Perinchief & Dunkley on Guns & Crime
Minister of National Security Wayne Perinchief has spoken about a “bounty” for the retrieval of a firearm, with Shadow Minister Michael Dunkley responding by saying that studies show that law breakers rarely surrender their guns to buy back programs.
The new National Security Minister brings extensive Policing experience to the position, having served in the Bermuda Police Service from 1964 to 1995, retiring at the rank of Assistant Commissioner. He took over the portfolio after former Minister Lt. Col. David Burch resigned earlier this month.
After he was sworn in as Minister, he spoke with us and said he is concerned as the perpetrators are becoming younger and more reckless, and that some of the shooters motivation seems to be just the “sheer power.”
Minister Perinchief gangs are forming their own sub culture, and are “replicating what they see of gangland conduct in other places such as Atlanta and Jamaica.”
He spoke about social causes of crime, and said in the short term we need to get the guns out of the criminals hands. He said with the “limited number of weapons that are in the hands of criminals, if we got them out of their hands, that a lot of this crime would abate.
The Minister said, “The underlying violence will always remain, the tit for tat, but its preferential they use baseball bats and machetes to guns. I only say that in comparative way, not that its desirable to have this type of violence.”
Minister Perinchief previously called for financial incentives for firearms being turned in as a backbencher last summer, saying it could help in stemming the rising gun violence. At the time he said that he believes there can be a financial motive for criminality, says “hangers on” may want to take advantage of a payment of around $5,000 in exchange for turning in a firearm.
He has recently spoken out again about the possibility of a gun buy back, telling the Royal Gazette “Guns that are already on the Island and most likely are being used for criminal activities would be handed in anonymously for a payment.”
Responding to this suggestion this week, Shadow Minister of National Security Michael Dunkley said, “We commend the Minister for his zeal in trying to come to grips with his new portfolio and the many challenges we all face, especially in regards to public safety. We look forward to working with the Minister as all good initiatives should be considered.”
“We hope however that “new ideas” are not being floated as trial balloons to create headlines or give the impression that something is being done. Gun buy back policies are not new as many other jurisdictions have implemented them and it would be wise to learn from the success or failure as it is clear to me in my research that, while there are supporters of these type of initiatives, there is also a lot of negative feedback.”
“Studies show that law breakers rarely surrender their guns to buy back programs. In addition critics contend that funds used to pay for the surrender can easily go towards the purchase of new and more powerful weapons. With our current inability to properly patrol the points of entry to Bermuda one can assume criminals would try and import weapons to replace older models or with funds handed out as reward. Studies also show that there is little conclusive evidence that buy back programs have reduced gun violence.”
“It is also important to remember that the possession of a firearm and ammunition is against the law in Bermuda. Thus I am sure there are many in the community who would question paying people to turn in guns when it is against the law to possess them! Many places that have used buy back programs do not have the same legislation as Bermuda so there is a fundamental difference in the reason for a buy back and the “success” of a program.”
“It is our opinion that there is no harm for Bermuda to consider a policy, we have many questions that need to be answered in advance of a policy and it is vital that we also learn from the failures of other buy back programs. We have seen enough “feel good laws or policies” that have not worked to date. One that comes to mind is the law pertaining to the use of cell phones while driving. We do not need another that will not work and could be a drain on the public or private purse.”
“We commend the Police for the success they have had recently but it is painfully clear that there is still much work to be done. We urge the new Minister to listen closely to the Commissioner and his colleagues to gauge what policy and budget they require to get the job done. While both the Minister and Junior Minister are former top cops who bring a certain level of experience with them to these posts they also need to appreciate the new and very different responsibilities of being politicians.”
“The Commissioner and the BPS need to be supported and not micro-managed. Finally, while the Minister is considering ways to take a bite out of gang and gun violence we again will take this opportunity to show our support for an “Operations Ceasefire” approach that has worked in many areas. We willing to work with the Government and community if they consider this approach.”
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so….this means that l can start bringing in $250 guns from canada/us/jamaca, and be paid $5000 #$%^&*( dollars for it…without any charges or criminal actions???????? sign me up!
Michael, you so full of crap. “Operartion ceasfire”.
Well they haven’t. “We commend the Minister for his zeal”.
Listen up Mike. Take your millions and get lost. You ain’t doing nothing and your cream…well…………………
Yah you got me pissed off and my container is empty.
