Police suspend issue of firearms licenses [1]
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 20:18. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Tonga's police have suspended issuing any new firearms licenses as a response to the increasing number of armed hold-up incidents in Tonga, but they believe there are many people in possession of illegal firearms.
The latest shooting was at 1:30am on February 21 outside the Helepeku Kava Drinking club at Fasi moe afi.
The Acting Police Commissioner Soakai Motu'apuaka said yesterday, that two men from Fasi were arrested in relation to the shooting, but the alleged pistol used was not found.
He said according to witnesses the men, both aged 26 years, were involved in drunken brawl in front of the kava club, and shots were fired using a pistol.
He said that the Minister of Police had suspended the issue of any new firearm licenses, and they were in the process of reconciling the number of licenses to determine the exact number of legal guns in Tonga.
"But there are approximately around 1,000 licensed firearms holders in Tonga," he said. "Police are open for renewal if they have a good record."
The Acting Police Commissioner said it was evident from these armed hold ups there are many people in possession of illegal firearms in Tonga.
Meanwhile, police are still looking for two masked men who robbed a Chinese shop at Longolongo on February 9. The men used a shotgun and an iron bar to threaten the shopkeeper, before fleeing with goods and cash amounting to $6,000.
Pistols are illegal in Tonga.