Barbados Weighs a Domestic Terrorism Law to Fight Gun Violence

Barbados Weighs a Domestic Terrorism Law to Fight Gun Violence

Barbados · Law & Justice Key Facts New offence The Domestic Terrorism Bill, 2026 targets reckless public shootings and violent attacks that terrorize communities. Prior crime A person must first have committed a serious criminal offence to face a domestic-terrorism charge. Serious defined Offences punishable by death, by five or more years in prison, or […] The post Barbados Weighs a Domestic Terrorism Law to Fight Gun Violence appeared first on…

Lashley: Laws too weak to properly punish gun offenders

Minister of Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice Michael Lashley says Barbados’ existing laws are too weak to properly punish those who unleash gun violence

Barbados Passes Domestic Terrorism Bill

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Barbados Parliament has passed the Domestic Terrorism Act, 2026, creating a new offence aimed at penalizing violent acts in public spaces that spread fear or are motivated by bias. The bill received its first reading on Aug. 7, moved through second reading, committee, report and consideration stages on Aug. 11, and was passed the same day, according to the parliamentary record. It now awaits final procedural steps befo…

Domestic terrorism bill targets reckless shootings in public spaces

The Domestic Terrorism Bill now before the House of Assembly creates a new offence targeting reckless shootings and violent attacks in public places, which Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams declared on Tuesday was a necessary response to a changing Barbados. In today’s Barbados, he told lawmakers, disputes were no longer handled by fists and the pelting of rocks but by firearms in the hands of people who “don’t care” and who traded in the busine…

Government introduces Domestic Terrorism Bill

Government has introduced legislation targeting individuals who engage in illegal violent acts in public spaces, resulting in people entering a state of panic and shock. This is through the Domestic Terrorism Bill, 2026, which Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams introduced in Parliament today. In January this year, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley put Barbadians on notice that the legislation was coming, following a major early-morning shooting inc…