🔫 New legislation to combat 3D and kit guns in Cayman Islands

An extensive amendment bill has been drafted to replace the Firearms Law in the Cayman Islands. The legislation, which is expected to be presented to parliament next month, aims to address the challenges faced by police regarding guns and keep up with changing technology. This includes the prohibition of 3D-printed guns and parts, and the empowerment of the police commissioner to collect ballistic signatures and other gun-related forensics. 🚔

The bill also proposes an increase in the mandatory minimum sentence for possession of a gun, regardless of whether it is used in a crime, from seven years to ten for a guilty plea, and to 15 years from ten for defendants convicted after trial. The law will also cover privately made 3D and kit guns as well as accessories and all prohibited firearm parts. Gun owners will be prohibited from securing a licence for any 3D-printed weapons or parts, with a potential 35-year jail sentence for those convicted of possessing and using such weapons. 🏛️

The proposed legislation, which is expected to pass with full support among MPs, introduces a new offence relating to the alteration of a firearm or conversion of anything into a gun. It also empowers the police commissioner to collect and store physical and digital ballistic signatures and information relating to the use of guns. The law will also be amended to add members of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard to the list of people who can legally possess a firearm, ammunition, bullet-proof vest, prohibited device or prohibited weapon in the course of their work. 📚