Police Commissioner Gary Griffith is encouraging more women to apply for Firearm Users Licences (FUL) to protect themselves against criminal elements. Photo: Internet Source

His call came yesterday in the wake of public outrage over violence against women, children and the murders of 18-year-old Ashanti Riley and the discovery of the body of missing mother Krystal Primus-Espinoza.

Speaking at a press conference at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain, Griffith said the public outcry had ignited an operational plan to deal with missing persons and violence against women and children.

“I want to inform all women in the country, there is nothing against women having a firearm, a fireman is something that can be an asset for you. There is no need to be fearful of a firearm. Firearms do not kill people, people kill people. A firearm should not be something you feel so sensitive that you feel that you do not want it,” Griffith said.

Noting that he has increased the number of firearm licences issued annually from over 200 to 1,500, Griffith said he has been pushing heavily to provide people with their right to bear arms.

“If the state cannot fully protect you and for obvious reasons, we cannot give you the assurance that we can. We are doing all that we can through the Government, through the TTPS and other arms of national security, but it is your right to bear arms. It is your right to defend yourself, it is your right to protect you, your assets your loved ones…,” he said. 

“A firearm is not a man thing, a firearm is something that should be used by law-abiding citizens to protect themselves.”

In a subsequent telephone interview, Griffith told Guardian Media that out of the 30,000 firearm licence applicants, just about 3,000 were women.

Speaking at a press conference at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain, Griffith said the public outcry had ignited an operational plan to deal with missing persons and violence against women and children.

“I want to inform all women in the country, there is nothing against women having a firearm, a fireman is something that can be an asset for you. There is no need to be fearful of a firearm. Firearms do not kill people, people kill people. A firearm should not be something you feel so sensitive that you feel that you do not want it,” Griffith said.

However, the Commissioner said he was concerned that 95 per cent of the applicants were men.

Noting that he has increased the number of firearm licences issued annually from over 200 to 1,500, Griffith said he has been pushing heavily to provide people with their right to bear arms.

“If the state cannot fully protect you and for obvious reasons, we cannot give you the assurance that we can. We are doing all that we can through the Government, through the TTPS and other arms of national security, but it is your right to bear arms. It is your right to defend yourself, it is your right to protect you, your assets your loved ones…,” he said.

In a subsequent telephone interview, Griffith told Guardian Media that out of the 30,000 firearm licence applicants, just about 3,000 were women.