A prominent local doctor in Dominica is calling for the banning of all BB, and air guns in Dominica after eight people were admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital suffering from pellet wounds.
Guns like the one pictured above is posing a security threat.
Dr Hazel Ricketts, a leading eye specialist made the call on a local radio station after she said that she was called out several times over the Christmas holidays to deal with eye injuries suffered by several individuals.
The BB guns, which look like real weapons are been imported into Dominica mainly by the Chinese establishments on the island, and has found its way in the hands of children using the weapons as toys.
Dr. Ricketts called on the Police to immediately seize the guns because they posed a direct threat to security and safety on the island. She also pleaded with parents to take the weapons away from their children since in some cases their velocity exceeds that of real guns. Dr. Ricketts indicated that the injuries she had seen were serious and could potentially be life threatening.
Several persons have indicated that they were shot at by children carrying the BB guns, and called for quick action to halt the flow of the guns to the Nation’s children.
The proliferation of BB guns in Dominica is particularly worrisome given the marked increase in crime on the island and fears that the guns can be used in the commission of crimes since they cannot be differentiated from the real guns.
Indeed, it is rather baffling why these weapons are allowed into Dominica as toys when the manufacturers of these items state very clearly that they are not toys.
Callers to a popular call in program pleaded with the government to halt the importation of the guns. Several also commented on the fact that police officers are performing security duties at the stores where the guns are sold. They also reported on seeing police officers hand the guns to the children after their purchase.
There has been no reaction from the authorities so far regarding the possible banning of the weapons.
