Antigua PM defends tougher firearm sentences amid judicial criticism

Antigua and Barbuda's PM Gaston Browne defended the Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2026, which imposes minimum sentences of 5-10 years on summary conviction and 15-30 years on indictment. Browne criticized attorneys and the judiciary for opposing the law, signaling a domestic political and legal clash over crime policy. The bill's passage marks a notable shift toward stricter gun control in the Caribbean nation.