Fitz-Henley against push to scrap mandatory 15-year gun sentences

Government Senator Abka Fitz-Henley has come out against the push by defence attorneys and others to have the Firearms Act amended to remove the mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, arguing that such a move would weaken the legislation and undermine the fight against crime, particularly gun offences and murders.

On Wednesday, defence lawyers staged a silent protest outside the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston against the law, arguing that the provision removes the discretion of judges to consider the individual circumstances of each case when imposing a sentence.

They described the law as an injustice to Jamaicans.