🔫 New gun law passed in Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands Parliament has approved new firearms legislation aimed at tackling the issue of gun crime. The amendments include stricter penalties for illegal possession and regulations concerning technology such as 3-D printed weapons. Despite undergoing extensive consultation, the legislation underwent significant changes during the committee stage, with multiple amendments made to the draft bill.📚

One notable alteration was made after Speaker Alden McLaughlin labeled a provision as "madness". The original law would have required licensed firearms holders to surrender their guns to the police if they left the Cayman Islands for two nights or more. McLaughlin argued that the police lacked the capacity to manage this process and that it posed a security risk. Consequently, the law was revised to extend the overseas period to 21 days before firearm surrender is required.🔁

The Fire Arms Amendment Bill (2024) was also reworded to prevent the potential criminalisation of 3-D printers. The original draft could have resulted in the banning of the machines themselves, rather than the software used to produce lethal weapons. The revised bill, which passed unanimously, introduced a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years for possession of an unlicensed gun following conviction after trial or ten years on admission. However, critics argue that this approach fails to differentiate between hardened criminals and individuals who inadvertently come into possession of a firearm.🖨️