Category: Firearms

Now here’s a story that’s got a bit of mystery and a whole lot of questions. A licensed firearm has vanished from a Caye Caulker residence and police believe it may have walked off with a woman who spent the night there. According to ACP Hilberto Romero, the gun, a nine-millimeter Glock, belonged to seventy-three-year-old Dennis Gelinas, a local business owner. He says he was with a female acquaintance named Azmin early Sunday morning, and after they both fell asleep, he woke up to find her, and his firearm, gone. The pistol, along with a magazine loaded with six live rounds, was reportedly tucked into his pants pocket. Police searched the home but came up empty-handed. What they did find out, though, is that the woman caught the 10:30 a.m. boat to Belize City and now, she’s being actively sought by investigators.

 

Hilberto Romero, ACP, Head of Crime Investigation Branch

“On Sunday a Dennis Guelina seventy five years reported that he invited a person to his house to spend the night he had his firearm on him and he reported that when he woke up in the morning he realized that his firearm had been stolen and the male person was no where to be found, we are seeking this person at this time for investigation.”

 

 

In the fight against crime and the illegal flow of firearms across Belize, a new tool is now in the hands of law enforcement, thanks to a continued partnership with the Organization of American States. Today, the OAS officially handed over a third firearm marking machine to the Ministry of Home Affairs during a ceremony at its Belize City headquarters. Belize first received one of these machines back in 2011, followed by a second in 2023. Both are currently used by the Belize Police Department to mark police-issued weapons. But this third machine? It’s expected to play a broader role in tracking and controlling firearms across the country. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more on how this latest addition could help tighten the net on illegal gun trafficking. Here’s that report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Organization of American States (OAS) donated a third firearm marking machine to Belize today, aimed at helping track and control guns. The machine will be used by the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board as part of ongoing efforts to fight gun violence. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa accepted the donation on behalf of the government.

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“This firearm marking machine we are receiving today, thanks to the OAS, has been used in automative, aerospace, medical and by heavy and light industries. It will allow the FACB to permanently mark firearms with unique Identification details, such as country code, serial numbers, model information and other identifying marks. Once a firearm is marked, it will enable the FACB and other relevant authorities to trace the origin and movement of firearms which is crucial in criminal investigations and will also serve as a tool to prevent arm trafficking and to hold gun owners and licensed gun dealers accountable who are in possession, sale or the use of firearms.”

 

When it comes to fighting gun crime, every detail matters and according to Belize’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bart Jones, that includes the tiny markings on a firearm. Speaking on the importance of firearm marking, Jones says each unique stamp tells a story, from the weapon’s legal origin to whoever ends up holding it. It’s a powerful tool for law enforcement, helping trace guns used in crimes and holding the right people accountable.

 

Bart Jones, Deputy Commissioner of Police

“Why do markings matter? The unique markings in etched in weapons tell a story. It enables us to trace firearms from its lawful origins to the last point of possession. In practical terms this donation strengthens our investigative reach, reduces time to solve gang related crimes and most important save lives.”

 

OAS Country Representative, Doctor Luiz Coimbra emphasized the organization’s support for member states like Belize in combatting gun violence. He explained that this support begins with capacity building or ensuring that countries are in possession of the right tools to trace firearms and identify those being used in illicit activities.

 

Dr. Luiz Coimbra, Country Representative, OAS

“Today the Organization of the American States through the Program of Assistance on the Control of Firearm and Ammunition is donating a third firearm machine to the Government of Belize. PACAM is a comprehensive strategy of the OAS to support the efforts of its member states to reduce armed violence through the prevention and control of the illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition. One of PACAM’s components focuses on the strengthening of state capacities to control and authorize access to arms and ammunition, considering the obligations of the Interamerican convention against illicit manufacturing and of trafficking in firearms, ammunition, explosive and other related materials.”

 

Magistrate Mannon Dennison, who serves on the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board, took a moment to thank the OAS for its continued support. He also reaffirmed the board’s commitment to doing its part, making sure the mandate to regulate and monitor firearms in Belize stays on track.

 

Mannon Dennison, Member, Firearms Control Board

“We are grateful for the assistance that has been given to us by OAS. Whenever we ask they reach out, whether it is for machinery, tools to assist in the fulfillment of our mandate or for training, they are always there. We are grateful.”

 

The machine will support the ministry and the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board in enhancing firearms traceability and strengthening controls against the illicit trafficking of these items in Belize. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

 

The Caribbean is facing a deadly challenge: illegal firearms are flooding the region, fueling gang violence and pushing homicide rates to alarming levels. In response, three major players, CARICOM IMPACS, the European Union, and France, have joined forces to fight back. At a recent five-day training in Trinidad and Tobago, experts from across the region gathered to tackle the issue head-on. The aim is to build stronger intelligence networks, share best practices, and train frontline officers to disrupt the flow of illegal weapons. Lt. Col. Michael Jones didn’t sugarcoat it; he says illegal guns are ripping through our communities and leaving devastation in their wake. He emphasized that without regional cooperation and intelligence sharing, efforts to stop the violence will fall short. The numbers are sobering. Between 2009 and 2018, over twenty-two thousand illegal firearms and three hundred thousand rounds of ammunition were seized in the Caribbean. And from 2018 to 2022, nearly three-quarters of the guns traced in the region came from the United States. So, what’s being done? The Caribbean Firearms Roadmap now includes sixteen countries working together to tighten borders, improve investigations, and reduce gun violence. International partners like the EU, Canada, and the UK are also stepping in with funding and technical support. Will this new wave of cooperation be enough to stop the bloodshed—or is it just a drop in the bucket? As the workshop wraps up, participants are being urged to turn training into action. Because in this fight, coordination and trust might be the most powerful weapons of all.

