The U.S. Virgin Islands' Tyrannical Gun Grab: Turning Paradise into a Criminal's Playground

The U.S. Virgin Islands, a tropical haven known for its beaches and rum, is now poised to become a dystopian experiment in disarmament. Bill No. 36-0144, a draconian piece of legislation advancing through the territory's legislature, seeks to ban so-called "assault rifles," suppressors, large-capacity magazines, and more—while mandating safety training for rifle and shotgun owners and cracking down on firearm sales. This isn't just gun control; it's outright confiscation, forcing law-abiding citizens to surrender or sell their legally owned firearms to authorities or licensed dealers. In a place already strangled by some of the most restrictive gun laws in America, this bill is a blatant assault on the Second Amendment, doomed to exacerbate the islands' sky-high crime rates while empowering criminals and corrupt officials. It's not about safety—it's about control, and it's a disaster waiting to happen.

The U.S. Virgin Islands already boasts firearm regulations that make New York City look like a libertarian utopia. You can't own a gun without explicit permission from the government, a process that's cumbersome, expensive, and arbitrary. Yet, despite this iron-fisted approach, the territory suffers from one of the highest homicide rates on the planet. As of June 2025, the USVI had recorded 22 homicides in a population of just over 84,000—putting it among the most murder-plagued spots in the Caribbean and the world. Historical data paints an even grimmer picture: in 2012, the homicide rate hit a staggering 56 per 100,000 people, far outpacing most U.S. states and rivaling war zones. A 2024 study noted the islands' crime index remains alarmingly high, with gun violence as the primary concern.

These aren't anomalies; they're the direct result of policies that disarm the innocent while leaving thugs armed to the teeth. Firearms aren't manufactured in the Virgin Islands—they're smuggled in illegally, bypassing every regulation. Banning "assault rifles" (a vague term that often ensnares common semi-automatic firearms) won't touch the black market weapons fueling street crime. As one local lawmaker was told during hearings, such bans do nothing to reduce homicides—they just punish the compliant. If anything, this bill will drive more residents underground, arming themselves illegally out of sheer necessity, as Governor Albert Bryan Jr. himself admitted earlier this year.

In a stunning display of hypocrisy, the same administration pushing this bill once recognized the utter failure of the islands' gun laws. Back in January 2025, Governor Bryan publicly declared that the territory's restrictive policies had "totally failed." He advocated for opening legal gun ranges and making it easier for law-abiding citizens to license and carry firearms, arguing that most armed residents are just trying to protect themselves—not commit crimes. "The percentage of Virgin Islanders who carry unregistered weapons for reasons of ill-intent is very small," he said, emphasizing that fear drives illegal carry.

Fast-forward to now, and Bryan's nominee for Attorney General, Gordon C. Rhea, is championing Bill 36-0144, which flies in the face of those sensible reforms. Sponsored by Senator Clifford Joseph, the measure advanced out of committee despite warnings from experts and residents that it won't curb violence. If passed, it could land on Bryan's desk for a signature or veto. Will he stick to his guns (pun intended) and reject this nonsense, or cave to anti-gun zealots? The islands' residents, already living in fear, deserve better than this betrayal.

Let's not mince words: Bill 36-0144 is unconstitutional garbage, ripe for a federal court smackdown. In the wake of the Supreme Court's Bruen decision, "assault weapon" bans are crumbling across the U.S., as they violate the right to keep and bear arms in common use for self-defense. The Third Circuit, which oversees the Virgin Islands, has a spotty record on Second Amendment cases, but even they can't ignore the writing on the wall—especially with pending Supreme Court reviews.

Worse, critics rightly call this bill a racist attack on civil rights. Gun control has a sordid history of disarming minorities, from post-Civil War Black Codes to modern policies that disproportionately burden low-income communities. In the Virgin Islands, where corruption runs rampant—described by insiders as the most graft-ridden polity in America—this bill smells like an effort by elites to keep the populace submissive. Corrupt politicians fear an armed citizenry because it threatens their stranglehold on power. As one observer noted, "Corrupt politicians do not want an armed population." This isn't safety; it's subjugation.

Public outcry echoes this sentiment. Gun rights groups like the NRA and Gun Owners of America (GOA) are mobilizing, with GOA set to testify against the bill on October 9, 2025, labeling it a "gun confiscation" scheme that tramples Second Amendment rights for all Americans, including those in the territories. On social media, users decry it as "blatantly unconstitutional," warning that more laws only disarm the innocent while criminals thrive. Even locals with robust personal collections highlight the absurdity—gun owners exist in the islands, and this bill won't change that; it'll just make them criminals overnight.

Bill 36-0144 isn't just bad policy—it's a suicidal leap into deeper chaos. In a territory where homicides rage unchecked despite existing bans, adding more restrictions is like pouring gasoline on a fire. It ignores root causes like smuggling, poverty, and corruption, opting instead to strip rights from those who follow the law. Governor Bryan should veto this abomination and pivot back to his January vision: empower citizens to defend themselves legally.

If he doesn't, expect swift legal challenges. The Virgin Islands' tiny population and declining economy can't afford the court battles ahead, but gun rights advocates are ready to drag them into the 21st century. Paradise shouldn't mean defenselessness. It's time to reject this tyrannical overreach and respect the Constitution—before more blood stains the beaches.

Sources

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