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For many months now - we've been hearing persistent and credible reports that gun licenses are being sold. We've challenged the commissioner of police - who is the only person who can sign licenses - on this. And he has flatly stated that licenses are not being sold, that the approval process is tightly managed, that denial of requests for licenses are plentiful and that there are strict rules and expectations for gun owners.
He also agreed to show us the register of gun licenses - which he did on Monday in Belmopan. And that's where our story begins:
Jules vasquez:
"Is there an electronic record maintained as should be of all the gun licences issued. Is it still actively and currently maintained?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Yes, and again I make sure prior to me there was none. I made sure that since I became commissioner, we have accurate record of every gun licence issued. And whenever you have the time and you go to Belmopan. You come and I will show you the ledger."
So we went to Belmopan and the commissioner showed us the register of gun licences at his office. It spans from 2017 to 2023 and is backed up on hard copy files at four computers in that office. There's a basic list names, date of birth and type of weapon. We note it did not have any details about vetting.
Those are copiously detailed in the hard files, we are told, but we didn't see those. We were taken downstairs to another office at headquarters where the letters of approval and denial are written to gun licence applicants and for those who are approved, unique identification numbers for the gun licences are generated. The system is reasonably well managed and well preserved after a computer crash in 2017.
But this is the back end. What happens at the front? Well, it should begin with this. A basic application form filled out, vetted and then considered by the commissioner in his wisdom. The process, we are told, can take months, but not if you go through the backdoor according to a licenced gun owner who has to appear off camera.
Jules vasquez:
"It's who you know. I'm a 20 something year old man and I need a gun. What did you do next?"
Voice of Gun license Holder
"I talked to people who had a gun before me and who went through the process before I did."
Jules vasquez:
"What did you learn?"
Voice of Gun license Holder
"Well, I learnt that you could do it the right way and you could do it the wrong way."
Jules vasquez:
"So you were you got guidance from people who did it the wrong way. So what's the first step?" Voice of Gun license Holder
"Communication. Text message to the higher ups."
Jules vasquez:
"Okay. So these are higher ups in the police or in the gun business who sell guns privately."
Voice of Gun license Holder
"Both but the main important? The important person in this thing is the person who sells the gun. They have the communication with the higher ups and they will guide you to the process more easier, of course, with the finances."
Jules vasquez:
"What kind of finances? Thousands of dollars paid in kickbacks."
Voice of Gun license Holder
"As much as I wanted something more advanced, I had to go with, you know, your budget. And of course, the price of the firearm will come of course, with the price of the proccess that you would go through too. So you have to handle that gun dealer. Then the gun dealer have to handle someone else, so you have to stay within a budget."
He first give you the price for the gun, which is the accurate price. That doesn't change. Then he gives you the price for connections that he has."
Jules vasquez:
"So how much is the total breakdown? What's the price of the gun? What's the price of the connect?"
Voice of Gun license Holder
"Right around, going to almost $3,000 for my personal one and then the connection is another $2,000 - $3,000 also. $1,000 for actually I had 3 connections and it was a $1,000 change for each of them?"
Jules vasquez:
"And then you have to pay $1,000 to 3 different people."
Voice of Gun license Holder
"That was what I was instructed to do."
Jules vasquez:
"$5,000 is not a little bit of money. Why did you feel you had to go that way where it was wisest to go that way?"
Voice of Gun license Holder
"Well, I was assured that it is easier and that's what everybody who pays the money goes through. You understand?"
Jules vasquez:
"You are told that once you pay the money it's assured you'll get your licence."
Voice of Gun license Holder
"I was definitely assured more than once."
Jules vasquez:
"A lot of money. But it was worth it for hassle free and expedited service."
Voice of Gun license Holder
"You know, I never had no hassle at all. I really have to do much. All the papers come to you like magic, you know, in one folder. This is your stuff, hold here. I don't know what happened behind the doors. I don't know what happened in the process. I don't know anything about that. Everything comes to you."
Jules vasquez:
"Nothing like the procedure we were told about at headquarters in Belmopan. What they said is they give you a licence out of the office downstairs, and then you go with a police officer with this licence to go and get the gun. Then you bring it back and they fire the round, etc., etc.. Was that your experience?"
Voice of Gun license Holder
"I have no idea about that. I was'nt educated about that part."
Jules vasquez:
"So you didn't go through any of that?"
Voice of Gun license Holder
"No, I just did what I had to do then the gun came my way."
Jules vasquez:
"So do you think it was a worthwhile investment?"
Voice of Gun license Holder
"Well, yeah, you have it legally. You get it just that. You know, you went the other way around. But you ‘re legal your have to just keep it up to date and nothing should go wrong."
Jules vasquez:
"Is it your opinion from the the various payments you had to make that members of law enforcement of the police department specifically profited from this transaction?"
Voice of Gun license Holder
"I can't say if they profit. I don't know if the money goes into their pockets or it goes into police department, but." Jules vasquez:
"You haven't gotten a revenue collectors receipt though?"
Voice of Gun license Holder
"No, not at all. Nothing like that."
We note that the licensed gun holder did have to present a police record - and got to a gun range to prove he could handle a weapon. That's where a ballistic sample was also taken from his new weapon. We'll be doing some more reporting on this story in the weeks to come.