Sometimes my own Bermudians really annoy me when I hear people complaining that the gun buy-back wouldn’t work before they even give it a try. Every shooting/murder everyone complains to the police & government to do something, and here you have government trying something new, and people still complain. Of course the gun buy-back is not the solution, but simply a temporary alternative while solutions are formulated. Considering that the police have already said they don’t believe there to be much weapons on the island, every gun turned in represents a success. It could have been used to kill any one of us, including those people who are against it!!!
whatever, its just like the Burch days, say whatever comes to your mind, then backtrack when you realize(PLP) that you are wrong almost everytime at governing a country….Jeez they can’t even run there own companies
Whatever happened to Amnesty?????? thats how the rest of the known world does it, why is it only the PLP that always wants to give money away, why, l will tell you……it goes back to the slave days (and dont get me wrong, lm not racist) and educated black and white folks know this……When you give the checkbook to a mouse with a peanut, eventually an elephant is going to come round and squash em! reteric yes, but nothing makes sense when your a Billion dollars in debt and still so stupid and thick headed to think you can give money away to gangsters and murderers and that will make somekind of difference????
Dumb idea’s= Dumb answers=ignorance=Money=PLP
Ok what’s your solution to gun control then? Since you seem to know everything about everything else in the world.
P.S. You meant to say, “they cant even run their own companies” NOT “there”. Seems like you don’t know everything like I first thought..
who are you jsl? cause you sound like that plp woman that comes on the talk show everyday to “correct” the general public on plp “policies”.
Correcting my grammer was as dumb as you are, why, because l didn’t say l knew anything…it was just my opinion. You re wht the problem in Bermuda is…..I am just a human with an opinion on guns and murder and you are correcting my grammer and calling me names personally.
Pathetic PLP backbencher or wannabe plp underbencher(still sucking Brown off)
You seem to be the name caller! With no solutions!
the real proble is bermuda is going down hill and until the government can relize that bermuda young and old are ut there struggling to eat, keep a roof over thier head and clothes on there back so until bermuda can adress the real issues at hand then nothing will change so every body keep pulling the wool over your eyes and you will never see the light ….. and i am a young male bermudian so i feel my point is more valid than alot of these speculators and frods out there! ! !
I think you meant to say problem and not proble. hee hee!!
If you have a blackberry, you are not struggling. If you have internet and cable, you are not struggling. Bermuda is now being forced to be responsible, thats all.
As for the guns for money game show….. The people with the guns are not struggling for money. Money would not motivate them to give a gun.
work on a better deal……
get them off the stop list if they can give the police information on a gun. NEW YORK CITY….ATL…..DISNEY WORLD…..you know how we Bermudians love USA.
the country is struggling, why give people money to waste. there is a monetary value to everything, but at least the stop list would be better received.
Bermuda! Reap what you sow! You took away capital punishment, the Lord’s prayer is no longer said in school’s and our educators and parents can’t discipline our children like the days of old! What did you expect would happen?
NONE of those are the reason crime in Bermuda is out of hand.
Nicole,
R U serious…… That’s a couple of reasons…..
Serious as a heart attack. Who raised this generation? The generation who was raised with all of that and look how many of these kids don’t have fathers, and have reckless mothers. Get real. Prayers taken out of schools? My sister is still in school and they still pray. So what are you talking about?
Very well said. No rules or paths to follow. You get what you payed for. Funny how when people (government/lawyers) take God out of the peoples’ life kife goes to hell.See, if people believe that God is the only one that can give you hope and spiritual sustenance people look to Him and not government. Now with God out of the way people look to…..wait…..government. That how you start down the socialist/communist ideals.
The better deal?
3 strikes n you’re out
and…BRING BACK THE ROPE!!
I’ll even hang the perps for you and gladly.
So when does the drug buy back start?
I totally commend Minister Perinchief for raising the issue of a “buy back campaign” re illegal guns. It is more than likely that there are only a very few guns in circulation, and just maybe a reward would assist in getting one or two of these firearms off the streets. Michael Dunkley is right to point out that “buy back campaigns” in other jurisdictions have not been very successful – so don’t get your hopes up too much – but it’s worth a try because nothing else seems to be working at this point. Insulting Minister Perinchief, or Senator Dunkley, is totally unnecessary. They are both trying to do their best to find solutions to our gun violence problems. Now, more than ever the Police need our support and encouragement in trying to get to grips with the gun violence. People trading insults is not a solution to anything.
Only ignorant people and naive Politician thinks that it’s so hard to get guns in, but surprisingly, so easy to get much heavier and bulkier drugs in. People! take your heads out the sand, the Cops and politicians are doing what they think will not alarm people and at the same time, having you all think, they are in control and the situation is not as grave as it really is.
For those of us who have lived in other jurisdiction and as such, see things for what they are and not just the picture painted in a “match Box”. We saw this coming years ago and know where it’s heading. So if you all think like Minister Perinchief thought, that this was just something that will cycle itself away, you all are living in “Laa-Laa Land” and as such, are in for a rude awakening, because if you thing you see anything yet, wait and see what the next three to five years will bring.
