But, while the Compol has that responsibility he's warning gun dealers to stop creating social media promotions that make their products look like glamorous recreational toys.
7News has obtained a copy of a memo from the Commissioner to the gun dealers. Jules Vasquez had a look at it:
These are the Instagram postings of popular gun shops in Belize - Pew Pew Gunstore in Belize City and Locked and Loaded in Belmopan. They show all kinds of firearms in exotic settings - some sleek looking 9mm pistols - in a variety of colors - and even high powered semi automatic assault rifles.
Very appealing imagery and in an industry that seems to be booming - but in this May 30th memo, the Commissioner tells them to slow down.
It is directed to all "LICENSED GUN DEALERS" and says, quote "there is a sharp increase in the use of firearms to create advertisements by agents...these advertisements are then uploaded to the social media. In effect, the license gun holders are unconsciously informing criminals of their stock."
And the Commissioner also notes that holders of Special Protection Gun Licenses are, quote, "increasingly using their licensed firearm(s) photographs with the firearm or loan their firearm to unlicensed person or persons for the purpose of taking photographs, these photographs are then uploaded to the social media. The practice is alarming, it raises serious national security concerns.
Today the Commissioner addressed it:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Certainly having people advertising firearms is an issue of national security concerning for us and when we have gun dealers who are advertising their stock to the public, it's like saying to criminals, you know I have all these guns in stock, and it can make them vulnerable to robberies or burglaries. So we don't expect our gun dealers to be advertising like that to that extent and likewise we do have license firearm holders who have the tendency of taking pictures and posting on social media, even videos posting, it puts you at risk because the criminals will then know that you have a gun license so when they come to approach you to do you something, that's the first thing they'll go for because they know you have it. When you keep your firearm concealed, it gives you greater protection because when the perpetrator comes, they will not know you have it and then you may be able to get the upper hand on them and so it's with that spirit that we have issued that directive to gun dealers and licensed firearm holders to advertise and again by law if they continue to advertise, it is a breach of the condition, and that can lead to revocation of their license."
