Drug offenders, rape accused and domestic violence perpetrators may be among legal gun-holders, said the Prime Minister, who once again has expressed his displeasure over the findings of reports into the issuance of firearms user's licences (FUL) and variations of firearm import permits.
Dr Rowley shared several "real examples" of the "troubling allegations" of rampant corruption and malpractices, including holders being allowed to import or access unusually large caches under the leadership of former top cop Gary Griffith.
He assured that the police and the National Security Council, which he leads, are making considerable efforts to rectify this state of affairs and hold the relevant people accountable.
Rowley said the general manager of a store was charged with having drugs in 2012 and was granted a FUL in 2021. Another applicant, who was similarly charged, was also granted a FUL in 2021.
"In 2011, he committed the offence of issuing threats and, in 2013, failing a breath sample and in 2016, issuing threats to kill. On September 11, 2022, he made threats to his ex-girlfriend and the police had to intervene and investigate. This investigation led to the seizure of his firearm," Rowley said.
He spoke at the 28th sitting of the House of Representatives on July 3.
On abnormalities found in an investigation by Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher, of the licensing regime for 2016 to 2021, Rowley said about 7,000 licences were issued from August 2018 to September 2021.
"In that short period, he (Griffith) would have granted more FULs than several police commissioners combined over the years. Some applications for the grant of provisional permits, which is a precursor document to the FUL, were not properly or entirely completed.
"Several applications for provisional permits were unsigned by the applicants, yet they were approved. Licensed firearm dealers were dropping several incomplete applications to the Firearms Section on behalf of their clients."
The PM added there was evidence that files which divisional heads did not recommend were approved.
Several FULs were approved without the requisite certificate of character. This resulted in people who would ordinarily be refused being granted FULs.
Rowley said, currently, there are 20 police officers before the courts charged with gun-related offences.
He recalled a first investigation that was done by a retired ACP Arthur Barrington and retired Chief of Defense Staff, Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard.
Another (The Craig Report, July 2022) was done by a team of four retired senior officers, supported by four serving officers, assigned by the then-acting CoP Mc Donald Jacob.
A third enquiry was done by retired Justice of Appeal Stanley John, who was appointed by the Police Service Commission.
Rowley recalled that when he announced his intention of laying the Craig Report in Parliament, the former CoP took the matter to court, asking the court to stop the Government from doing so.
"The court injuncted the audit report (Craig Report
