judicial

Firearm bill debated

la prensa

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Restricting people from carrying weapons, or otherwise disarming those already carrying them as a protective measure, is not the solution for reducing crime rates in the country.

That was the opinion of several La Prensa readers who responded to a recent article about a bill under review by the National Assembly that, among other things, seeks tighter controls on issuing gun licenses.

The article also reported that applications for the carrying of weapons had increased 233 percent over the last four years.

"Self-defense is a natural right, and as such, we all have the right to bear arms that allow us to effectively defend ourselves, our families, and our assets," opined Carlos Ramirez, Vice President of a recognized insurance group.

In countries such as England, Australia and Canada, where the general population has been banned from carrying weapons, the number of crimes has escalated, said Jaime Raul Molina, a lawyer and member of a civil liberties group. He added that gun control laws are ineffective because criminals ignore them anyway, leaving the general population unarmed and vulnerable.

According to Molina, it’s unacceptable to suggest that people respond passively in the face of the country’s current wave of violence.

Less than 1 percent of reported crimes are committed with legal firearms, added gun rights activist John Bennett.