy guns allowed into the country in the first place? Make it illegal and any one to be found with it in their possession should be fined according .

    • December 27, 2016

      That is the right way to do.

      Put feet under the law.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.

  5. CONCERN PARENT
    December 24, 2016

    People have to stop and think before they buy these “so call toys” for their children. Punish businesses that sell these “realistic imitation firearm” and maybe then they well stop. Start making examples of “money grabbing businesses”. They’re getting rich off the backs of poor people. Stop glamorizing guns. If anybody buy a toy gun they should be punish.

    EACH ONE TEACH ONE!!!!! DON’T BLAME AMERICA!!!

  6. ??????.....
    December 24, 2016

    Like that!

  7. Dominican Passports
    December 23, 2016

    In Dominica we can’t have nice things :lol: :lol: No Franchise businesses because everybody broke, No Airsoft guns because everybody broke and we’ll use them to rob people :twisted: #AllFacts

  8. A.George
    December 23, 2016

    Valentine u need to read Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death by Patrick Henry
    https://www.amazon.com/Give-Me-Liberty-Death-ebook/dp/B004TPCUUU/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1482504361&sr=8-1-fkmr3&keywords=Patrick+henry+Gun+liberty
    Gun ownership is the hallmark of freedom and liberty in any society. Without guns societies decay with more corruption and crime.

    • December 27, 2016

      Give me liberty or give me death.

      So if you are not allowed to do as you please your life is not worth living.

      Welcome to the jungle.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.

    • December 27, 2016

      A. George:

      So if you are not allowed to do as you please your life is not worth living :?:

      Welcome to the jungle :!:

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.

  9. %
    December 23, 2016

    Mr Valantine why are you so late????Tell your boss Carbon he has not gotten back to the public re the barrel of guns at the customs…We have not forgotten!

  10. jet
    December 23, 2016

    allu wait till christmas reach to say that eh. after my shelf well pack eh

  11. hm!
    December 23, 2016

    …and they say this only now… that should have been stated since the start of the year. I remember growing up as a child; I never understood why all these “toy guns” were sold at Christmas time and it was OKAY to have these guns “shooting”. In my opinion this has had an effect in the way our society is today. The sale of these should have been banned from the get go. :-|

    • Dominican Passports
      December 23, 2016

      You’re crazy I have fond memories of those toy guns, buying them in town with my cousins then go up country side and play cops and robbers, FOH… The fact of the matter is nowadays people in Dominica hungry and some hungrygot will go and hold up a small store somewhere with one them. #Poorpolicing #Poor government :evil:

  12. john doe
    December 23, 2016

    just ban all to guns period. why should the children in this country be brought up with this gun culture? we are not USA. So just ban ALL toy guns!

    • bause
      December 24, 2016

      what gun culture do we have? you people serious?

  13. Concern citizen
    December 23, 2016

    When the TOY GUNS and the real barrels of GUNS come to the custom please allow the right owners to go and received them,
    so the police must stand a side and wait to see who the real owners are
    thanks

  14. December 23, 2016

    We search pax luggage upon arrival and I have witness food items being confiscated why let toy guns be imported and sold then complain of siimilarities to the real thing. Parents do not buy these toy guns.

  15. December 23, 2016

    We search pax luggage upon arrival and I have witness food items being confiscated why let toy guns be imported?

  16. December 23, 2016

    Well done Mr. Valentine….again law enforcers have to work hand in hand to achieve good things…i say that to mean the Customs too have to play there part and confisticate these items at the ports.

  17. nicole
    December 22, 2016

    Thank you for the reminder sir

  18. Mother
    December 22, 2016

    dear mr. Valentine I do share your concern but importers must show their merchandise on their manifesto and customs are supposed to check all cargo. Are you telling us that goods like these come in undeclared and unchecked? Well, you have a real problem with your own security people and customs if that is so.
    Secondly, I suggest you raid all stores selling these types of imitation firearms and confiscate them since they would have been imported illegally anyway, according to what you tell us.. Dominica is not that big you know and if children’s parents or friends know where to buy these guns so should you. That can not be difficult. Don’t wring your hands but do something real instead. Thank you.

  19. December 22, 2016

    The police knows at what stores these guns are dont they? Well go to these stores and get them off the shelves. Talk just talk.

    • man to man
      December 23, 2016

      YES THEY DO…. GO TO THE CHINESE STORES :!: :roll:

    • December 27, 2016

      Most of the poor quality junk sold in my country comes in from China so if you have Chinese stores in Dominica I expect that is where you would find toy guns along with he firecrackers.

      Yes Concerned, I agree with you. According to the laws I have read the owners, managers, and staff that are selling the toy guns in Dominica are breaking the law. Your advice is the best way to deal with the problem. The police should \”go to these stores and get them off the shelves.\” A nationwide sweep :!:

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.

  20. Just Saying
    December 22, 2016

    So that means you all are going to charge and prosecute all those persons selling the pellet/bb guns/rifles all over Facebook in Dominica?

    I strongly would advise that because who is to say that some of the recent crimes committed are not with these guns which are air propelled that look and feel so realistic.

    • December 27, 2016

      Exactly!

      They are covered by the existing legislation so go for it!

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.

  21. Canawie
    December 22, 2016

    What is wrong with you guys, what’s really wrong with you party cronies. You all know is the Chinese that reintroduced those types of toys in Dominica and you all can say and do nothing because your first order of business is to protect the Chinese and discipline your Dominica brother. For example Chinese came after a man in his own home at Les Pointe and instead the Chinese got detained the man was. I’m the middle of town Chinese attacking people and you guys do nothing. Man Richmond it’s only when one of your children God Forbid get affected by the ills in our blessed Dominica that’s when you all will forget red and be reasonable Dominicans.
    The Chicken Must Come Home to Roast

  22. Shameless
    December 22, 2016

    I love that officer. Enforce the laws without fear, favor, malice or ill-will.

    Always Assertive! :twisted:

  23. Lincoln Durand
    December 22, 2016

    Geez Do u people believe in freedom & liberty! Gun Rights and Liberty Go Hand in Hand.
    In a United Nations study by Kopel, Moody and Nemerov, they found that countries with significantly higher gun ownership have greater political and civil liberties. Gun-owning societies also are notably less corrupt. Nations where people own more firearms also tend to have greater economic liberty.
    Countries with less gun ownership are less free and more corrupt with more crime. Dominica educate yourselves. :mrgreen:

  24. papa
    December 22, 2016

    Clean up your back yard with your officers gun just disappear and to cover up transfer are done check your backyard sir

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