By Marian Kupu and Nick Sas, ABC
Some of the guns confiscated by police. Photo: ABC News / Marian Kupu
Sunday is always the most peaceful day of the week in Tonga.
The church bells ring all morning and the smell of the earth oven - known as Umu in Tongan - wafts through the streets.
Tongan farmer Tevita Sanft is a church regular.
The 56-year-old travels from his home to the chapel every Sunday with his family.
It's only a short 10-minute drive, but these days a special passenger comes along for the ride.
"When I go to church, I take my guns with me," he said.
Sanft owns livestock on his small seven-acre farm. And in the past, his firearms were used solely for his work around the property.
But over the past few years, he says they've become an integral part of protecting his family.
Tevita Sanft wants more Tongans to be allowed to protect themselves with firearms. Photo: ABC News / Marian Kupu
"I feel secure having a firearm," he said.
"There have been a lot of robberies in our neighbourhood. It's getting worse every day, that's why I sleep with a gun at arm's reach."
And Sanft is not alone.
In Tonga - like most Pacific countries - guns are not a common sight. Yet sentiment is changing, and many Tongans the ABC spoke to are softening their stance on the issue.
Tonga has a longstanding connection with the United States; more than 65,000 people with Tongan heritage live in the country. Some in the community say more violent crimes and drug use in the small island nation are forcing them to take the US approach.
They're getting armed - both legally and illegally.
"We see the [gun] problem in the bigger countries," Tonga's Deputy Police Commissioner Tevita Vailea told the ABC.
"We don't want Tonga to be a part of that problem."
Tonga's Deputy Police Commissioner Tevita Vailea Photo: RNZ Pacific / Iliesa Tora
Yet, some Tongans are doing it regardless. The ABC is aware of a small underground black market for guns circulating in the community, with some families - and criminals - deciding to take matters into their own hands.
Deputy Commissioner Tevita Vailea said police were aware of the trend and were cracking down on those involved.
"In terms of allowing people to have firearms for self-defence purposes, we do not support that," he said.
"There's a link between illegal firearms and organised crime. But also, we're seeing a lot of accidents involving firearms. [There is a] lack of duty of care, and we've seen people lose family members due to accidental death."
More guns, more problems
It is not easy to legally own a gun in Tonga.
Nuku'alofa's district officer Taisi Takau told the ABC each applicant had to be a "reliable person", endorsed by a local reverend from the applicant's village, or they must have a farm or livestock.
Takau checks each applicant in the capital, to make sure they're appropriate.
"It's very important to seriously oversee each applicant, it is not something to be taken lightly."
Then it is up to the police, with the minister for police having absolute authority to accept or reject each individual's application.
Yet despite the tight checks, police say more firearms are circulating around Tonga as the black market grows.
Even Tonga's royal family has weighed in, with Prince Tu'ipelehake telling the ABC some people were over the length of time it took the government to approve firearm licences.
He suggested some people might be bringing in guns to the country not intending to break the law.
"Like most people here in Tonga, the frustration on waiting on completion of government procedures and approval for months on end might be easier to go ahead, bring it in whilst simultaneously trying to get a licence," he said.
Over the past five years, more than 2,000 illegal firearms have been confiscated and kept at the police station in the capital Nuku'alofa. Photo: 123rf/ Don Mammoser
'Insider jobs' letting guns in
Local police have cracked down on the practice.
Over the past five years, they've confiscated more than 2,000 illegal firearms, kept at the police station in the capital Nuku'alofa.
It's a large number, considering only 106,000 people permanently live in Tonga.
He said a lack of protection around its border was a problem. According to a recent report by the Lowy Institute, Tonga, along with other Pacific nations, is targeted by drug cartels as an intermediary into New Zealand and Australia.
And weapons are becoming a part of that trade, with the Tongan Attorney-General's Office revealing 70 per cent of drug raids in Tonga recover weapons.
According to Tonga's head of customs Michael Cokanasiga, insider jobs are a problem.
Last month, a customs officer was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle nine rifles, two shotguns, a pistol and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition into the country.
But with the new X-ray machines at the port, customs officers say they have confiscated more illegal firearms.
"With the machines, we can find basically anything," Cokanasiga said.
"We've recently intercepted approximately 1kg of methamphetamine, originating from the United States."
Back at Sanft's farm, he proudly wears a hat with the American flag whilst doing his chores around the farm.
For him, the equation is simple: he thinks more Tongans should own guns to help keep burglars and intruders away from their homes.
"The government should allow us to shoot intruders," he said.
"Not to kill, but just to injure, before the police arrive."
This article was originally published by ABC.
