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Shakeel Mohamed
<B>Majority MP and lawyer</B>
As a Mauritian citizen, what was your first reaction when you heard about the shooting last Thursday at Petit-Verger ?
I knew one of the victims of the massacre, Dawood Elahee Doomun. So I am really sad. I recently met him at a religious ceremony. It is true that the event is shocking? But sad would be a better word to describe it. It is true that the Bhugeloo family own hunting weapons with legal licences. However we are not in the hunting season !
When the police searched the Bhugeloo houses, they found heavy ammunition and 14 shotguns. What does the law say about the possession of weapons ?
The Firearms Act was voted in April this year. In fact, it is a very old law that has been amended. Now, it is more difficult for people to own firearms. There are more restrictions on the requirements. For example, people need a competency certificate to get a firearm. The most important element of this law is the central firearms index. Another key element coming up is called ?ballistic finger printing?. This will allow the police to recall people who have used a weapon without a permit. This concept already exists in many developed countries.
To come back to the 14 shotguns, is there a limited number of firearms an individual can own?
No, the law mentions no limit. But you need this competency certificate.
Do you think there are people who own weapons illegally?
I am sure there are ! Before, there was not much security at the port and airport. They should have an amnesty period of two or three months to give back all their weapons. Otherwise what happens is that weapons go from father to son and the cycle continues. Therefore, the weapons become illegal as many descendants do not renew the legal permits.
As a government MP, have you discussed the new measures with your colleagues?
Indeed, I have had a few words with some backbenchers. I have the impression that there is unanimity on what I am saying regarding a more strict approach to firearms.
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