Firearm fees shoot up
LICENSED firearm holders will begin paying much more to renew their weapons as of today.
The renewal fee has jumped from $12,000 per year to $20,000, while new applicants for a gun licence will now pay $30,000, up from $12,000, the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) announced on Monday.
One gun owner told the Jamaica Observer that he was informed Monday about the hike, which he described as too steep.
“This is just too much,” he said. “From $12,000 to $20,000; this is ridiculous.”
However, FLA Chief Executive Officer Shane Dalling told the Observer that the increases are the first in a decade.
“The last increase was in 2014 when the renewal fee moved from $8,000 to $12,000,” Dalling said.
The FLA says there are 44,000 licensed firearm holders in the country.