And if you all all think that some “Gun Buy Back” will work, when it’s never worked anywhere else, that have tried it. Oops! I forgot, you all don’t know what goes on in the real world, because the Sun evolves around Bermuda and we are the chosen ones.
Well, you all are thinking like the Minister, that somehow your boys are not of the same human race, that’s found all over the world, but are of some other human specie, that they can’t become killers all on their own. Instead, they need some foreigner to tell them to start killing and that’s why they are doing it.
The solution is simple, poison the root, and the tree will not grow, but while you are waiting for the tree to die a slow death, you’ll still need to cut off the branches and burn them to get rid of them. In other words, fix the social ills and educate your people, “ALL YOUR PEOPLE” and in fifteen years the pool of delinquents would have diminished to a more manageable level.
You can also do the dumb thing, which is to keep blaming foreigners, try and pay $10000 for a $500 Gun, not educate your people and see where we will be in fifteen years. Don’t get me wrong, these gangsters are no fool, they will bring in those guns, because if they understand anything, it’s “by low and sell high” with that $10,000, gosh!! a prudent Gangster, can sell his $500 gun for $10,000, buy ten guns and pay his Currier $5000, sell the ten guns for $10,000 each. Wow!! a cool $100,000. Damn! he don’t need to sell drugs again, he just found a less riskier, and waaaay, more profitable means to make a living.
This is just to show that like all politicians around the world that keep coming up with these “bright” ideas, has not stop to think about the unintended consequences, that these “Bright” ideas always have. I will be the the first to go against popular opinion, that Premiere Cox made the right decision putting this Minister in charge. I don’t thing he has anywhere near, the wisdom to make the right decisions, but then again, that’s typical of politicians.
all you’re doing is paying criminal cowards who can’t even shoot at someone and watch the result, the type who ride by firing instead of standing to fight, the type who probably have no concept of the value of the lives they are wrecking or their own. forget paying these cowards! what are they gonna do, invest in a legitimate business? use the dollars for little timmy’s college fund? nah they’re gonna spend it on whatever and in some cases whatever will be (a) a better gun or (b) drugs to make even more money….either way this don’t break the cycle. part of me thinks there should be a plain old no-pay AMNESTY before a plain old no-spot-left-untouched CRACKDOWN. then repeat. another amnesty. and another crackdown. even if they don’t find guns during these crackdowns, if the man knows as much as the man in the community knows they will come up with some stuff that disrupts the criminals somewhat. repeatedly crackdown and you’ll eventually net something substantial. but at some point, maybe even before anything big-time gets found, the amnesty will become the better option for a lot of these cowards. of course i can see some problems/questions with this – do the police have the resources, can the police change their strategies up enough with each raid to keep them effective, will it create backlash and is this still too heavy-handed of a proposition? i dunno, how does that sound? still sounds better than paying people who likely have some knowledge of the murders and injuries caused by these guns in order to be in posession of them in the first place….
About ten years ago, I believe, we tried something like this – the police offered a gun amnesty to gang members to turn in their guns. From what was reported, many guns were turned in, but here we are, struggling with gun violence even worse than before. That initiative failed then, and I believe it would fail again. The guns
Like Priorities mentioned above, money would not motivate a gang member to turn in guns – they are probably making more by selling drugs anyway. Even if they were willing to give in their guns for cash, why give away taxpayer money to criminals, when you are cutting back on giving financial assistance to seniors and families who really need it??
We need to bring in overseas help to tackle the gang violence. Didn’t Scotland Yard or some overseas task force offer to assist us not to long ago? The police need to admit they are in over their heads and seek assistance from those who are qualified to deal with these things.
Murders, robberies, assaults, gun possession,etc. are all symptoms not causes.
Drugs that that provide easy, big money are the cause.
Treating the symptoms and ignoring the cause will never solve the problem.
Treat the cause. Either prevent the drugs from getting into Bermuda or make the drugs non-lucrative. Either or both. Until we remove the cause we will never stop the symptoms.
We both know that no government in the world is capable of preventing drugs from getting into their country. That is why the war on drugs is a big FAT FAILURE! And the saddest part about that is it’s all about saving face and egos. They(all governments) don’t want to admit they can’t do it. But we all know THEY CAN’T! It’s like the Republicans telling the US people that trickle down economics is the BEST for the whole country. And then you think to yourself well darn isn’t that the model the US was using with the Bush tax cuts? Yes. yes it was and the country TANKED! Just because you say it, DOESN’T MAKE IT TRUE! Stop lying to yourselves, YOU CAN’T WIN THE WAR ON DRUGS. DUH!
Would like to add that even countries that have the strictest laws regarding importation of drugs, such as DEATH penalty STILL have drug problems. Good luck with yet another failed war.
