Taser guns illegal for civilian use in Guyana – AG 

Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has clarified that the sale, purchase and possession of Taser guns by civilians are prohibited under Guyana’s Firearms Act.
Nandlall made the clarification during his “Issues in the News” programme while responding to questions about reports of Taser equipment being sold at commercial establishments in Guyana.
He pointed to Section 32 of the Firearms Act, which prohibits, without the authority of the Minister, the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, acquisition or possession of certain firearms and weapons.
“Taser guns or taser equipment, as they are normally referred to, are prohibited under the Firearms Act of Guyana,” Nandlall said.
According to the AG, the legislation covers weapons designed or adapted to discharge a noxious liquid, gas or other substance.
He explained that the reference to “other thing” in the legislation can include the electrical current discharged by a Taser.
Nandlall also cited the English case of Flack v Baldry, in which the court considered whether an electrical stun gun fell within the prohibited weapons provisions of the United Kingdom’s Firearms Act.
He said the language of the relevant provision in the UK legislation is identical to the corresponding provision in Guyana’s law.
The AG further referred to the Police (Amendment) Act of 2021, which established the legal framework for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to use less-lethal weapons.
The legislation identifies conducted electrical weapons, including tasers and stun guns, among the less-lethal weapons that may be used by Police.
“So tasers were introduced in the law here. And the Police were permitted to use these among these non-lethal weapons,” Nandlall said.
He argued that the specific legislative amendment allowing the Police Force to use tasers further demonstrates that civilians do not have automatic legal authority to possess such weapons.
“The reasoning is, if the Police had to get an amendment of the Police Act to use taser guns and equipment listed here, it applies for sure; it applies with greater force than civilians do not have the legal authority to possess such a weapon,” he said.
The clarification comes as concerns have been raised about Taser guns reportedly being available for sale to members of the public.
Meanwhile, 93 ranks of Police Division No. 3 recently completed a two-week training programme on the safe use of stun guns, as the GPF continues to develop its capacity to use less-lethal options during confrontations.
Nandlall also outlined penalties under the Firearms Act for breaches of the relevant provisions. He said a person convicted summarily could face a fine and imprisonment, while conviction on indictment carries a significantly higher term of imprisonment.