FLA head cautions firearm holders about use of force

Following the death of 23-year-old Isaac Foster at Dovecot Cemetery on Monday, a number of persons have questioned the manner in which the situation was handled, and blasted the licensed firearm holder for shooting to kill.

Many argued that, instead of shooting Foster, who may have had mental issues, different steps should have been taken to restrain him. Head of the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) Shane Dalling said, while he is unable to comment on Monday's bizarre happenings, a licensed firearm holder has a right to apply proportionate force to the danger that they are in.

"The use of force by any person, whether it's the police or licensed firearm holder, speaks to the fact that the force used to repel an attacker for the threat of an attack must be similar or proportionate to the danger that you see taking place or the force that the person is taking on you," he said.

"I can't comment on this particular matter or matters of this nature because we have never had an incident like this. I also don't have all the facts. It may well be justified using that level of force depending on the circumstances that presented itself at the time," he added.

A widely circulated video of the incident shows Foster, a resident of Kitson Town, St Catherine opening a coffin, standing over the desecrated body, and gesturing to alarmed onlookers - including a uniformed policeman - who screamed at him to stop what he was doing. It was also reported that he had hurled stones at the gathering who were trying to restrain him.

Dalling said a licensed firearm holder can also protect the life or property of another person who is in danger.

"You are also allowed to protect life and property as a licensed firearm holder. So, if you see somebody killing someone, you can discharge your firearm and propel the person with as much force as is needed to prevent the person from carrying out the attack, and sufficient force includes deadly force," Dalling said.

"This does not have to be relating to a person attempting to shoot you. Remember, a person can harm you with a stone, knife or other instruments. So, if say for instance a person takes up a stone to throw at you and you know the distance between you and the person that they will not be able to throw a stone this far, then you can't shoot the person in that case," he said.