Acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob says an uneven distribution of Firearms User's Licences (FUL) has led to problems of availability for many applicants.

He adds that while he is on the receiving end of criticism from the public over the sluggish pace of processing permits, he should not be blamed.

On Friday a police media release reported that the police Firearms Section is still operating and receiving applications for permits and the police were using a digital database to better manage the issuance of FULs.

In the media release Jacob also noted that while the software to record the data had been bought since 2015, former employees in the Firearms Section continued to use a manual method, which allowed for corruption in the FUL application process.

Speaking with Newsday on Friday, Jacob said using a digitised system of record-keeping would improve the capacity and efficiency of the process.

He also said the issuing of a disproportionate number of FULs in recent times was problematic for deserving applicants who were still waiting for their permits.

"Een though 7,000 firearms were given out in the last three years, some people were given 27, 20 and 15 firearms each...In the case of one person having 27 firearms, that means 26 additional people could have been given firearms."

He coomplained, "A lot of the people who deserve firearms user's licences aren't getting it, but yet the blame is being placed on me in the public sphere, as if I don't want to give people firearms.

"I feel it's totally unfair to me when someone has done so much damage and no one is taking that up and they are only coming at me."

Jacob said officers assigned to the Firearms Section were working to use the digital software and ten FUL holders have already been added to the digital list as of June.

In April 2021, former CoP Gary Griffith proposed that a card could be used together with the FUL issued booklet to certify licenced gun owners.

During a media conference announcing the proposed transition from booklets to cards, Griffith said the cards would not only be more practical but would also include a chip containing information on the FUL holder.

However when asked about this proposed shift to cards, Jacob said while the suggestion was appreciated, such a transition would require amendments to the existing Firearms Act, even if the cards were to be used together with the original booklet.

"The law still has to be amended, because when you produce the card but you don't have your book, the law does not cater for any card. The law says you have to have your booklet on you, not the card.."

Contacted for comment, Griffith said it was never his intention to replace the FUL booklet but to have the card as a more convenient means of identifying licensed gun owners.

He also said the failure to use cards was a step backwards, and accused Jacob of being fearful of advances in technology.

"By them (the police) deliberately removing it and putting an end to it for over a year, this was designed deliberately to g