ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sherma Dalrymple says she may have to discuss with the authorities a possible ban on the importation of toy guns into Dominica, while also warning against the use of realistic imitation firearms on the island.
Dominica recently implemented a gun amnesty aimed at curbing the rise in firearm-related crime. Speaking on the Ministry of National Security’s programme on state-owned DBS Radio on Thursday night, Dalrymple said that certain stores may be importing toy guns.
“Left to me, I would just ban the importation of toy guns. I suspect this is a submission I would have to make to the Honourable Attorney General. It is based on what I see every day in court.
“The society we live in right now has a lot of illicit firearm use. Are we going to nurture our young minds to accept that a gun is just a toy? What will happen in the future when young minds view a gun as just a toy and feel they can simply shoot someone?
“It is going to reflect in our society. So I would just simply avoid the importation of toy guns,” the DPP added.
She told listeners that realistic imitation firearms are objects resembling real guns, and explained that the Firearms Act provides for fines or imprisonment for anyone found guilty of using such an item.
Dalrymple said Section 39 of the legislation “deals with what is termed a realistic imitation firearm. Basically, it is a device which looks like a firearm, and you cannot tell it is not a real firearm unless it is examined by an expert.
“There is a prohibition under Section 39 of the Firearms Act in respect of realistic imitation firearms. The prohibition is that one shall not manufacture a realistic imitation firearm, modify an imitation firearm so that it becomes a realistic imitation firearm, sell a realistic imitation firearm, or bring a realistic imitation firearm into Dominica.”
Dalrymple said the legislation allows for anyone who contravenes these measures, upon conviction, to be fined EC$3,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37) or imprisoned for one year, or both.
She added that many of the sentences under the Act include provisions “where the courts could both fine and confine an individual.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Alleyne Maximen, who also appeared on the programme, said there have been many instances of imitation firearms being used to commit serious crimes in Dominica.
“People out there may think it is just a toy, that it cannot fire any rounds, but they can be used in the commission of offences,” he said, recalling incidents dating back to 2013 when imitation weapons were used in criminal activities.
“So indeed there is a concern. People may just see them as toys, but they are not toys,” the senior police officer added.
