Ticos Arming
Themselves To Fend Off Crime
On average 370 Costa Ricans a month arm
themselves ready to fend off the ravages of
crime, mainly assaults and homicides.
According to figures by the Dirección
General de Armamento, 11.500 gun permits
have been issued in the last 31 months
(January 2007 to July 2009).
This year alone, some 2,587 people have
registered a new gun for personal use.
The majority of purchases are said to be for
the lack of security and the fear of
becoming the next victim of an assault or
homicide.
Between January and June this year there
have been 225 murders in Costa Rica. And if
the numbers continue the total for the year
will be similar to that of 2008, when there
483 murders, up from 349 in 2007.
With respect to assaults, the Organismo de
Investigación Judicial (OIJ), reported 6.500
cases for last year, while this year
(January to June) a total 3.272 cases are on
the books.
Vehicle theft is another area of concern by
most. Last year 2.500 vehicles were reported
stolen. So far this year (January to June),
the robbery section of the OIJ reports 1.100
vehicles going to the hands of car thieves.
The ministra de Seguridad, Janina Del
Vecchio, recognizes that many Costa Ricans
are choosing to arm themselves against
attacks.
However, the government is moving ahead with
reforms to limit the ownership and carrying
of the a handgun. One of the changes being
proposed is limiting the number of guns a
person can register.
The current law does not impose any limits
on the number of weapons a person can
purchase and register.
According to Del Vecchio, the reform would
limit the number of guns registered to any
one person to three. |
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