@Reality
That was sort of my point. If we can’t prevent drugs from getting into Bermuda then we have to come up with a solution to take the profitability away from the trade. Wishing, praying, and hoping it will get better do nothing.
And put the ferries back on. Harbour Road is clogged.
It’s a nice idea, but it’s not a solution – PAS is right. I agree with Liars also – this is an opportunity to buy cheap off the black market, sell high to the cops and look like a hero while getting more $ to buy better guns off the black market. JSL, be careful to not mistake a defensive maneuvre for a solution…
Sadly, there is no one solution that will make this madness go away with the flick of a switch and that is what people seem to want. This has been ten years (or more) in the making and will take years of commitment at all levels to undo. Better education, better policing, improved witness protection programs, improved justice system, less corruption at the top, legalisation of marijuana, improved customs etc can all help in stopping this madness.
Most importantly, we all need to teach our Island’s children (and ourselves) to value eachother as fellow human beings and value life itself. Black, white, rich, poor, somerset, st.georges, UBP, PLP — we’re in this together, and the solutions will only be effective when we collectively agree that we’ve had enough of this madness.
Although I’ve never particularly liked Perinchief, its refreshing to have a new set of eyes looking at the problem. Maybe he can make a difference. At least he’s had a career in law enforcement.
asking a gang member to give you his gun for $5000 is like asking a lion to give you his teeth and claws for some chicken legs.
maybe if you offered a well paying job, a home and a car in exchange for the gun you would see some results.
everyone wants security in this world. what makes you feel safe? think about what makes these young men feel safe that is actually attainable to them. its likely they can get their hands on a gun easier than a degree. and when they see all the college grads hurting for employment after spending all that money for their degree -they must feel pretty justified in choosing the gun. lets face it, with all the unemployment and expats leaving, illegal drug sales are also down. drug dealers still need income too – $5000 isn’t going to pay the rent and bills for very long.
At this point anything and everything is worth a try, good on you Mr Perinchief for thinking out of the 22 squares.
As much as I am against the death penalty and truly believe that people can become rehabilitated the recklessness of the current gun situation truly leads me to believe that those who do commit murder should be killed as punishment. With the acceleration of the killing and numerous people in court for gun crimes it’s obvious that jail time alone is not a deterrent that will work with these perpetrators. I don’t really like the idea of killing people’s children but in order to stop more men from being killed for basically nothing I think it’s beneficial that we have a sacrificial lamb or two. These kids may seem to live in a way that they don’t care about their life, but I’m pretty dam sure that if they knew for sure that they would be killed if caught there willingness to murder would decrease substantially. I’m not saying it would eliminate murders completely but it would bring them down to a level that the problem isn’t as out of control. As a young thug what would happen to your psyche if you knew that if you get caught committing murder you would be killed, I’m pretty sure you love your life enough to decide to divert from the negative path. Again lets not get it twisted this is a last resort and I feel that we have reached a place were we have no other choice.
Just saying the life of a few for the greater good of the community is worth it.
Here’s a video and article showing the affect executions have on murder rates.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=5954192
Ok, so let me get this right. You want to pay the criminals for their illegal activity?? Have we all lost our minds?!? Here’s a better idea. Pay your informants and witnesses and offer them real protection! Pay them only if a lead turns to a sucessful arrest. And as far as witnesses, being we were so accomodating to the US in helping them house the Uighers. Maybe we can make an arrangement with them for housing our witnesses to protect them.
Come one Bermuda we have to get serious. You can not pay the criminals for their guns because all you are doing is promoting and rewarding them! You are paying them for their illegal contributions to our society and letting them get off scott free!
Bermuda let’s see.
As a teenager or young Bermuda man in his twenties, he can shoot and/or kill someone and go to jail for approximately 20 years. He will be protected by the government (west gate) where no other gang member can get to him and can come out in his 40s as a certified accountant, reinsurance specialist or even a lawyer.
wow,
Free Daycare
Free Primary/High School
Free Bermuda College
Free Housing
Free financial assistance
Free Legal Aid
Freedom of Speech
People are struggling to pay their mortgages and these guys get tax payers to pay for lawyers to represent then for their heinous crimes.
and yes, outside help?!?!, they cannot implement what they do out there in Bermuda, because, as your commissioner of Police Says, it would be illegal.
Peace out, monitoring via the internet. Its like an interesting movie.
By the way, keep praying and burying your heads in the sand. Can anyone count how many wars were inspired in the bible?
Yes….. Many. Bermuda do not house these little @#$%**ers. round them up and hang them.
Pick them up this Thursday, next Thursday, then Thursday and keep them for as long as the law allows, under whatever charge you all can dream up, who cares.