Latin American and
Caribbean Leaders Talk
Firearms
Latin America and the
Caribbean have the
highest death rates by
firearms, according to
participants in an
international forum
sponsored by the
Panamanian Parliament.
Lawmakers and experts
from the Americas,
Europe and the Caribbean
are meeting here until
Thursday to discuss
formulas to disarm the
civilian population.
Panamanian Deputy Juan
Hernandez, who presides
over the Forum on Small
and Light Weapons, said
the goal is to fight the
proliferation of weapons
and take care of victims
in Latin America, which
is regarded as one of
the world's most violent
regions.
Hernandez informed that
more than eight million
small and light weapons
and over 16 billion
rounds of ammunition are
made in the world every
year.
He added that nearly
300,000 people are
murdered and millions
are wounded by firearms
every year.
Uruguayan Interior
Minister Daisy Tourne
noted that the
irresponsible use of
firearms has killed more
than 30 million people
since 1962.
She added that 600
million small and light
weapons are involved in
500,000 homicides every
year.
In addition, nearly 50
percent of those 500,000
victims are young people
aged 15-29.
For his part, Deputy
Government and Justice
Minister Severino Mejia
said the Executive would
submit a bill on firearm
control to the National
Assembly.
According to statistics
from the Technical
Judiciary Police, 285
murders, 70 percent of
which were carried out
with small weapons, had
been reported until
August 2007. |
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