 

 

 

Gun dealers and licensed firearm holders in Belize have come together to form the Belize Firearms Association, and they’re already taking action. In a letter dated June third, the group called out the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board for poor communication and long delays in processing license applications and renewals. According to the association, many applicants are left in the dark for weeks, even months, with no updates or feedback. That’s left people unsure whether their applications are being processed, need more documents, or have been approved or denied. To fix the problem, the association is recommending several changes: automatic acknowledgment receipts, a status check portal, a clear processing timeline, and regular public updates. Despite the criticism, the group says it’s committed to working with the board to improve the system for everyone.

 

Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa is standing by the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board, even as gun dealers raise serious concerns about the licensing process. Gun dealer Abner Murillo, owner of Lock N’ Loaded, has publicly criticized the system, saying it’s making it harder for law-abiding citizens to get the licenses they need for personal protection. He claims the process is slow, unclear, and unfair. Minister Musa responded by saying Murillo has every right to speak out, but he also questioned the dealer’s motives. Musa defended the board, calling it a step toward greater transparency and accountability in how firearm licenses are issued.

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“He obviously has a right to protest regulations. Obviously a lot of gun dealers thrived when we had zero regulations with the issuing of gun licenses. WE heard many horror stories, instances of corruption, instances of paying off to get a gun license. A lot of unsavory individuals getting gun license and we have pivoted away from that. I know that is going to harm the business of gun dealers and this guy is a gun dealer right, so it going to harm his business naturally. But, he has to understand, we are operating under new circumstances, under regulations and I think the board has been doing an exceptionally good job in terms of the issuance, the vetting for gun licensing, the imposing of the requirement that you have to get a certificate that you know how to use a firearm. These are positive things, so instead of applauding these things, he is out there complaining because he is not making the kind of money he use to. I have to respect that, but at the end of the day my duty is to the Belizean people to make sure we have proper regulations in place.”

 

As the debate continues, applicants and gun owners say they just want a system that works, one that’s fair, efficient, and keeps everyone safe.

The Ministry of Home Affairs insists that its new firearms licensing system is a step toward transparency and accountability, but applicants and gun dealers are telling a very different story. Tonight, we will continue our coverage of challenges at the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board. From long delays to confusing requirements, frustration is mounting, especially among those who say their safety is on the line. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more in the following report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Ministry of Home Affairs says it’s trying to make the gun license process more transparent, but not everyone’s convinced it’s working. Gun dealers and applicants are pushing back, saying the new system is causing more frustration than clarity. One police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, told News Five he applied for a firearm license six months ago. His reason? He wants to protect himself and his family. But after all that time, he’s still waiting. The Firearm and Ammunition Control Board hasn’t approved his application, and he’s not alone.

 

On the Phone: Police Officer, Gun License Applicant

“Trying to get a gun license is very hard. I try from last year December and keep and trying. When I call the Home Affairs office the lady always tells me that they have  limited amount of personnel doing the vetting. When I call again they say the board has not met. It is very frustrating.”

 

Last week, Abner Murillo, a gun dealer and owner of Lock N’ Loaded, asserted that the application process now requires two valid identification cards. A release from the board refuted that claim. But the officer we spoke with said otherwise.

 

On the phone: Police Officer

“It was very challenging, because I had to go way to Belmopan, took a day off, sign a book and then they told me I need another id. So I had to go and photocopy another ID at the print shop, came back, gave them the ID and that is how they took my application. I took in my drivers license and my social security.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Because they ask you for two ids?”

 

On the Phone: Police Officer

“Yes, two ids.”

 

Applicants are calling the new gun license ID process frustrating, especially for those traveling long distances to Belmopan, only to be turned away for not having multiple forms of ID. One police officer, still waiting six months for approval, says his job makes it critical to legally carry a firearm to protect his family. Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa praised the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board during the budget debate, calling it a step toward greater accountability in the licensing process.

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“WE are ensuring that those who carry firearm, do so under lawful, well monitored and careful conditions. Mr. Speaker the work for the FACB is essential to national security. But just as important it is essential to national confidence. Through its establishment we are establishing order to an area long plagued by opacity and setting a bold new standard for arms control in the Caribbean.”

 

The new firearm licensing process may still be experiencing some growing pains. Despite repeated attempts, calls and messages to CEO Sharole Carr, who is also the chair of the board, have gone unanswered. However, the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board has issued two statements this week—one responding to claims by gun dealer Abner Murillo, and another notifying dealers that physical inventory checks will begin in June.

