Mather endorses legal guns for BVI civilians
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy “Buddha” Mather has said he believes the BVI would be safer if residents were given the proper training to carry legal firearms.
While speaking in the House of Assembly on April 10, Mather said allowing legal firearms is a plausible response to crime in the community, adding that the UK would rather complain about illegal firearms before suggesting that residents bear arms to protect themselves.
“I want to publicly say I support private citizens being armed in this country, I do. I would sleep good at nights knowing we have legal firearms versus illegal firearms. I just want to say it,” Mather stated while rejecting the new UK report that describes the BVI as a territory infested with crime and corruption.
“I would sleep better knowing you have citizens in this country, that are trained so if something breaks out, they might be able to help. Do you see anything in the report about that?” Mather said frankly while placing his hand across his chest.
While supporting legal firearms, Mather rejected the UK’s view that the BVI has a lot of crime, adding that he personally feels no fear when walking around.
He also questioned the UK’s willingness to publish a report on crime and their silence on the global threats that impact the daily lives of people in the BVI.
“Tariffs up and down the place. That orange man in the US (President Donald Trump) doing all kinds of things. Have you seen any statement from the Governor’s Office or Foreign and Commonwealth Office? Have they called to tell us to hold hands? I haven’t heard those kinds of things, people care about their daily living,” Mather stated.
All elected leaders have rejected the UK’s latest report on law enforcement agencies, which describes a culture of corruption in government. While some residents side with leaders, they believe the new report should be taken as a wake-up call for leaders to do better: sanitize their political practices and unite for the territory’s advancement.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Of course that’s the solution he’s done his homework! All the statistics show that more guns per citizen equals less violence & crime making the world a safer place. Maybe he could have a little corner gunshop at east end make our American visitors feel at home .Genius at work.
If Mather feels no fear, why is he promoting guns? If he disagrees with the allegedly high crime rate statistics simply because we in the BVIs, why are guns needed? And, why does he think that legal firearms would allow him to sleep safer? Would he prepared to shoot and kill a malfeasor entering into his home? And, what is the basis for him to think others feel the same way? Does he really want to turn the BVI into an American-style wild west?
Worth noting that having a low population (say 35,000) means that rates can get distorted. For example, in the US (10,000 times greater in terms of population), there are about 47,000 annual gun related fatalities, so an average rate of 13.4 per 100,000. Here it would take just five murders per year to exceed that rate. In 2021, seven murders were reported in the Territory, hence possibly the notion that crime rate may be high, if one interprets that crime rate refers to gun related fatalities.
This is not the US. As soon as “legal” guns are legal, the rate of gun “issues” will rise considerably, and we all know how difficult it is to get a conviction in one of these “issues” even now.
Guns of all types must stay out of the BVI.
This is a simple matter – let the people decide. Put it up for a vote. If majority want it, that is how it should be. If rejected, that is how it should be!
Absolute sausage.
The more guns, the more gun violence.
Look at the USA, more guns per capita, more violence per capita. Simple.
Keep the guns away from people and they cannot shoot.
In the US, the states that have the LEAST restrictive permitting process, including Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire (NO permit required as long as one is not a convicted felon) have among the lowest incidences of gun crime. I’m not a fan of no permit at all, but the real point is that law-abiding people owning guns are NOT the problem.
The states you listed are also small rural states that would be expected to have less crime anyway.
And your point is? The VI’s is no different than small, rural. Size & population…people kill people, not guns.
While you are at it, please order some louder mufflers for the scooter boys. It will help drowning out all the gunfire!
This man since he became a representative is behaving like a real c–t – power can show you the real side of idiots
@ C-t: you sound like a real tool. The man only saying what the ppl thinking! You is the real $ku*t! What have you done lately besides play pocket pool with under***?
Business persons, particularly those with high-value or late night/cash businesses should be able to have a legal firearm with strict requirements for training, safety etc. The criminals know that you are a sitting duck unless you have an illegal firearm like they do and the decent person would most times be the one to be caught with the gun and penalized while the criminals enjoy their rampage and freedom.
What Sleeps in the Barrel
What sleeps in the barrel is louder than truth,
It echoes through cities and silences youth.
You claim you would sleep with a gun by your bed—
But bullets don’t cradle, they cradle the dead.
You see safety in steel, not in reason or laws,
While America weeps from its gun-flooded flaws.
The streets in the States—are they calm, are they kind?
Or drenched in the blood of a freedom maligned?
They said “Arm the good,” but the line swiftly blurred—
Till churches and schools heard the last fatal word.
And mothers now clutch only echoes and air,
While leaders keep swearing they’re safer “prepared.”
You say, “Let us train them, let courage be armed,”
But what of the nights when that courage is harmed?
When rage wears a badge that no law can suspend,
When a trigger is pulled in the name of pretend?
