00:00Over the last week, questions have been raging over whether the importation of sniper rifles
00:05in this country for civilians is permissible.
00:09The topic of conversation has come full circle after Commissioner of Police Ulloa Harewood
00:14Christopher was arrested and then released pending further investigations into the importation
00:19of two sniper rifles that later ended up in the SSA's armory.
00:24Former Police Commissioner Gary Griffiths, speaking to TV6 News today, said there's nothing
00:28in the Firearms Act that prevents persons from applying for a sniper rifle.
00:33He said between 40 to 60 persons were granted permission to import sniper rifles for competitive
00:39shooting in the past.
00:40Granted, these type of weapons may have sights and so forth and be a little more accurate
00:45because they are used strictly more for military purposes, but it is the same type of calibre
00:50round, it is the same type of deadly use it can have because these same rifles that dozens
00:55upon dozens of civilians who have a FUL have acquired this over the years and get the ammunition
01:01on a regular basis to go and take a value for competitive shooting.
01:05The limitations on imported sniper rifles are that they are for sporting and hunting
01:09activities and nothing else.
01:12Griffiths said that while the SSA Director under the Firearms Act is allowed to carry
01:17a firearm and issue firearms user employee certificates to allow employees to carry firearms
01:22in the SSA, they aren't allowed to acquire high powered weapons.
01:52According to the Firearms Act, automatic firearm means any firearm so designed or adapted that
02:06if pressure is applied to the trigger, missiles continue to be discharged until pressure is
02:10removed from the trigger or until the magazine containing the missiles is empty.
02:16Griffiths said that DCP Martin's letter to the National Security Council inquiring about
02:21the sniper rifles also displayed a level of ignorance.
02:51Briefly commented on the firearms import permit shown by TV6 News last night,
02:55Griffiths said the resale purposes terminology is used by firearms dealers
03:00when weapons are brought in to be sold to someone.
03:03However, sources say there was need to perhaps specify exactly who that prospective buyer
03:08would have been in this case if it had already been decided.
03:12Mark Basant, TV6 News.
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