Over 3,000 firearm licences issued in the past seven years – Benn

In a disclosure to the National Assembly on Wednesday, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn provided insights on the patterns and shifts in the issuance of firearm licenses as he disclosed the total number of firearm licenses, for all calibers, issued for the period 2017 – September 2023 is 3,020.

He was responding to Opposition Parliamentarian David Patterson who posed the following question: “Can the Minister of Home Affairs state how many firearm licenses, disaggregated by year, for all calibers, have been issued for the period 2017 – September 2023?”

According to Benn, a total of 3,020 firearm licenses were granted over this period.

2021 emerged as the peak year with 1,011 licenses issued. Of these, 663 were pistols/revolvers, 201 were shotguns, and 147 were rifles.

2022, on the other hand, witnessed a stark drop to just 96 licenses. The year saw only 72 pistols/revolvers and 24 shotguns, with no rifles issued. This sharp decline raises critical questions about potential policy shifts, reduced demand, or administrative changes.

The years preceding 2021 and those following it showed more modest and consistent numbers, hinting at a more stable regulatory environment with occasional fluctuations that could be influenced by broader socio-political factors.

See below the annual total firearm license approvals granted for the period 2017 – September 2023:

2023

–         131 Pistols/ Revolvers

–         37 Shotguns

–         10 Rifles

–         Total: 178

2022

–         72 Pistols/ Revolvers

–         24 Shotguns

–         0 Rifles

–         Total: 96

2021

–         663 Pistols/ Revolvers

–         201 Shotguns

–         147 Rifles

–         Total: 1011

2020

–         253 Pistols/ Revolvers

–         109 Shotguns

–         66 Rifles

–         Total: 428

2019

–         170 Pistols/ Revolvers

–         59 Shotguns

–         25 Rifles

–         Total:254

2018

–         286 Pistols/ Revolvers

–         279 Shotguns

–         39 Rifles

–         Total: 604

2017

–         266 Pistols/ Revolvers

–         150 Shotguns

–         33 Rifles

–         Total: 449