In part one of my column in support of a gun amnesty in Jamaica as one method to be used by law enforcement to help fight crime, I spoke of how some jurisdictions with similar problems like Jamaica have managed to use this tactic to reduce and/or manage crime.

Today, I want to focus on a few more methods, particularly technology that has been used to track guns and which may present an opportunity for law enforcement to track illegal guns in the underworld, which may result in the capture of criminals.

In California, they refer to them as “networked guns”. What this means is that a number of guns are installed with programmed chips which can tell how a gun has been used. They are primarily used on police officers’ guns and have become useful in investigations and court cases.

The chip, which was developed by California-based firearms company YardArm in 2014, can automatically alert police headquarters when a police officer draws his firearm or uses it. The chip — an inch in length — fits comfortably into the handle of a regular firearm and transmits data over a cellphone network connection. The chip collects and transmits data, which includes the location of the gun, and whether it has been upholstered or discharged. If the company has its way, the chip may even produce data that could tell what direction a gun is pointing, and once legislators buy in, it could become law for police officers’ guns to be outfitted with this chip in the United States.

Unfortunately, the company’s invention has not found much favour with customers — Americans who feel their right to bear arms may be infringed, and they are against any technology or policy aimed at regulating firearms.

However, the technology presents an opportunity to be used here in Jamaica by not only police officers but also special guns which can be outfitted and then sent down the channels by certain agents for example persons who work with the police force such as informants or other special agents, who can go undercover. Data gathered from the firing of the gun may help to solve crimes and possibly lead to the arrest of criminals who are tightly hidden in the underground world. The use of chip-installed police guns may also help to clear up the perception that police guns are being used in criminal activities, and also it can help in investigations where police are accused of murder. Additionally, it could become mandatory that licensed firearms issued to other security personnel, as well as private citizens, be equipped with similar devices.

So how can we use networked guns and get them to the underworld without detection?

A recent plan by the Government of Jamaica to identify and conduct policing operations in zones of special operations, constitutionally provided for under a new Bill passed recently, may be one way networked guns can be used and circulated with hopes of reaching the underground world.

Within the gun amnesty, we still can put in place a gun buy-back programme in which any employee of the State, customs, police, or private citizens are rewarded for guns they submit. In a zone of special operation, ‘community bins’ placed in inner-city communities so as to maintain privacy may also yield success, as fear of reprisal often causes citizens to turn a blind eye or affect outright support for law enforcement initiatives.

Dedicating part of the annual security budget towards technology-driven initiatives is also needed. For example, to outfit one gun with the YardArm chip it would cost the Government approximately U$100. If the Government were to outfit 100 guns, the amount would cost the Government approximately U$10,000 or around J $1.3 million. Considering that the budget for the National Security Ministry is around $57 billion this year, this is a small price to pay for a big outcome.

After being outfitted with the tracker, police can use informants to carry around the guns or even sell them to criminals. Another interesting scenario could be to infiltrate the underground with a gun similar to a placebo. A chip, can then be installed and the weapon tracked, using the chip to see where it goes. This can work similarly to how fake money is used to track money laundering operations. The gun can then be tracked and data transmitted to any police headquarters (possibly the cybercrimes unit within the JCF). This can then provide enough information to infiltrate the gangs and trace their paths. This has been done successfully in some countries such as, Guatemala, for example, which struggles to track invisible guns, called ghost guns, in the underworld. These guns, which have a long criminal history outside of the South American nation, have been linked to not only criminals and buyers but also manufacturers, and have even led to arrests and destruction of gangs.

Of course, the sensitivities involved cannot all be disclosed in this column for obvious reasons. However, weaving this move into the new measures targeting crime may assist in reducing crimes and saving lives. Perhaps we can seek the usual cooperation and support of the Government of the USA through the powerful Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), in partnership with our local police personnel, to track and deter the use and illegal trade of guns in the island.

This measure would help the public purse in the long run as taxpayers face the brunt of increasing health care costs to treat victims of crime. Just recently, the Kingston Public Hospital disclosed that it costs $400,000 to treat one patient suffering from gunshot injury. Just imagine how many, possibly hundreds, require medical care when they are injured from gunshots.

This would also affect gross domestic product growth in a positive way.

Our 1000-odd murder rate paints a stark image of what we are facing.

With new technology available on mobile phones, there are increased opportunities, inclusive of technology, that can be used to not only monitor phones but also firearms. Perhaps it is time we start viewing mobile phone applications as more than just fun, but useful tools to help fight crime. While there might be resistance from private citizens to buy in, it should not preclude the Firearms Licensing Authority proposing legislation to address this matter, and in the interim we could start with State-issued guns. Saving one life is priceless.

Hugh Graham is a businessman and councillor in the St Catherine Municipal Corporation