ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC—The federal government of Grenada has applied modifications to the Firearm Act, which can now place firearm-related offenses on par with homicide and treason.
In response to Lawyer Common and Minister for Authorized Affairs Claudette Joseph, as of July 30, magistrates will not be licensed to difficulty bail for an individual charged beneath the Firearm Act as a result of offenses beneath that laws, the offense shall be elevated to “very critical”.
“It may be seen from the brand new penalties by this amended laws we’re elevating the offenses dedicated beneath the Firearms Act as extreme offenses warranting an software to the Choose to be admitted to bail in the identical means as an software is required to be made to the Choose when the offenses of homicide or treason are dedicated,” Joseph advised the Higher Home on Wednesday as she debated the modification to the Prison Process Code (Modification) 2024.
This Invoice seeks to amend the Prison Process Code, Chapter 72B, to increase the classes of offenses in respect of which a Justice of the Peace shall not admit an individual to bail to incorporate offenses beneath the Firearms Act, Chapter 105, which might be punishable by imprisonment for a time period of 5 years or extra.
At present, the Prison Process Code authorizes a Justice of the Peace to grant bail as soon as the cost just isn’t for homicide, treason, misprision of treason, and treason felony.
Joseph stated the state now places firearm-related offenses on the identical stage as nonbailable offenses.
“And so, anybody committing these offenses won’t be able to get bail from the Justice of the Peace anymore due to the intense nature of the offense,” Joseph advised the members.
Described as draconian, the 28 Modification to the Firearms Act is coming at a time when Grenada is recording a excessive variety of firearm offenses.
Between January to June of 2024, the police have confiscated 35 firearms.
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