00:00Amid what appears to be an uptick in home invasions and robberies, one senator is rejecting calls to make it
00:05easier for members of the public to obtain firearms.
00:08Independent Senator Anthem Vieira says most citizens with firearms may present additional problems.
00:14He believes the entire process needs to be revised.
00:18It's very distressing about the home invasions and I can understand the fear that's gripping the country.
00:24It's very worrying but I don't know if an ease in making firearms readily available is a solution or if
00:35it actually may cause more problems.
00:37Firearms access is a complex matter.
00:41In one of my previous debates I looked at it and I compared crime rates and firearm access to countries
00:48like Sweden, Switzerland, countries where citizens have lots of firearms.
00:54But in those countries the regime is very, very disciplined.
01:02And who is allowed to get access to a firearm is not left to the discretion of one individual, which
01:10here is just a commission of police.
01:11So if we're talking about reviewing firearm access, I think we should do it holistically.
01:18Look at criteria, look at security measures and also whether we should have a panel to investigate and make those
01:25decisions.
01:27Meantime, government senator David Nackett says the administration remains committed to ensuring that eligible citizens can bear arms.
01:35That's something that the UNC piloted and the Honourable Prime Minister, she is the head of making sure that will
01:44happen.
01:45Because obviously, you know, when people have been faced in a situation for the last 10 years under the PNM
01:51administration,
01:52where they are basically fighting for the survival every day, doesn't excuse criminal activity at all.
01:58I myself was subjected to that criminal activity, but we have to understand the reasons behind it.
02:04And when people, after 10 years, were faced with a lack of opportunities, a lack of hope by the PNM,
02:12and this isn't chickens coming home to roost right now.
02:15But having said that, we have to give people an opportunity to defend themselves and their families
02:19and put on criminal activity by any means necessary.
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