DR RUSSELL D LUTCHMAN
DR VARMA DEYALSINGH has suggested 'arming the citizenry' with guns when he addressed the Senate last week Thursday.
In my professional role, I frequently consider the risk of death or serious harm to other people arising from the use of weapons.
Dr Deyalsingh opened his address by speaking about the mental challenges expected to 'hit' Trinidadians/Tobagonians in coming weeks and months. Appropriately, he was using his knowledge and insights as a psychiatrist - a medically qualified doctor.
That said, he went on to say: '...so, what I'm saying is we have to defend ourselves and our families, people may stay at home to get away from the world thinking they are safe in their home and their sanctuaries. They are no longer safe. A caring government would allow people to get firearm user's licences [FUL] to protect themselves as daily reports say we are sitting ducks...the commissioner of police mentioned that home invasions are increasing. So, I'm saying give persons the access with the proper checks and balances...'
This is when he strayed out of his depth to make the sensationalist suggestion to 'arm the sitting-duck citizenry.'
He was cursorily cautious to include with 'proper checks and balances.' Knowing what those proper checks and balances would be and how to keep them 'proper' is the first big issue. Retired Justice of Appeal Stanley John in January aptly described FUL issuance as 'a thriving, well-oiled, white-collar criminal enterprise...under the nose' of then-commissioner of police Gary Griffith.
Recently in the local media, it was reported that 26 people had been charged for corruption and misbehaviour in public office regarding the issuing FULs. Of those, only five have been reported to be members of the public; the rest are members of the TTPS. So much for 'proper checks' flying out of the window.
Mental disturbance
and firearms
As a psychiatrist, Dr Deyalsingh would do well to consider more deeply the lawful possession and potential misuse of firearms by the mentally disturbed.
Disturbed individuals span a whole cross-section of people - from the chronically angry, those with a secret agenda for revenge of some sort, those who have been abused and suffer with subclinical post-traumatic mental health problems, to some of the ten per cent (on average) of individuals who, unbeknownst to themselves, suffer with a personality disorder (a clinical entity under F60-F69 of ICD-10, soon to be replaced by ICD-11).
Consider the cultural context of 'tabanca,' for example: a man of 'unsettled mind' opting for homicidal violence because he 'cyah take the rejection.' In the frame of well documented spiralling horrific domestic violence against women, some men of that ilk would probably opt for their 'licensed' weapon instead of the 'choice cutlass.'
Road rage, all too common from a 'bad drive,' could involve more shoot-ups between the holders of licensed guns
