On Friday
we had the story of 82 year old Henry Cunningham, the resident of Conch Shell Bay in Belize City. The GSU confiscated his 16 gauge shotgun earlier this
year – and didn't want to return it. Now, Cunningham is a farmer – and says he uses the gun when he goes to the farm. So why won't the GSU give him
back? Commander Mark Flowers told us it's nothing personal:…
Supt. Mark Flowers - Commander, GSU
"It is a fact that we have retained the firearm. Mr. Cunningham as you know is an older gentleman; he's use in age, he's 82 I think. The area that he
resides is an area that concerns all of us. We are retaining the firearm as a matter of public safety. The area that Mr. Cunningham lives, is not at
all safe. Rather than endangering the lives of more people, we've decided to recommend the cancellation of his license; at his age a 16 gauge shotgun
is not at all the best thing that an 82 year old would want to have. It is a very powerful shotgun and I don't think that it is wise and it would be
wise for us to return that firearm to him in that area. We know that the likeliness of it being stolen is high, so we won't do that, wouldn't be
sensible at all for us to do."
Jules Vasquez
"Now sir, is this what might be called, ageism or age discrimination?"
Supt. Mark Flowers - Commander, GSU
"No, it's not discriminating against his age. It's about the concern for the safety of all residence, all person."
Jules Vasquez
"Okay, fine. He's not a rich gentleman and the gun has a value; I haven't seen it but the gun has a value. In that case, will he be compensated for the
value of his firearm?"
Supt. Mark Flowers - Commander, GSU
"In fact that is my recommendation that we compensate him for the firearm and we remove it from where it is because it is a risk to have it out there."
Jules Vasquez
"If it were a 380 pistol, something small like that. Would it be much of a concern?"
Supt. Mark Flowers - Commander, GSU
"It wouldn't concern me that much because that is something he can could easily conceal on his person and carry with him where ever he goes. Having to
leave his house and often time people; we've had two discoveries in that house where people was using to stash drugs. We did not arrest Mr. Cunningham
because we know or we believe that he has nothing to do with that. People in the neighbourhood take advantage of his age, his condition and the living
conditions and they use his house as a stash house. They stash marijuana in there; we found marijuana in there twice."
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