BVI, be wiser—don’t buy into fear,
Don’t mimic a nation that buries its tears.
What sleeps in the barrel wakes always too fast,
And peace, once departed, is seldom held fast.
So holster that hope wrapped in cold metal’s gleam,
And choose not the nightmare disguised as a dream.
For freedom is never the flash of a gun—
It’s walking in peace when the setting sun’s done.
Nah I can’t support this cuz the way those parents BVI at eshs when the school pointed out y’all kids bringing drugs and knifes to school . Y’all carry on like your kids are angels
So imagine getting guns legally we going be like USA
Imagine we have high powered guns here and it’s illegal
Imagine making firearms legal
Now every gun slinger in town going get the biggest and baddest high-powered gun even easier even tho them only got license for simple handgun.
Kids going be showing off their parents guns and carry school if them got problems with other gangs or students
Y’all going give the burglar a reason to shoot y’all cuz now they know y’all have gun so more murders
Then when police can’t get it controlled y’all going blame them
Well if dpp losing case now imagine when them thing become legal
Every murder going home free plus free lawsut
Even the most sensible person can have an off day. Not a good idea where they have access to a gun. Very bad idea.
Absolutely agree with Hon. Mather. A well-regulated legal firearm system, with proper training and background checks, would not lead to an increase in crime—but a decrease. Criminals thrive when they know the public is unarmed and helpless. Knowing citizens could be legally armed would make many think twice before attempting bold, reckless acts we’ve sadly seen in the past. Empowering responsible residents is a smart deterrent—not a threat.
I’ve read some of these comments and I have to say we really do love comparing ourselves to America when all the man is saying is he wants our locals SAFER. How is bashing him or calling him power hungry helping? How is your suggestion/ opinion any better than his? This is a man you can literally walk up to and question him the SAME way you are now will ALL the points your making and I guarantee HE WILL give you an educated response. This ain’t somebody who hasn’t taken time to think about issues no is he someone speaking to just sow chaos. If you took as much time to listen to his messages as you did trying to drag him down you could pencil everything your saying and speak to him DIRECTLY on what you have issues with.
How do we go from believing in a person to bashing them the MOMENT their view oppose our own? This is the SAME behaviour that spawns gun violence in the first place but somehow he’s the one far gone for suggesting our locals have a fair chance at keeping their respective households safe right?
So, it’s these young people like he so Cindy wants us to keep electing?
I’ve read some of these comments and I have to say we really do love comparing ourselves to America, when all the man is saying is he wants our locals SAFER. How is bashing him or calling him power hungry helping? How is your suggestion/opinion any better than his? This is a man you can literally walk up and question him with the same energy you have to judge him here on the internet and I PROMISE YOU he’s going to give you an educated response. This isn’t someone who hasn’t taken time to think about an issue nor is he just speaking to sow chaos. If you took time to actually listen to his messages you can hear the passion when he speaks; whatever you disagree with he will gladly have open conversations with anyone to hear your perspective and offer his own.
How do we go from believing in a person to bashing them the MOMENT their views oppose your own? Isn’t that the same kind of behaviour that spawn gun violence in the first place? But somehow he is the on far gone for trying to give locals a fair chance at defending their respective families right?
Ya’ll missing the point. Legal gun ownership lowers crime. Currently the illegal guns vastly outnumber the legally issued guns. If we choose to live in a modern society then we should dig deep into these issues and understand the riks. The illegal gun owners have the upper hand and they know and abuse this gap. A thief will reconsider targeting businesses, homes and persons if they think that target may be packing!
We live in a society where unlike 15, 20 years ago our residents are more gun aware. We go to gun ranges (males and females) when we travel to countries that have these businesses. I love to go skeet shooting whenever I travel to the USA.
Archery, spear fishing, paintballing are all great sports/hobbies and included in the Olympics with competitive shooting. Why are we always restricting the territory? Best we get rid of the cell phone providers, internet and modern amenities and go back to the good ole days where ppl rode horse/mules and rotary phones were the hottest thing!
Sensible unpopular opinion. If a criminal is looking a target, which target is easier and more probable:
Target A: Has Cash but no gun
Target B: Has Cash and legally registered gun
Makes sense that the ones without a gun will be easier targets of criminals obviously.
PS registered guns are easily tracable, so they enforce more responsible ownership.
Thank you Hon Mr Mather
Make guns legal to carry???? I hope this doesn’t get passed before the minimum wages are raised!!!!!!
And if you talk to a man too hard, he gon say he felt threatened and stand his ground. No thank you. @Referendu, there are numerous studies that show the opposite, I don’t know where you are getting your info from. The answer is tougher gun laws not arming everyone.
He’s starting to lose it
Emphatically disagreeing here
My problem with this guy is he has spent years with youth supposedly aiming to help them and now he has no problem offering them guns to kill it each other. It makes me wonder! It sounds like an agenda his white friends would love.