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The president of EcuadorGuillemo Lasso, announced in a message to the nation that the “possession and carrying of weapons for civilian use for personal defense in accordance with the requirements of the law and regulations” was authorized.
In his address he said that this “urgent measure” is to combat the “common enemy” of Ecuador, “delinquency, drug trafficking and organized crime”.
LOOK: Political trial of the president of Ecuador: Are there the votes to remove Guillermo Lasso and what is he accused of?
In addition, he said, controls and computerized registration of weapons will be established and the manufacture, registration and possession of artisanal weapons will be prohibited. He also announced the authorization to use pepper spray for self defense.
Lasso indicated as another measure that, from now on, “The private security guards will support the national police in surveillance and security tasks, carrying their weapons around their workplaces”.
The president explained that all this is part of the “Crusade for your security” strategy, which “combines all law enforcement, armed forces, national police and intelligence.”
“For the government of Ecuador, your peace and tranquility are vital,” he said.
The announcement is made in amidst the wave of murders, attacks on public officials, an increase in extortion cases, and kidnappings that affect citizens from different parts of the country, according to local media reports.
It also occurs in the middle of the political trial that Lasso is facing for embezzlement.
Another of the measures announced by Lasso was the decree of state of exception of Zone 8, which includes Guayaquil, the largest city in the country and economic center, as well as Durán and Samborondón and that will be applied with a curfew from 1 to 5 in the morning from this Sunday.
In the case of Guayaquil, the homicide rate is 17.43 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to government data. Only in the first quarter of this year, the figure rises to 555 intentional homicides in the capital.
tailored reactions
The carrying of weapons in Ecuador has been contemplated in the legislation since the 80s, but in 2009, when Rafael Correa was president, the carrying of weapons was suspended indefinitely, but not the possession of weapons, always under legal requirements.
Since this measure was applied, in Ecuador there has been a debate about its revocation and it has intensified in recent years.
Following President Lasso’s announcement, there are several the reactions of both acceptance and rejection of the measure.
One of the first to respond critically has been precisely Strap on your social networks:
“According to a soulless inept like Lasso, the «war» is about citizen-criminals and not STATE-crime… That’s why the bearing of arms! The solution is that, with the exception of the public force, NO ONE carries weapons, starting with criminals, and that is possible. We already did it.”
In another tweet, he wrote: “Yes, some criminals will die, but you’ll see how many innocents…”
Another critic of this measure was Ramiro Ávila Santamaría, lawyer expert in human rights and who was a judge of the Constitutional Court (2019-2022).
“Civilian use of weapons sounds like multiply the possibilities of violence”wrote on networks.
Lasso added in his speech that the measure “seeks to solve the root problems,” to which Ávila Santamaría responded that “the root and the solution is to link the use of state punitive power, always exceptional, with social inclusion policies.”
On the other hand, the assembly member of the Christian Social Party Esteban Torres Cobo, described the measure as “late but positive”.
“The possession and carrying of weapons for civilians, an unfulfilled campaign promise, comes two years late, but it is positive and necessary. We are finally proven right after three years in the fight,” he stated on his Twitter account.
Although he pointed out that it “remains to be seen” whether there will be “effective controls by the authorities”, he said that the measure was “a step in this darkness”.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