 

Abner Murillo, Owner, Lock N’ Loaded

“This is something that is a practice with the dealers. I accept it. I think it is necessary. You do have to do spot checks. You do have to do inventory checks. The Dangerous Good Unit did it previously. It is an excellent thing they are doing it. It is nothing new. However, the timing of it does seem, appear to be a little bit retaliatory, as other people have said. I cannot say for a fact that it is or not, but the timing. It is like, you want to speak up, hold yah. We wah come check unu and pressure unu a little bit. It might seem that way, but I don’t know for a fact.”

 

Murillo’s criticism of the process has been a mixed bag of support and disapproval. Some are of the view that the process has made it harder for responsible individuals to retain a license and that law abiding citizens should bear arms, while others say all guns need to be banned.

 

Abner Murillo

“You have to have a recommendation letter from a Justice of the Peace. The problem is there is a handful of Justice of the Peace in the country. People are getting turned around and turned around to get a JP letter because they are not comfortable giving recommendation letters for a firearm because of the nature of it. They are saying, I don’t want to give a recommendation letter and it comes back to me. Before you didn’t need a recommendation, you needed the firearm certificate, the training and a clean police record and the vetting.”

 

Once again, our requests for comment from the board chair went unanswered. Meanwhile, questions are growing about whether the board has the capacity, and the authority, to effectively manage its role as the country’s gun license watchdog. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Earlier this week, the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board announced in a press release that Abner Murillo has taken legal action against them. While Murillo isn’t sharing the details of his claim just yet, he says he wants the matter to play out fully in court. He also expressed concern over the board’s decision to go public with the lawsuit, suggesting it may have been premature.

 

Abner Murillo, Owner, Lock N’ Loaded

“I wish they would not have commented on the court matter. That is not something I want to bring the to the public and I hope you guys do share. There is a lot of things there that will make them look bad and I am not trying to make them look bad. Aright, if you don’t want to listen to me, you are a public servant. Go listen to the public. Go online and read the comments, listen to the vast majority. The vast majority are in agreement. I would say over ninety percent. Most comments would say ban all guns, take away the guns. We have a very high crime rate. The moment we don’t have crime, I myself will give up my guns, excepting my hunting, because I like to hunt and I like my game meat. But, if there was not a high crime rate there would be no need for special protection firearms. The moment we have  no crime I could close down my shop. But it is not about that. It is not about me. It is about the process that has become so frustrating.”

A war of words is brewing between a well-known gun dealer and the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board over Belize’s newly updated firearm licensing system. The board is defending its process, saying it’s designed to strengthen due diligence and reduce administrative loopholes. But gun dealer Abner Murillo isn’t convinced. He says the system has become overly complicated, so much so that it’s now blocking responsible citizens from legally obtaining firearms. Murillo shared stories of rural applicants traveling long distances to Belmopan, only to be turned away and told to return the next day. He also claims he’s being personally targeted. The board, however, has pushed back, clarifying that only one valid ID is required and acknowledging the unique challenges faced by applicants in remote areas. The board also confirmed that Murillo has taken legal action. Here’s what he had to say.

 

Abner Murillo, Owner, Lock N’ Loaded

“When it comes to instructors, I am an NRA certified instructor in the U.S. I can teach anywhere in the U.S. But, what they did, and I don’t want to go too much into detail, but they are victimizing certain people and cherry-picking certain people. We have an instructor that teaches out of Lock N Loaded but it is not me. There are four or five instructors to teach a population of, what is the population right now? The last time I checked it was four hundred thousand, about four to five hundred thousand. So you have about a hundred thousand people for instructors. Does that make any sense to you. And there is a lot of qualified instructors in the country. They have taken away, revoked license. When it went from the police department and they took over, it was not a new application for new instructors. They should have honored everything already established. But they came and began revoking licenses left right and center. They revoked licenses for myself with no justification, no kind of explanation and it just seems like I am going to benefit this one and victimize this one, that is how it feels.”

 

 

The Firearms and Ammunition Control Board is pushing back against recent criticism from a local gun dealer, saying its reforms are about safety, not red tape. Abner Murillo, owner of Lock N’ Loaded, claims the firearm licensing process has become overly complicated and unfair to law-abiding citizens like farmers and business owners. He also raised concerns about poor communication and alleged new ID requirements. But the FACB says that’s simply not true. In a statement, the Board clarified that only one form of government-issued ID is required—and that hasn’t changed. They also emphasized that their reforms are designed to strengthen oversight, reduce loopholes, and align Belize with international security standards. The board acknowledged the challenges faced by rural applicants and says it’s working to improve access and reduce delays. It also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize firearm regulation, including a national registry, safety training programs, and support from international partners like the UN and the U.S. State Department. As for Mr. Murillo’s legal action against the board, the FACB says it won’t comment while the case is before the courts. In the meantime, the board says it welcomes feedback but won’t compromise national security for convenience.