Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2023

No. of 2023                 Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2023                    Saint Christopher 

                                                         and Nevis

SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS

No.         of 2023

A BILL to amend the Firearms Act Cap. 19.05 and for matters connected therewith.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the National Assembly of Saint Christopher and Nevis, and by the authority of the same as follows:

1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the Firearms (Amendment) Act, 2023. 

2. Amendment of Act. 

The Act is amended by 

(a) replacing the expression “not exceeding ten years” with the expression “not exceeding twenty-five years” in section 4 (2) (b) (i); 

(b) replacing the expression “not exceeding fifteen years” wherever it occurs in the following sections, with the expression “not exceeding twenty-five years”, 

(i) section 4 (2) (a) (i); 

(ii) section 4 (2) (b) (ii); 

(iii) section 4 (2) (c) (i); 

(iv) section 5 (2); 

(v) section 9 (2) (a) (i); 

(vi) section 9 (2) (b) (i); 

(vii) section 9 (2) (c) (i); 

(viii) section 10 (7) (a) (i); 

(ix) section 10 (7) (b) (i); 

(x) section 10 (7) (c); 

(xi) section 11 (2); 

(xii) section 12 (2) (a) (i); 

(xiii) section 12 (2) (b) (i); 

(xiv) section 14 (3); 

(xv) section 15 (3) (a); 

(xvi) section 19 (2) (a); 

(xvii) section 20 (4) (a) (i); 

(xviii) section 20 (4) (b) (i); 

(xix) section 20 (4) (c) (i); 

(xxi) section 26. 

(c) replacing the expression “not exceeding twenty years” wherever it occurs in the following sections, with the expression “not exceeding twenty-five years”, 

(i) section 4 (2) (c) (ii); 

(ii) section 9 (2) (a) (ii);

(iii) section 9 (2) (b) (ii);

(iv) section 9 (2) (c) (ii);

(v) section 10 (7) (a) (ii);

(vi) section 10 (7) (b) (ii);

(vii) section 12 (2) (a) (ii);

(viii) section 12 (2) (b) (ii);

(ix) section 15 (3) (b);

(x) section 19 (2) (b);

(xi) section 20 (4) (a) (ii);

(xii) section 20 (4) (b) (ii);

(xiii) section 20 (4) (c) (ii). 

(d) deleting the expression “not less than twelve months and” wherever it occurs in the following sections,  

(ii) section 35 (3);

(iii) section 36 (3);

(iv) section 42 (2);

(v) section 44 (5);

(vi) section 45 (3).

(e) inserting a new section 53 as follows

“53. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, where any person is charged with an offence under this Act such offence shall be tried summarily or on indictment at the election of the Director of Public Prosecutions.   

3. Amendment of section 21.      

The Act is amended in section 21 subsection (2) by replacing the expression “on summary conviction before a Magistrate, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a term not exceeding fifteen years” with the expression “on indictment to a term of imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a term not exceeding twenty-five years”.

4. Amendment of section 22.      

The Act is amended in section 22 subsection 4 by deleting paragraph (a).

……………………………..

Lanein K. Blanchette

              Speaker

Passed by the National Assembly this                day of                             , 2023.

                                                                        ……..………………………………….

Trevlyn Stapleton

Clerk of the National Assembly