Faced with the wave of homicides, Costa Rica wants to limit the wearing of weapons

Radio France International News from America

February 27, 2019

In the last decade, the number of homicides has increased dramatically in Costa Rica. It has reached twice the world average in 2018 with 11.7 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. Some figures that convinced the Government of Costa Rica to reform the legislation on the possession of weapons.

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Costa Rica seeks reform the law governing the size and circulation of firearms. According to a law dating from 1994, Costa Ricans can save up to three weapons on your behalf and the the government wants to reduce them to a. It also provides for better control of weapons in circulation in the country, for example punish with jail the cart without authorization. An offense that is currently sanctioned by community work.

According to the figures of the Ministry of Security, more than 5000 weapons of 280 private security companies have probably come to an end on the black market. "Studies show a direct relationship between homicides and the increased presence of weapons in the streetMany of the weapons of organized crime come from the lawful arms market, "he told RFI Enrique Sánchez, member of the Citizen Action Party.

The reform of the law would oblige the security companies to hand over their weapons to the state if they fail to sell them legally. This weapon, which includes semi-automatic weapons, would then simply be destroyed.

But what has really been debated is that it is limited to one weapon per civilian, in a country that responds more and more to insecurity by private defense. "The willingness of the Costa Rican citizen to have other instruments than those of the executive power, such as the municipal or local police, is growing, which is why we are asking the government to guarantee the peace in the face of the wave of homicides, "he told RFI Gustavo Viales, Member of Parliament Party of National Liberation.

At the same time as private security is increasing, weapons-advocacy organizations also seem to be becoming important, in a country where lobbies regulation does not exist.

The bill is still under discussion in the Legislative Assembly. The UN spoke last week against the possession of arms in Costa Rica, pointing out that "they play an important role in homicides".

Interview: Enrique Sánchez, Member of Parliament Citizen Action Party and Gustavo Viales, Member of Parliament Party of National Liberation.

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