The Government of Dominica has announced a new gun amnesty program, aimed at reducing the number of illegal firearms on the island.
National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore made the announcement following two recent shootings that left one person dead and three others injured. He warned that the government is determined to prevent gun violence from becoming a national crisis.
The amnesty, which runs from July through August, allows anyone in possession of illegal firearms or ammunition to surrender them at any police station — or through a trusted intermediary — without fear of prosecution.
Minister Blackmoore also reminded the public that a one-thousand-dollar reward is being offered for information leading to the seizure of illegal weapons.
He promised an intensified crackdown on gun violence, stronger laws with mandatory jail time for offenders, and continued support for the police to fight crime.
National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore.