Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens’ legislation to update laws governing ghost guns will close a significant loophole, testifiers said Wednesday.
Sen. Gittens, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice & Public Safety, said the proposed bill makes it unlawful to possess a firearm without a serial number. Current law speaks only to guns with obliterated or altered serial numbers. Bill #35-0420 will prohibit the manufacture, sale, transfer, or possession of gun without a serial number. Committee members unanimously supported Sen. Gittens’ legislation, which will move on to the Committee on Rules & Judiciary before being considered by the full body.
“These ghost guns fire the same bullets as a legal firearm, they are just as deadly,” said Attorney Timothy Perry, Chief of the V.I. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. “But these guns are specifically marketed to would be criminals, as untraceable guns. And, increasingly, as throughout the United States, ghost guns are showing up here, now, on the streets of the Virgin Islands.”
Officer Richard Velasquez of the V.I. Police Department’s Firearms Unit said that ghost guns are currently being manufactured in the Territory, often through kits that can be ordered online.
“They are untraceable and they are easy to obtain,” Officer Velasquez said.
Senator Gittens thanked testifiers and his colleagues for their support and noted that he had other bills in the works to improve Virgin Islands gun laws, some of which were born out of the Committee’s Oct. 8 Law Enforcement Roundtable meeting.
“That was an exceptionally productive meeting and I look forward to bringing more measures forward to help address violent crime in the Territory,” Senator Gittens said.
Committee members also approved Bill #35-0409, to amend the definition of salvaged or junk vehicle dealer and to require salvaged vehicle purchasers to file a report with the Virgin Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles that documents the sale of these vehicles. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Samuel Carrión, said the end goal was to protect consumers and to put the Virgin Islands in compliance with national policy.
Committee members also considered bills to update traffic fines and to enhance the enforcement efforts of the Virgin Islands Lottery Office. While the lottery measure was supported unanimously, the legislation to increase traffic penalties and establish a police impound lot was held in order for Senators to gather further data.
