By Sue-Ann Wayow
IT’S ironic that Government seems to be “pursuing a foolish attack on legal firearms holders” when its members are protected with armed security says Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Speaking at the United National Congress (UNC) Monday night forum at the Gasparillo Secondary School, she said it appeared as though government did not want to give citizens the right to protect themselves.
“They are failing at protecting citizens but don’t want citizens to protect themselves. They seem to be on the side of the criminal element. They don’t want to give you the laws to protect yourselves and your families to defend yourselves in your homes to give you the legal firearms to protect you and your family,” Persad-Bissessar told supporters.
She added, “The most distasteful fact of all of this is that all of them, every man jack and woman jack in the government… they have armed security personnel 24/7… They riding all over in bullet proof vehicles, with bullet proof vests.”
Persad-Bissessar in encouraging support for her “Stand Your Ground” legislation also said, “I respectfully say that we cannot leave the determination of what is a clear and transparent application of self-defence law to the subjectivity of any individual police officer or prosecutor.”
This especially as there were rogue officers in the system.
“The UNC’s stand your ground laws will eliminate this constant threat by rogue and corrupt officers. It will give the homeowner the legal power to protect their family without doubt or fear of extortion,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She pledged to make legal gun ownership easier adding that she respected the choice of persons who did not wish to obtain one.
Persad-Bissessar said, “But those who wish to own a legal firearm should be able to apply and be fairly considered and get that legal firearm.”
