GREEN ISLAND, Hanover — Opposition spokesman on national security Peter Bunting has revived the long-running issue of the need for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to apply for firearm licences in order to legally carry weapons when off duty. He described it as a money-making measure.

“Older members will recall that I gave a directive to the FLA [Firearm Licensing Authority] that every fully trained police officer in good standing must have a right to a personal firearm and those applications must be prioritised and expedited,” Bunting said Tuesday while addressing the first day of the Jamaica Police Federation’s 82nd Annual Joint Central Conference.

The comment was met with a round of applause from those gathered at Princess Grand Jamaica Hotel in Green Island, Hanover, for the meeting of JCF’s rank and file members.

Cops need FLA approval to legally have personal firearms when off duty. They must apply for a firearm user’s licence and the fee is $30,000 for new applications and $20,000 for renewals. Other requirements include a letter from the applicant’s commanding officer, proof of income and proof of firearm safety training,

Bunting argued that being a fully trained cop should be enough for the FLA.

“The police should not have to be certified or recertified by the FLA because FLA has no more competence than those certified by the JCF,” he insisted.

“In effect, it is just a revenue measure to tax police officers,” added the Opposition spokesperson.

During her address to the conference Jamaica Police Federation Chair Sergeant Arleen McBean noted that a Police Officer Firearm Access Loan (POFAL) has been established to assist cops with the purchase of personal firearms.

According to McBean, this move came after years of JCF members trying to secure loans from various financial institutions in order to purchase a firearm they could use to protect themselves and their families while off the job. She provided details on how they can now access the loan in-house.

“When you take your purchase order to the Police Federation and we do a pre-approval, the Police Credit Union will give you the money to purchase your firearm. Because when you hand over the Government gun and you sign and hand over that gun and the ammunition, colleagues, you need to be equipped,” she argued.

“I’m not sending you to war. We are not promoting war. We are promoting peace. But the safety of every policeman and the safety of every policewoman must be a priority,” added the federation chair.