Do business owners need guns?

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Aladdin Quality Store was robbed on Dec. 5, and many question why business owners are not armed. Photo: VINO

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The barefaced robbery on a jewellery store yesterday, Monday December 5, 2011 has raised the concern of why it is so difficult for a business owner to get a licensed firearm or an armed security personnel.

As first reported by Virgin Islands News Online, around 11 a.m. two armed and masked gunmen robbed Aladdin Quality Store of several thousand dollars’ worth of jewellery.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one business owner told this news agency, it is a bit frustrating that robbers get easy access to weapons at their “whim and fancy” yet owners of businesses have to go through the rigorous exercise in applying for a gun to protect his property.

“I mean these hooligans have to be stopped,” the entrepreneur, who owns an electronic store stated. “Either we are armed or having an armed security guard at high risk locations and businesses.”

This news agency understands that several private security providers continue to lobby to have their employees who are working in high risk areas be armed.

According to one such proprietor, the explanation most commonly used is that security personnel is not an armed police entity.

Following the robbery, Virgin Islands News Online tried to make contact with the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police for a comment but was informed they were both in a meeting.

25 Responses to “Do business owners need guns? ”

EYE opener (06/12/2011, 07:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
Well also you all better want to pay the armed security also cuz the $8 that you want to pay to make a man even if he is armed with a gun, to protect you aint enough.... just an eye opener.
Brad Boynes (06/12/2011, 09:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
Arming Business owners will not stop burglaries. There are a lot of responsibility, consequencies and accountability when being granted alicense to keep and carry firearms. Everyboby gung hoo about getting gun for protection. Those stealing will get their day.
Polo (06/12/2011, 09:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
if they refused to give the police arm how the hell will they give we business owners any???please
sayno (06/12/2011, 10:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
No they do not need guns.
- crank up (06/12/2011, 18:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  yes they do or else hopw the hick will they make $$$$$$
  - my two cents (06/12/2011, 18:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i live in the states and as a black man if many of thoes shop oweners had guns more of the brothers would have been dead for just walking into the stores...it can happy here ...keep the guns out of their hands...my two cents
    - Tuffbong33 (09/12/2011, 07:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      My two cents: You don't get it bro. Nobody gonna use a firearm unless they feel threatened. I wouldnt feel threatened by the bro's just walking into the store. It's when they walk in waving a .45, then I feel threatened, and all bets are off for everyone in that store. The perps better fire first, cuz they gonna see the flash! Store owners, and home owners are gonna have guns wether the crown lets them or not. Level the playing field. Live by the gun, die by the gun. Get real bro, quit talkin stupid, I think your smarter than that? Are you?
Truth (06/12/2011, 10:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
What they need is those doors that you can't get into unless you press a button and they buzz you in...come on people, these are high times, we all see what is going on here, why not protect your businesses from these scums of the earth
- Tuffbong33 (09/12/2011, 07:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  Truth: AMEN bro! Once inside, they do stupidness, then I'll have fun with them. Then call the popo.
school children say (06/12/2011, 10:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
could this be investigated for insurance fraud,do the math,do the home work,knowing the category and the history of these people,the need to fully check into this,do the math.the need to investigate all these foreign merchants here.dig deep see what you find.
- Albion (06/12/2011, 21:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  A news media reported a while ago that over 100K of jewlery were stolen. In a crappy shop like this? 100K? For insurance reason alone those jewlery would have to be in a fire proof save. That is one heck of an insurance scam!!!
vip possee (06/12/2011, 10:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
we dont want any shootouts...bystanders will get hit
Dick (06/12/2011, 11:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
with the criminals filled with guns I say give the police and the business owners gun to, or else the criminals will always have a heads up
NO GUNS EVER! (06/12/2011, 11:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
This is asking for the BVI to turn Wild Wild West. Trained police men who are legally serviced to protect the citizens are not armed, so why would Joe Blow, Security Guard (even if he isn't a policeman) be allowed to be armed? That is insane! Can you imagine if some guy shot someone he said he thought was robbing the store and then it comes to light that he and the other guy were enemies, fighting over some woman or something??? A security guard is there to watch the premises, keep an eye out for potential thieves, provide a deterence to theft, and to call the police if a robbery occurs. The owners of the electronic stores, or whatever store, are potentially at high risk at any time of the year, especially Christmas. These theives know that there are plenty of willing customers, who will turn a blind eye, not notify the police of stolen goods being sold, and purchase the stolen items for a good deal. By being the customers for these hooligans we promote and condone theft. What these businesses need to do is install proper security cameras in their establishement. The cameras should face the doors, the tills, and any areas in the store that sell easy grab and dash items of high value that the theives can sell. If you ask me they are willing to risk the lives of armed security guards (and the poor customers who'll likely be caught in the crossfire when the security guard starts a shoot-out) as opposed to investing money in a much needed security system. An alarm and a camera system are far cheaper than the cost of people losing their lives over cheap jewelry.
