ILLEGAL GUNS CONTROL : File photo of illegal firearms police collected and destroyed in an amnesty call for owners to hand over their guns and avoid criminal charges of unlawful possession.
By Staff Writer
Gun laws in Samoa before independence 63 years years ago, are coming under full review for the first time, with the increasing threat of illegal arms as one of the main reasons for it.
The Samoa Law Reform Commission, SLRC, is undertaking the Arms Ordinance review on request from the Ministry of Police and Prisons.
The Samoa Arms Ordinance 1960 enforced while under New Zealand rule is still in place today.
Very little changes or amendments have been made over the long time period before and after independence.
The most recent was 4 years ago to allow for unlawful firearms to be used during the 2019 South Pacific Games.
Twenty one year olds were also allowed possession of firearms for the same sporting reason at the time.
Public opinions on the issue of firearms in Samoa, is one of the critical sectors in the SLRC review, and is encouraging feedback from as many people as possible.
A Discussion Paper is also being widely circulated to guide public opinion on areas to comment on.
The Police and Prisons service want changes to the gun laws, to allow for more effective modern practices they have developed over the years to be enforced.
A Samoa Audit Office review in 2017-2018 also showed the need to update the Arms Ordinance 1960 to handle gun licensing issues, arms control and the armoury register.
Police concerns over the ‘rising presence of illegal firearms’ in Samoa are being reflected in what is described in the SLRC Discussions paper to be a “high number of crimes committed and brought before the Court of Samoa.”
A list of issues for SLRC review includes tightening up of licensing registrations, categorising firearms and ammunitions, possessions and usage.
The involvement of licensed dealers, purchase, sale, imports and exports of firearms are all listed.
A noted area of interest in the review is the mention of the Village Fono and the possible control role they maybe called upon to play on firearms use.
The SLRC is extending their review to include studies of gun laws in New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu to compare what they have in place as part of any overall analysis.
The hope is for Samoa “…to develop arms laws that are not only tailored and responsive to Samoa’s context but also aligned with appropriate best practices and standards observed internationally and in our region.”
The problem of illegal guns in Samoa was highlighted by recent gun amnesty offers by the Police to encourage owners to avoid legal charges by handing them in.
National controversy related to illegal firearm fears were sparked recently as well by a gun shipment, under the name of the Minister of Agriculture, Laauli Leuatea Schmidt.
The Minister was forced to defend against strong claims the gun shipment was illegal.
The SLRC review and recommended amendments for an updated Samoa Arms Ordinance will follow the usual prolonged process of final approval to become law by the Legislative Assembly.