The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands has recently made a significant change to its firearms offenses law, repealing a mandatory minimum of 12 years in prison. This decision came after the law led to the arrest of several American tourists who were found with stray bullets in their luggage at a local airport. The country's parliament unanimously agreed to revise the ordinance following pressure from American lawmakers.
In response to the bipartisan congressional delegation's appeal for the release of the U.S. citizens, the law was amended just before Oklahoma resident Ryan Watson's court appearance. Watson, along with other Americans, had been charged under the previous law for having stray bullets in their bags upon arrival at the airport.
