NEW YORK, USA — Despite the rash of mass shootings resulting in multiple deaths across the United States, Jamaicans here still feel much safer than they would in their own country, Diaspora leaders and other influential persons say.

Radio host and head of the non-profit Jamaican Men of Florida, Dr Rupert A Francis, said statistics show the existence of a vast chasm between murders in the United States, at five per 100,000 people, and Jamaica, with 43.1 per 100,000 people.

“This view does not diminish our love for and commitment to Jamaica,” Dr Francis was quick to point out in an interview in which the Jamaica Observer sought to find out if the often racially motivated mass killings were scaring off Jamaicans.

There has been close to 250 mass shootings across the US this year, resulting in 1,350 people being shot and 278 deaths.

Two of the most horrific shootings occurred in Buffalo, New York, where 10 people were killed at a supermarket on May 17 by a white supremacist, and at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 21 people, including 19 young children, were slaughtered on May 24.

But none of those who spoke with the Observer showed or expressed any desire to return home as a result of the mass shootings and other gun-related issues in the US, as they point to the level of gun violence in Jamaica, where more than 500 homicides have been committed since the beginning of the year.

Jamaicans here are caught up in the fierce debate across the US on calls for meaningful reforms of gun control laws to reduce such incidents. But it faces opposition from Republicans who argue against infringements of Second Amendment rights. Legislation to that effect has, however, passed the House and there were reports Sunday that a compromise had been reached with senators on limited changes to gun laws.

“The Jamaican population here stands in sympathy with those who have suffered as a result of mass shootings. We also support calls for meaningful gun control measures,” said head of the Global Jamaica Council for the Southern United States Dr Allan Cunningham.

Ronnie Hammick, president of Brooklyn-based Ex-Correctional Officers Association of Jamaica, echoed similar support as did Dr Francis, former Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) officer Dwight P Bailey, and Sadie Campbell who heads the Jamaica Progressive League.

Francis argued for proper background checks, an increase in the age from 18 to 21 for those who can own a gun, and responsible mental health issues to be addressed, as parts of any reform measure.

He said that those and other measures are the issues frequently raised by Jamaicans on his radio programme when mass shootings are discussed.

In another gun-related matter, some leading members of the Diaspora have urged the Jamaican authorities to move with urgency to accept an offer from New York City Mayor Eric Adams to help the country stem the flow of illegal guns and drugs into the country.

The offer was made to Prime Minister Andrew Holness at a function to officially launch celebrations of Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence in New York on May 1, 2022.

Though providing no details, Michelle Fanger, who chairs the Immigration and Support Sector of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and is part of its crime task force, said: ‘’The offer should be accepted immediately and plans initiated to see how it will benefit the country.”

Patrick Callum, president of G2K New York, the youth arm of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, also urged “a quick and positive response from the Government to the offer”.

Diaspora activist Irwine Clare Sr described the offer as powerful, coming from the mayor himself, and urged the Government to “hurriedly take up the offer”.

He, however, raised concerns about the lack of details about the offer, especially given the high homicide rate in New York City so far this year.

A former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, Wilfred Rattigan said he had doubts about the offer for similar reasons.

He said he remained sceptical until details are known about what is being offered and whether it will be feasible.

At least three Jamaicans have been killed as a result of gun violence here this year.

Efforts by the Observer seeking comments from the mayor’s office on the offer have been futile.