President of the Jamaica Rifle Association, JRA, Major John Nelson has resigned his post following alleged controversy over a rifle transaction gone wrong. CVM LIVE understands that a probe into the transaction led to Nelson’s dealership licenses being revoked by the Firearm Licensing Authority, FLA, and talks of possible charges being laid against the army man.
Four years as President of the JRA ended abruptly for the retired army man; it is alleged he breached the Firearms Act of 2022, in securing a rifle from a Canadian competitor recently. A report Wednesday notes the major could face possible charges including illegal possession of a firearm after he was allegedly found in possession of the rifle without a permit. Other possible charges based on the report could include gun trafficking or diversion charges.
It is further understood that following a shooting competition in October last year, a team from Canada left with only eight of the initial nine rifles brought into the country. The report suggests it was only after an alarm was raised in seeking to formally acquire the weapon that the FLA launched a probe into the claims. The article cites the Major attemptted to apply for a permit for a third party at which time it was discovered the rifle was in the president’s possession while the seller was already out of the country.
The article notes this as a breach of the amended Firearms Act of 2022 which could see the seller, being the Canadian competitor being classified as a trafficker and the president in violation having sought the permit for a third party. The unnamed source reportedly told the media outlet that Major Nelson’s dealer license was revoked preventing him from either buying or selling firearms as a consequence.
However, sources close to the matter told CVM LIVE, it’s unlikely charges will be laid against the major as they note the president has the capacity to make such a transaction adding the Canadian would have left the island after a period of waiting for the permit to be approved by the FLA which was long in coming.
CVM LIVE also understands that while the JRA president may have lost his dealer license, his personal licenses were not revoked which begs the question if he acted in a manner that was criminal under the law why not charge him already, why not revoke them all, rather than simply revoke the license as JRA President which another person has already assumed the post and gets the dealer license as a privilege.
Sources also allege the issue could have surfaced out of an act of malice and much of the truth surrounding the matter remains shrouded in secrecy as a previous rift is being seen as the root of the problem.
When CVM LIVE contacted the JRA’s lawyer and major nelson, both advised they would not be making official comments on the matter since the association will be naming a spokesperson to address the claims and set the record straight. Efforts to get a comment from the CEO of the FLA, Shane Dalling proved futile.
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