Guatemala Congress
Dithers on Arms Control
A bill aimed at
controlling firearms
sale in Guatemala is
currently stalled in
Congress, in spite of
the country's high level
of violence.
The bill was introduced
in 2004, but it has been
amended over 70 times
since then.
Although last week
leaders of congressional
parties announced they
had reached an agreement
to pass it, current
delay clearly proves
there unnamed pressures
from outside Congress.
Government bodies
recently rejected the
bill, claiming it
weakens citizens' right
to self defense faced
with the failure of the
state powers to fight
crime.
Civilian and
humanitarian
organizations are
demanding greater
control on weapons and
ammunition sales, and
the elimination of the
large black market, with
over a million pistols,
revolvers, and rifles
circulating.
There are also an
undetermined number of
homemade devices in the
hands of young gang
members.
Authorities have
admitted that 80 percent
of the over 52,000
violent deaths in the
last 12 years were
caused by firearms. |
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