Business Owners Renew Call To Carry Firearms
Amid a string of armed robberies and shootings, several business owners in the Virgin Islands are again urging authorities to allow licensed firearms on commercial premises. Calls for clearer licensing procedures and a review of the legal position on guns in businesses come as residents question whether current protections are sufficient.
Three business owners speaking to our newsroom on condition of anonymity say it has become increasingly difficult for legitimate businesses to obtain firearm licences in the Territory, and they are calling for change as violent incidents against businesses rise. "If these bad boys know we have guns in our bars, they will not mess with us.
I have applied over three years now, and I continue to get the runaround," one local bar owner told reporters, reflecting widespread frustration over long waits and unclear procedures for licencing. The debate over arming business owners is longstanding in the Virgin Islands. Cline of New Life Baptist Church publicly called for business owners to be allowed to carry arms for self-protection, arguing that responsible shop owners should not be denied the means to protect themselves while others turn to crime.
Skelton-Cline have made similar appeals in recent years. At present, businesses in the Virgin Islands are generally not permitted to have firearms on their premises despite private property rights, creating tension between property control and public safety policy. Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E.
Vanterpool was asked for comment but was unavailable, according to our enquiry. Those calling for relaxed restrictions point to several high-profile incidents in the Territory. In April 2021, Catherine Pickering was shot and later died after an armed robbery where money taken from a business was reportedly involved.
More recently, Bath and Turtle Restaurant on Virgin Gorda was robbed on June 8, 2024, and during the early hours of Saturday, October 4, 2025, a man was shot in an armed robbery at a popular Road Town bar. These cases have amplified fears among merchants who say they face an immediate threat.
Experts warn the connection between firearm access and crime is complex: some studies link greater gun availability to higher gun-related violence, while others maintain licensed firearms can deter criminals and enable self-defence. Local stakeholders say the solution should include greater transparency around licensing timelines, a clear legal framework for business protections, and improved policing and crime-prevention measures such as better lighting, CCTV, alarm systems, and community policing initiatives.
As calls for policy change grow louder, business owners and residents will be watching for official responses and any reviews of firearms policy that balance public safety with the right of lawful citizens to protect themselves. VINO reported these developments and the ongoing concerns among local businesses.
Primary source: VINO