Belize Police Issue Warning to Gun Dealers and License Holders About Social Media Posts

The Belize Police Department is sending a stern warning to gun dealers and gun license holders posting images of firearms on social media. The warning came in the form of a memo dissuading gun dealers and gun owners from advertising via social media. The memo reminds persons possessing firearms of the dangers of putting such information in the public domain. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, explained that the goal is to keep the public safe and to keep deadly weapons from falling into the wrong hands.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police:  “Well certainly having people advertising firearms is an issue of national security concern for us and when we have gun dealers who are advertising their stock to the public it’s like saying to the criminals you know I have all these guns in stock and it can make them vulnerable to burglaries or robberies and so we don’t expect our gun dealers to be advertising to that extent. And likewise we do have licensed firearm holders who have the tendency of taking pictures and posting on social media even videos posting it puts you at risk because the criminals will then know that you have a gun license. So when they come to approach you to do you something that’s the first thing they’ll go for because they know you have it but if you keep your firearm concealed it gives you greater protection because when the perpetrator comes they will not know you have it and then you may be able to get the upper hand on them and so it is with that spirit that we had issued that directive to gun dealers and and licensed firearm holders not to advertise and again by law if they continue to advertise it is a breach of the condition and that can lead to remove their license.”