An 18-million-volt stun gun costs $5,000, while the keychain version costs $4,000. Pepper spray can be purchased for $3,000. A stun gun or taser uses a high-voltage current and can disable muscle control and cause severe pain. But for people with underlying health conditions, it can prove fatal. Indignation! Amid the outrage, opposition leader Mark Golding`s lawyer said he believed pepper spray was not illegal after reviewing the 2001 Offensive Weapons Ban Act. But Attorney General Delroy Chuck said Golding`s claims were inaccurate. All containers arriving at Jamaica Customs are inspected and, in some cases, partially inspected based on the contents of the shipment. It is scanned, manually reviewed by an official, and a risk management unit conducts secondary investigations. When people are caught violating the law, Jamaica Customs prefers to inform customers of the rules for importing non-lethal weapons rather than punish them. Wilkins says, “Once the firearm has received legal approval, it can be purchased from an authorized supplier and a person authorized to supply it can sell it locally.” Tasers are legal for civilians, as long as they have a valid permit under the Customs Act. [73] Currently, Jamaican police do not have access to Tasers. But in February 2021, Corporal James Rohan, president of the Police Federation, called for access to non-lethal weapons to more effectively process encounters with people with mental illness.
[74] Jamaican customs controls list stun guns, tasers and pepper spray as restricted items under section 210 of the Customs Act, which requires the approval of the Minister of National Security and an import licence or permit. Amnesty International expressed particular concern about Drive Stun, noting that “the possibility of using TASERS in Drive stunning mode – where they are used as `pain compliance` tools when people are already actually detained – and the ability to inflict multiple and long-lasting shocks that make weapons inherently vulnerable to abuse.” [48] QUESTION: Is it legal to ship a stun gun or pepper spray from the United States to Jamaica, and is it legal to transport your person to Jamaica, or do I need a permit? If so, where do I apply for a permit? ANSWER: by Devin, 24 years old. December 2012Stun guns and pepper spray are both prohibited items on the list of items allowed to enter the island, whether shipped or transported with the person. There have been discussions on these two topics over the years, but to date, there is no documented evidence that any person or organization has obtained authorization to import these weapons. With regard to stun guns, discussions have been raised not only by human rights defenders, but also by the public as to why they should remain banned items. Recently, conversations have emerged about escalating police shootings and the excessive force they use to equip them with non-lethal weapons such as stun guns as a strategic way to reduce these shootings. Despite all this, there is no purpose for the decisions taken. When it comes to pepper sprays, the arguments are more forgiving, but they remain a banned item.
One reasoning has led to a ban on the import of sprays unless the relevant management authorities grant a permit, but no authorization is required for them to be held by private individuals. However, the illegal use of these sprays could result in individuals being subject to the country`s laws regarding weapons and their use. For more information, please see the following links/offices listed below.www.jamaicaobserver.com/…/Tasers-can-be-vey-harmful_10740901MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND THE MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. Life Building, North Tower2 Oxford RoadKingston 5Telephone: 876-906-2414-7 or 906-1678Fax: 876-906-7665Email: inform@infochan.com or mnsjps@mnsj.gov.jmWebsite: www.mnsj.gov.jmSee also: The laws of Jamaica.Greetings, Devin, for My-Island-Jamaica.com Chuck said that while it is necessary to legalize pepper spray there, the government must “weigh the possibility of using it as a weapon of self-defense against the risk that, if widely used, it falls into the hands of criminals.” The minister said the government`s main concern was that these weapons, if legalized, could be used by criminals to disarm potential victims. Jackson is just one of hundreds of Jamaican girls and women missing this year. The rise in kidnappings has once again called on the Jamaican government to legalize self-defense weapons for women. Under the Firearms Act 1925, Tasers, pepper spray and stun guns can be illegally possessed or purchased in Ireland, even if they have a valid firearms licence. [71] [72] The customs official states that “Tasers, pepper sprays, batons, monkey fists, etc. are usually found in packages, but “importers are not aware of the different licensing requirements for the importation of certain goods. As a result, they are found to be in contravention of the Customs Act. Jamaica`s Offensive Weapons Prohibition Act contains details on weapons that are legal for personal protection and those that are illegal to carry in public.
It lists weapons such as daggers, butterfly knives, patch knives, ankle knives or any knife commonly known as blade knife, ratchet knife or rambo as an assault weapon that one should not be armed with. In addition, the law allows the use of clubs and pepper spray for self-defense, while Tasers fall into the category of intent-based assault weapons when the item is used. Racheal White, 21, said she was on her way to the hairdresser to raise her eyebrows when she was attacked by the hairdresser, who then pressed her against his neck. The Taser was given to her by her sister, who was concerned about criminal activity in her community, and White says she doesn`t understand the ban on importing the non-lethal weapon given the increase in criminal activity. Wilkins says, “Police support would be needed to persuade the government to allow suppliers to import these items.” Of course, women have the right to carry licensed hidden firearms, but most women may not be eligible to possess these licences or may not be able to afford these weapons. Perhaps for these and other reasons, most of the discussion has focused on weapons that are more accessible without the need for a permit, that are non-lethal, and that could stun or temporarily immobilize attackers so that the victim can escape. It`s hard to say how widespread the possession of tasers and stuns is in Jamaica, but it`s clear that more and more women are arming themselves. So there is a market for self-defense weapons, and it would be wise to educate the public about weapons that can be legally possessed for self-defense purposes. It would also be time for the Minister and his team to review the provisions of the Offensive Weapons (Prohibition) Act to determine if there are other items or substances that could be included as legal self-defence weapons.