Firearms in USVI

Yes.

If that is the attitude that you are bringing with you, I suggest that you will not be very happy living in the USVI. In my opinion, crime is not an overwhelming problem here. There is about the same crime as in most mid sized American cities. It is a smaller community here, so you hear about it more, but it usually doesn't impact you unless you are living amongst the law breakers.

We already have too many people with guns here, we do not need more.

At this rate, 16 murders from January to March of 2009 means, statistically, that there will be 64 murders by the end of the year for 110,000 population. That means that there is the possibility that the murder rate will be slightly over 58 murders per 100,000.

5.6 murders per 100,000 is average across the USofA. That is less than 10% of the murder rate in the USVI.

The worst city in the USofA is Detroit, with 46 per 100,000

The USVI has almost a 26% higher murder rate than the worst city in the USofA.

Don't forget that only 33% of the murders in the USVI are solved, compared to the States average rate of 62%.

So tell me Ms. Information, where do you get your statistics from?

Oh yeah, almost forgot: Lizard are you going to show up to give me a hard time about writing the truth?

See what happens when you go draggin' data into the discussion? Nobody wants to play 🙂

To answer the original question, yes you can go through an involved process to get permission to keep a gun at home (it's easier if you have a business license) but by the time you get through it you will have learned to depend on your security dog(s) ! There are very few neighborhoods here or back in my suburban Seattle home that I would be happy in without some defensive arms.

If someone with ill intentions were to come my way regardless of where I live I know it will all be over before any police can show up. I take responsibility for the safety of my family and would much rather have a weapon and never need it than to not have one the sole time it's needed. The key here is proper training and regular practice at the range and you generally end up safer with a weapon and not a liability to yourself and those around you.

we have a gun for protection. carry permit. we bring it with us when we are downtown at night. most crime here is (correct me if im wrong) but drug related. there are home robberies and rest. robberies and burglaries. if you want a gun when you get down here you have to take a gun safety course and pass it. if you want a carry/conceal it seems to take longer. guns dont kill people people kill people. when i was younger i would never have had a gun in the house but now im with my bf on this one, why let the bad guys win. if you already have a gun you have to ship it to , i think, to dj shooting range. not really sure of the procedure, if you need the number let me know and ill get it for you. crime is every where no matter where you live. i say better to be prepared. that being said i dont usually feel in danger when i am downtown, you take precautions just like you would anywhere at night in any city.
again if you need the number for djs shooting range let me know and they will tell you all you need to know.

Most of the murders are drug related but not most of the crime.

There are still plenty of armed robberies, burgularies, rapes, and other violent crimes, not to mention the staggering amount of animal abuse. Our crime rate is way too high for a isloated small island with a population of only 55,000. Anyone who knows anything is afraid to talk. We're a society ruled by fear. The transplants may disagree with that, but talk to any local AG about how hard it is for them to get and keep a witness. That and police incompentance (or tampering) is the biggest reason so many cases go unsolved or they get off.

This is my home and I know it angers many of the locals and transplants alike to here anyone talk negatively about their home. Talking, to me is the first step of making everyone aware of the situation. Not saying there are not wonderful people here, not saying its not a wonderful place to live, but we have a very serious problem and they rarely get better by pretending its not that bad. With the economy going in the tubes, I don't think crime is going to get better.

Ms Info: the problem is NOT that there are too many guns. The problem is that far too many are in the hands of the bad guys. If more good guys carried guns, the crime rate here would go down. We need more guns in the hands of the good guys, not less.

On another note: Crimestoppers has had over 150 tips so far this year as opposed to less than 50 for a whole year before the plan was put into action. Apparently, people are fed up with the rampant violent crime and are turning people in. The anonymity helps. Many don't even want the reward money offered.

On the up side, it seems the government of the USVI is taking a real step toward combating crime, starting with the accountability of the police department:

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17634758

Crimestoppers is wonderful, really really really glad people are participating. You know theres a but....if people won't come forward as witnesses then it makes it much harder to put these guys in jail. You may get your stuff back, but the criminals are ready for the next round.

Thank you everyone who responded to my inquiry. There are some varied opinions out there regarding the level of crime it seems.

I'd rather have the ability to protect my family and property than not. My chosen method is owning a firearm.

As far as the Dogs go, you don't know our dogs! They'd probably lick a burglar to death NOT bite them. They're not very intimidating.

Thanks again.

Our dogs are a study in contrast. Our puppy is about 90 lbs of rottweiler but she's the sweetest dog you'll find anywhere and will simply hop on a criminal for the opportunity to lick him to death. Our adult dog is a 7 lb terror who barks at anything (including a leaf) that goes by the house.

Thank you everyone who responded to my inquiry. There are some varied opinions out there regarding the level of crime it seems.

I'd rather have the ability to protect my family and property than not. My chosen method is owning a firearm.

As far as the Dogs go, you don't know our dogs! They'd probably lick a burglar to death NOT bite them. They're not very intimidating.

Thanks again.

If your dog is big that's all it takes. My dogs are mostly harmless as well, but they are big enough to scare the cr@p out of any handyman. After 4 years with the same pest control guy I still have to lock them up every time he comes because he's scared of them. And more importantly they bark at everything. Remember the barking is usually going to be the biggest help. You don't want someone to break into your home, but you really don't want a dangerous criminal there when you are, with the barking at least you'll be warned.

I have zero experience with guns, so they are not an option for me. But, I would think once, twice, thrice, about shooting anyone on my property or in my house anyway. I wouldn't want to deal with the repercussions.

Consider this...

when the thugs aren't shooting their guns off in the air, they usually go to the gun range for target practice. There are two ranges on STX. So when you go to the range to practice, take a good look at the guy next to you. He just may be the one you get into a firefight with. In other words, don't leave the range until you are a better shot than the guy next to you!!!

On my property - yes you are right.
But in my house - I would rather have to leave the island to escape the repercussions then to make my friends come to the island for my or my wife's funeral.
I don't have a gun on the island yet, that time may come. But here in the "safe" states I have a couple including a police riot gun ( short shot gun - pump action) with OO buck. Wouldn't want a bullet to leave the house and injure a sleeping neighbor.

I don't have real 'data' on this - just a gut. I've long suspected that the hoodlums rarely if very bother practicing on a range. I haven't seen many tell-tale signs of any hoodlums on the ranges I've used over the years. Could be I just don't know what to look for or they change their habits/dress style when they go to a range but my gut says hoods really don't bother with actually practicing (afterall this is the same behavior that begits homework, analysis, understanding cause and effect - you know, the things people who live by the gun tend NOT to do in life.) I don't think people who resort to using unlicensed guns are interesed in signing paperwork, taking safety classes, or possibly getting a background check before they can use a range.

I've half-joked (but I'm mostly serious) for years that the government should open up a range or two in highly troubled urban areas so gangs can learn to shoot and stop spraying innocent people in drive-by shootings.

Consider this...

when the thugs aren't shooting their guns off in the air, they usually go to the gun range for target practice. There are two ranges on STX. So when you go to the range to practice, take a good look at the guy next to you. He just may be the one you get into a firefight with. In other words, don't leave the range until you are a better shot than the guy next to you!!!