NEW: Gun Bill - No Bail

[nirtime]

So as you are aware, a new bill regarding guns was passed a while ago and while it has been a while, there are many people who still are unaware of what this bill consists off. Here are the details:

The Bill states that a court shall not grant bail to:

(a) a person who is under the age of 18 years and charged with an offence under the Anti-Gang Act, 2011;

(b) on or after the commencement of the Bail (Amendment) Act, 2015, is charged with an offence (i) under section 6 of the Firearms Act, where the person has a pending charge for an offence specified in Part II of the First Schedule; or (ii) specified in Part II of the First Schedule, except an offence under section 6 of the Firearms Act, where the prosecution informs the court that the person or any other person involved in the commission of the offence used or had in his possession a firearm or imitation firearm during the commission of the offence.

The person can apply for bail after 120 days if the prosecution has not started a case.

Taken from: JAIL WITHOUT BAIL | Trinidad Express Newspaper | News

 

[grimreaper009]

so what happens to ppl who are generally innocent????

 

[Shadowhunter]

I think most bills are passed assuming the person is guilty. The thing is, people who are guilty and have enough money and lawyers in their back pockets easily worm out of such clauses. I'm not expecting this to be any different. Not all the people in jail are criminals. IMO the most dangerous criminals are the ones that walk in plain sight on the street, gun/blade tucked in their clothes, and move around like nothing can touch them because whether it is contacts, bribes, etc. they can and do get away with it.

Throw a gun into an unsuspecting law abiding young person's hand, and they will be locked up without defense to make up the statistics to prove something is being done about crime.

 

[nirtime]

Correct,.correct and more correct!

It's ridiculously easy to get framed for these things now. The only thing being if someone tried to sabotage and threw a gun into someone's car or somethimg without knowledge, will a finger print test be done to prove whether the person who was framed is really guilty or not?

Also I find it a bit confusing. What happens when you are legally carrying your licensed fire arm and had cause to use it for your own protection?

 

[Shadowhunter]

Correct,.correct and more correct!

It's ridiculously easy to get framed for these things now. The only thing being if someone tried to sabotage and threw a gun into someone's car or somethimg without knowledge, will a finger print test be done to prove whether the person who was framed is really guilty or not?

Also I find it a bit confusing. What happens when you are legally carrying your licensed fire arm and had cause to use it for your own protection?

1. If they lack the legal knowledge and resources as well as finances, I suspect they are doomed. Criminals and those who take part in criminal activity but consider themselves above criminals and the law usually know how to work around these things and if necessary, will ask for fingerprints to tie the weapon to someone else. I know cases that are abandoned after an arrest and the person waits in jail for years on a trial that never comes. Not so for people that can work the system.

2. In that case, it depends on who you know. Hope that you know a decent officer to sort things out because some of the corrupt authorities just want your weapon and your personal info to feed back to the criminals. I've heard that even when used in self-defense, law abiding citizens are punished for having licensed weapons.

 

[nirtime]

Wow, now that is really harsh! Begs the question, does it pay to be honest and hard working?

 

[Shadowhunter]

Wow, now that is really harsh! Begs the question, does it pay to be honest and hard working?

I think if you want a clear conscience and not to risk putting your loved ones in jeopardy, then yes. However, if you want to avoid getting taken advantage of, framed, targeted, etc. being honest and hard working can make you a sitting duck in today's society.

IMO while we pass out new laws with big news, we should put equal amounts of effort into enforcing the existing ones.

 

[nirtime]

That's the whole debate for me. What good are new bills and this and that when current ones aren't being enforced.