Give us a chance
Skeet Club President: Shooting sports in Jamaica are growing and continue to grow
Published:Friday | March 11, 2022 | 12:10 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Jamaica Skeet Club president Jordan Samuda says he hopes that consideration is being made for young aspiring competitors as a Jamaica Rifle Association (JRA) proposal is being reviewed to lower the age limit for legal gun usage.
His comments come in the wake of an intense debate during Wednesday's sitting of a joint select committee of Parliament which is reviewing the Firearms Prohibition Restriction and Regulation Act 2022. The committee was deliberating on a submission from the JRA which aims to establish lower limits to issuing firearm permits in Jamaica. They want to reduce the age limit for someone being granted permission to legally use a firearm from 16 to 12 years.
At Wednesday's meeting, minister of national security and committee chair Dr Horace Chang, while suggesting that the matter be thoroughly reviewed, said that he would not be in support of such a proposal, specifically with the use of the .22LR rifle, even in sport. The JRA proposal suggested age 14 as the legal limit for the use of this rifle.
“Firearms in Jamaica are weapons of mass destruction in plain language. And whether it is illegal or legal, there must be a sense of responsibility associated with it. And I think limiting the age and the use in this situation, .22 LR rifle, not allowing any junior to use it,” Chang said. “Not doing it while I am minister.”
Samuda says that he is optimistic for a common-sense resolution to the issue and is urging persons with similar concerns to give the sport a chance.
“We hope that we can find an amicable solution to this particular issue. We fully understand and fully appreciate the minister's perspectives and issues on the matter. But we have made (the request) for the age limit to be 12 years old for the participation of sports,” Samuda told The Gleaner. “We would encourage those who have those concerns to join us at any of our events and see the sport up close and personal, what it entails and the features of it, and then develop their own opinion.”
NO IMPACT ON CRIME
Chang's comments were met with opposition from government senator Sherene Golding-Campbell, especially with Chang extending his stance to exclude minors (under 18) from participation in shooting sports. Golding-Campbell said that the matter would not prevent the ongoing issue of crime in the country.
“It does not assist the policy initiative that we are trying to move forward, which is to prevent illegal guns from killing people. So, to restrict a 12-year-old or a 14-year-old from participating in a recreational sport, that, in my mind, does not impact the question of whether or not the gun is illegal and goes to kill somebody,” Golding-Campbell said. “So what is our rationale?”
According to Article 7.4.11 of the 2020 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) General Regulations, there is no age limit for participation in ISSF Championships. Article 7.4.12 additionally indicates that juniors (defined as persons under 21 on the day of the opening of the championships) can participate in all ISSF championships and the Olympic Games, as part of their national team.
Samuda says that they hope to continue improving the growth of the sport and their membership, which is currently over 200, and says that all members have to comply with strict adherence to safety policies.
“ All our members are fully compliant with all of the regulations that govern the use of a shotgun to participate in sports. We only support that position and we will not support any other one,” Samuda said. “Shooting sports in Jamaica are growing and continue to grow. We look forward to continuing working with the relevant authorities to foster a relationship to maintain that growth.”