How did 20-year-old Stephen Fray get hold of his father's licensed firearm, which he later used to hijack a CanJet aircraft at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, Sunday night? That is a matter the police are still pursuing.

"The investigation will be covering a wide area," one of the senior officers from St James, told The Gleaner yesterday.

However, while the lawmen are continuing their investigations, head of the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA), Errol Strong, has expressed grave concern over the high number of incidents of licensed firearm holders losing their weapons, or carelessly leaving them around for family members to lay hands on them.

"This is something that we are deeply concerned about. The police are supposed to investigate these cases and, where there is negligence, the licensed firearm holders are to be charged under the Firearm Act," said Strong, who is a retired assistant commissioner of police.

According to Section 41(a) of the Firearm Act, any person who, being the holder of a licence, certificate or permit in respect of a firearm, losing such firearm through negligence on his part shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine of $100,000, with or with out hard labour for a term not exceeding 12 months.

Number of licensed firearms stolen since '06

2006

Private - 103; Security forces - 7

2007

Private - 80; Security forces - 18

2008

Private - 67; Security forces - 15

2009

Up to last week, 26 firearms were reported stolen.