From East End to West Bay we have in less than six months two reports of firearms stolen from homes.

In the first incident (West Bay) a .22 caliber rifle and a shot gun was stolen and the shotgun was later recovered. The rifle is still out there on our streets.

Now on Monday in East End a 12 gauge Maverick shotgun was stolen from its gun case, along with several rounds of ammunition.

In both incidents nothing else was stolen so the thief or thieves knew there were guns and ammunition on the premises.

How?

Do our own gun laws need tightening up?

According to the website GunPolicy.org there are 922 licensed gun owners (2011) and the number of registered firearms is 1,556 (2011). That equates to 3 guns per 100 persons.

For an island that boasts itself on being comparatively gun free and visitors are being criminalized for having one small item of ammunition that has been accidentally left in their suitcase, these figures would seem to be high.

These nearly 1,000 persons playing with guns must be over crowding the firing range here because that is the only time they can be legally using them.

That can only be the reason for their possession of these weapons.

However, we do export firearms.

“The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from the Cayman Islands is reported by Customs to be US$5,563 (2011).”

But we import a lot more.

“The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to the Cayman Islands is reported by Customs to be US$68,650 (2011)”.

Some other interesting facts:

In the Cayman Islands, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law.

Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in the Cayman Islands are not required to establish a genuine reason to possess a firearm.

Where a past history, or apprehended likelihood of family violence exists, the law in the Cayman Islands does not stipulate that a gun licence should be denied or revoked.

In the Cayman Islands, an understanding of firearm safety and the law, tested in a theoretical and/or practical training course is not required for a firearm licence.

Licensed firearm owners in the Cayman Islands are permitted to possess any number of firearms.

Licensed firearm owners in the Cayman Islands are permitted to possess any quantity of ammunition.

In the Cayman Islands, the law does not require that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register.

In the Cayman Islands, the private sale and transfer of firearms is permitted.

The buyer of a firearm in a private sale in the Cayman Islands is not obliged to pass official background checks before taking possession.

The buyer of a firearm from a licensed gun dealer in the Cayman Islands is not obliged to pass official background checks before taking possession.

In the Cayman Islands, the minimum wait for a lawful firearm purchase to be completed is undetermined.

In the Cayman Islands, gun shows and temporary firearm dealing events are not regulated in law.

Firearm regulations in the Cayman Islands do not include written specifications for the lawful safe storage of private firearms and ammunition by licensed gun owners.

Firearm regulations in the Cayman Islands do not include written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition by licensed arms dealers.

Government regulations in the Cayman Islands do not include written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition by state entities.

Regulations in the Cayman Islands do not include written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition while in transit.

In the Cayman Islands, the ballistic characteristics of each civilian firearm and its ammunition are not recorded in a register.

In the Cayman Islands, carrying a firearm in plain view in a public place is allowed, subject to a valid permit.

In the Cayman Islands, carrying a concealed firearm in a public place is allowed, subject to a valid permit.

In the Cayman Islands, the number of firearms voluntarily surrendered in recent arms amnesty and collection programmes is reported to be 26 (2010).

Are you shocked? Or even SHOT?!

I am.