Government

Bryan Says He Is “99.99999%” Sure He Will Sign Controversial Firearms Bill

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said Tuesday that he is almost certain to sign Bill 36-0144, the controversial firearms measure passed by the Legislature, despite a United States senator urging him to consider a veto and a recent federal appeals court ruling raising new questions over one of the bill’s key provisions. With time running down for the governor to act before the bill automatically becomes law, Mr. Bryan said the measure is necessary to reform what he described as a deficient local firearms framework. “The gun control laws in the Virgin Islands, they don’t protect the citizens, they protect the criminals, because they keep the citizens unarmed,” he declared. Bill 36-0144, sponsored by Senator Clifford Joseph, was passed by the Legislature on June 12. The measure defines and prohibits assault rifles, bans suppressors and silencers, and prohibits large-capacity magazines, among other provisions. The legislation has drawn public scrutiny and sustained criticism from local gun ri...