- Tuffbong33 (09/12/2011, 07:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  No Guns Ever: Get your head out of your _ss. You tell me truthfully, if you were one of these hoodies, that if you knew there might be a 9mm in this store owners pocket, would you really be so stupid to just come in the middle of the day to rob it? Come on, fight fire with fire. When Texas armed their citizens, gun crime dropped 33%. I don't know how your brain works, but if all the shop owners had guns, and private homes had guns, they would think twice about droppin in on you for some free cash. Don't be dumb, arm the people with clean records. Give us the edge. What if the scooter boys come callin on you "No Guns Ever", then you can just call the keystone cops for help. They'll be there in an hour or so. LOL Your thinking scares me!
Tram (06/12/2011, 15:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
CASTLE DOCTRINE [IN AMERICA] A Castle Doctrine (also known as a Castle Law or a Defense of Habitation Law) is an American legal doctrine arising from English common law[1] that designates one's place of residence (or, in some states, any place legally occupied, such as one's car or place of work) as a place in which one enjoys protection from illegal trespassing and violent attack. It then goes on to give a person the legal right to use deadly force to defend their place, and any other innocent persons legally inside it, from violent attack or an intrusion which may lead to violent attack. In a legal context, therefore, use of deadly force which actually results in death may be defended as justifiable homicide under the Castle Doctrine. In general, (one) or a variety of conditions must be met before a person can legally use the Castle Doctrine: * An intruder must be making (or have made) an attempt to unlawfully and/or forcibly enter an occupied residence, business or vehicle. * The intruder must be acting illegally—e.g. the Castle Doctrine does not give the right to attack officers of the law acting in the course of their legal duties * The occupant(s) of the home must reasonably believe that the intruder intends to inflict serious bodily harm or death upon an occupant of the home * The occupant(s) of the home must reasonably believe that the intruder intends to commit some other felony, such as arson or burglary * The occupant(s) of the home must not have provoked or instigated an intrusion, or provoked or instigated an intruder to threaten or use deadly force * The occupant(s) of the home may be required to attempt to exit the house or otherwise retreat (this is called the "Duty to retreat" and most self-defense statutes referred to as examples of "Castle Doctrine" expressly state that the homeowner has no such duty) In all cases, the occupant(s) of the home must be there legally, must not be fugitives from the law, must not be using the Castle Doctrine to aid or abet another person in being a fugitive from the law, and must not use deadly force upon an officer of the law or an officer of the peace while they are performing or attempting to perform their legal duties. Note: the term "home" is used because most states only apply their Castle Doctrine to a place of residence; however, some states extend the protection to other legally-occupied places such as automobiles and places of business.
- True (06/12/2011, 17:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  hate to burst your so informed bubble of copy and paste but in the UK a farmer was sent to jail for killing an intruder in his house even though they were robbing him there were a couple of them and he shot 1 and got jailed.
- brain child (07/12/2011, 06:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  the person playing bright but its copy and paste indeed
fellow (07/12/2011, 01:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
What a robber man has on his side is the element of surprise and having a gun in your store will not and might not make a difference it might just make it worsted, in these days alot of these guys aint playing and will shoot you or your customers, and the amateur ones is the one you have to worry about because those are the sacred ones who will shoot and didn't really want to shoot. It just means that there should be more police presents in some areas and we the people needs to do our part by turning in these fools but i forgot its only a problem when it happens to us nobody really cares no more, and until things change and our attitude change when it comes to fighting crime the BVI will not get better becuz there is a lot of guns on the streets here in the BVI and that's the grim reality.
Tuffbong33 (07/12/2011, 06:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
Better to be jailed than to be robbed and shot. I beleive in the law that the Texas governer passed, ALL citizens with out criminal record, can have a firearm. Why not even the playing field. Look out homies, one day you WILL run into a house, or shop, and surprise!! LEAD POISONING.
Become a USVI (07/12/2011, 06:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
We do not need more guns in this community period- if anything stiffen the penalties for possessing firearms and become more agressive in stop and search regimes- we do not want dozens of casualties on our streets like in the USVI-
- Tuffbong33 (09/12/2011, 07:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  UNLESS your a bvIslander, then all you get is a stearn warning. The rest of us, see the hole for 6 months, then off the island. Nice justice system you have here, LOL
Zap em (07/12/2011, 13:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
Tasers. Knock them down to the floor with it and then keep them break dancing until the PoPo show up. Hmmm, might need to keep an extra battery on hand waiting for them to arrive.
Anders Kanten (11/12/2011, 11:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
I do not think more guns could prevent this. I find it interesting that nobody mentions social differences or that the robbers might be so poor that this could be the only solution to them getting food on the table for their wife's and kids. I would personally hate to go out drinking in a town where everyone might have a gun with them, In Norway where I am from even the police does not carry guns on regular patrols unless there is any special situation that calls for it. It is possible for every citicen to get a hunting rifle or a gun for sports, but it is illegal to carry it in public or have it at their stores. I personally think that guns is the wrong way to go. There should rather be more soup kitchens and more police patrolling the streets.
- Tuffbong33 (11/12/2011, 19:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  Anders: With all do respect, they don't have a wife and kids to support in general. They are just punks looking for easy bling at the expense of the working shlubs of Tortola. Soon they will cross the paths of a shop owner, or a home owner that was robbed a couple too many times, and it will get ugly, and someone will die. They know this going in, and they are young and fearless. But no problem, there are more fools waiting to take his place. Get rid of them, they are using up all our good air, and messing up what is left of beautiful Tortola. I say k...lll em, and set an example to their homies! Fertilizer

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Do business owners need guns?

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