FLA should provide info on firearm licences revoked yearly - NIA

A proposal has been made for the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) to present more information to Parliament about the number of firearm licences it revokes annually.
  
Professor Trevor Munroe, Executive Director of National Integrity Action (NIA), sees this as an opportunity for the FLA to regain public confidence.
  
The recommendation comes in the aftermath of the Patrick Powell trial, for which the FLA has been criticised for not revoking Mr. Powell's firearm licence despite a request by the police in 2011.
  
In addition, the newly installed FLA Board has acknowledged that there were systemic weaknesses at the entity.
  
Professor Munroe concludes that the FLA's reputation has been harmed, and certain questions must be answered before it is restored.

"The Firearm Licensing Authority, in its annual report to parliament should publish not only licences denied - which it does do - but also licences repealed or withdrawn because this is clrearly a matter of public interest," he said.  

Additionally, "How many other licences have the police requested to be withdrawn by the Firearm Licensing Authority that they have failed to do?" Professor Munroe questioned.

Meanwhile, an explanation about the revocation process done by the FLA has come from Robert Gregory, its former Board chairman.
  
Mr. Gregory headed the board from early 2012 to early this year.

"We have revoked many licences. In most instances it's the police who accost the citizen who has breached the Firearms Licensing Act and that is referrred to us," he explained.

He said an investigation is then conducted by the FLA and the revocation process follows. However, persons may appeal their revocation.  

The former Board chairman predicted that there is more information to be revealed in the situation surrounding the entity and the missing Patrick Powell file.   
    
Mr. Gregory outlined that the situation has damaged the reputation of the FLA. However, he said no assessment can yet be done on the extent of the damage, because there may be more information to come.
    
He argued that the authority needs to regain public confidence, but could not say when that will happen.

"I would like for the dust to settle to see exactly what the damage is, who is accusing and what is substantiated," asserted the former FLA Board chairman.

He and Professor Trevor Munroe were guests on RJR's Beyond the Headlines on Wednesday.