Licensed firearm owners must ensure they have secure storage for weapons - police warns

Licensed firearm owners must ensure they have secure storage for weapons – police warns

Nov 22, 2020 News

Dead: Rockey Sawh

Kaieteur News – With the recent deaths of two teenage boys- one shot to the head allegedly by his friend and another who reportedly killed himself with his dad’s gun, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a stern warning to licensed firearm holders.
The teens’ tragic deaths have shocked thousands in Guyana and prompted GPF to remind owners of licensed guns to store them securely.
According to a statement sent out by the Force over the weekend, firearm holders are reminded that one of the conditions for the issuance of a licence is to ensure there are provisions to secure them safely when not in use.
GPF stated, too, that firearm licences carry a number of stipulated rules pertaining to safety and one of them is guns must always be kept out of the reach of children.
Currently in custody is a 16-year-old accused of accidently shooting his best friend, Rockey Sawh, 15. The incident reportedly happened on Tuesday.
Sawh was shot to the head during a sleep-over at his friend’s home.
Police reported that the friend “breached the lock of a secured wardrobe where a license .32 Taurus pistol owned by his father was being kept”.
Kaieteur News reported that he pointed the gun to his friend’s head in a playful manner and accidently pulled the trigger. The gun went off and Sawh fell. He died the following day while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
His friend was taken into custody.
The tragedy ended eight years of friendship between the boys and tore apart two families.
Almost three weeks prior to this incident, the son of a prominent Guyanese politician reportedly committed suicide using his dad’s licensed firearm.

In the statement sent out by GPF, keeping firearm out of the reach of children is a direct responsibility of the licensed owners.
GPF further cautioned that the neglectful breach of one or more specific firearm safety rules, will lead to the revocation of the licence.

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