Premier to lead the charge for the strengthening of gun laws
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) made several arrests during the first quarter of 2025, charging persons with various charges related to firearms possession and shooting incidents.
Just this week, March 26, 2025, officers recovered a 9mm semi-automatic Glock pistol and a total of 41 rounds of assorted ammunition. Eight males were taken into custody as a result of the operation, with three being released after questioning. Five were subsequently charged including a minor.
During a press conference on March 21, 2025, the National Security Council meets weekly where discussions surround strengthening security in the Territory.
More can be done- Premier Wheatley
In the first five weeks of 2025, the RVIPF recovered 4 firearms and 302 rounds of ammunition.
While acknowledging the gains made by the RVIPF in recent times under the leadership of Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool, Premier Wheatley said there is more work to be done.
Laws need to be strengthened, especially gun laws, he said, “That’s something that I am going to champion, strengthening gun laws, especially for possession, especially some of the heavy weaponry that very young persons have access to now…We are seeing young persons with AR15s and that’s completely unacceptable for us.”
Premier Wheatley said the matter of legislative review is "urgent".
Premier looking forward to upcoming Crime Summit
Premier Wheatley said this is one of the reasons why he is looking forward to the Crime Summit, which is already being planned.
The answer to solving the crime problem, particularly among youth, cannot be done in isolation Dr Wheatley opined.
“All of us have to come together to stop this scourge within our community…We have young persons, many of them who’ve gone astray; we have to look at our education system, we have to look at our social system- you know, our families, our communities, and we have to look at our churches, we have to look at our customs and our border protection, our immigration processes,” he added.
The process will include a comprehensive review and Premier Wheatley said the Crime Summit will play an important role.
Stakeholders will be brought together “to have this important discussion and chart a way forward as it pertains to really what I have seen as kind of a new wave of young criminal mentality in the Virgin Islands”, Premier Wheatley stated.
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12 Responses to “Premier to lead the charge for the strengthening of gun laws”
Something has to happen soon as we are becoming more like St Thomas every day.
The spiking of the use of guns as a crme the prime tool is older than old worn out shoe. How come you are talking as if this is something new of recent or lately happenings?
Stop your no-show talking, lack of real show. In other word don't tell us what you plan to do, show us, that will tell us.