Opposition Leader Jamal Pringle is calling for the establishment of a specialized firearm tracing and intelligence unit to determine where illegal guns entering Antigua and Barbuda originate and dismantle the networks responsible for trafficking them.

Pringle made the proposal as part of a wider response to the recent rise in gun crime, arguing that authorities must focus not only on crimes committed with firearms but also on how the weapons are reaching the country.

“We must establish a specialized firearm tracing and intelligence unit,” Pringle said. “Its mandate should be clear: to trace illegal firearms, identify their countries and points of origin, determine the routes through which they enter our country, and dismantle the networks responsible for trafficking them.”

The opposition leader said the country must confront difficult questions about the illegal firearm trade, including who is bringing weapons into Antigua and Barbuda and who may be facilitating their movement after they arrive.

“Where are these guns coming from? How are they entering Antigua and Barbuda? Who is bringing them in, and who is facilitating their movement once they arrive?” Pringle asked.

He argued that preventing gun violence requires authorities to cut off the supply of illegal firearms rather than concentrating solely on enforcement after crimes have occurred.

“A government that cannot adequately secure its borders will struggle to secure its people,” Pringle said.

He also called for stronger intelligence sharing and cooperation with regional and international law enforcement agencies to combat firearms trafficking.

“Our borders, ports, and points of entry must become too difficult for gun traffickers to penetrate,” Pringle said.

Pringle warned that Antigua and Barbuda cannot allow gun violence to become normalized, saying every shooting threatens families, communities and public confidence in the country’s security.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Pringle Calls for Specialized Unit to Trace Illegal Firearms Entering Antigua and Barbuda.