Public safety and airsoft firearms

Jan 17, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

Recently, I read on social media about the find of airsoft firearms on an employee of a private security company and more found at sites the company was guarding and in the building in which the company was operating. Reading the comments, opinions seem divided on whether these firearms were lethal. One group posited that the firearms were toys while others opined that they were dangerous.

In this situation of uncertainty, the Guyana Police Force needs to act. The police need to test these airsoft firearms to determine how lethal they are and depending on the effective range to kill, maim or do serious bodily harm to humans the results ought to be communicated to government to be dealt with as a policy issue for consideration as to whether any category of airsoft firearms need to be licensed.

Whether they are licensed, their importation or entry through our porous borders deserves close attention by all concerned to ensure there is a record number persons of who have possession of airsoft firearms, licensed or unlicensed.

Priority needs to be given to public safety, the protection of unsuspecting citizens against criminal elements, citizens who, with little effort, can acquire these firearms and commit serious crimes. If these airsoft firearms are toys, they look real and are capable of scaring persons under threat of armed robbery. Therefore, as a matter of policy, it must be determined what legal status to give these firearms or, whether all and sundry can possess one.

In the issue which brought these firearms to notice, a private security company seems to have been issuing airsoft firearms to its guards on duty at fixed points. Assuming that airsoft firearms are toys, those on duty, so armed, are at an immediate disadvantage if confronted with an armed robbery at their posts. Such an act smacks of irresponsibility by those involved as it can result in the loss of an innocent life, the guard not being properly able to defend himself/herself and the property he/she is placed to protect while under attack.

There is another aspect of this issue which has manifested itself for scrutiny. Were these airsoft firearms deployed at posts requiring armed guards. Should this happen, is the calibre of the firearm appropriate for such duty? Regardless of the lethal nature of these airsoft firearms, what if the management of the security company uses airsoft firearms where baton guards should be posted. One might contend that this is an issue between the contractor and his client but it exposes irregular practices by the security company.

Now that airsoft firearms have come to notice, I wish to make a recommendation but before doing so, I noted that the police narrative in their social media report claimed that the firearms were found during a search on an ‘intelligence led’ operation on Tuesday 13^th January, 2026 but on the photograph of the firearms recovered had a date 12/1/2026, suggesting that the firearms were seized before the search was conducted. Could this really happen? I would not now comment on the several mishaps occurring in the police press releases but I would leave that for another time.

My recommendation is that this matter be treated as a policy issue by the police and they should have their professional staff examine all these airsoft firearms to pronounce on their lethal capacities, then make a recommendation (s) to the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs for policy to be formulated around these airsoft firearms as to whether or not they should be licenced.

Those not lethal, should they be registered by persons possessing them? My view is that, in appropriate cases, the police ought to stamp or mark them that in future they (the police) know who are in possession of ‘toys’. These ‘toys’ look real and by night they can scare the life out of the person on the other side.

With highest regards,

Winston G. Felix, DSM

Former Police Commissioner

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