Public safety expert Daniel Pou is calling for civilians to be prohibited from owning firearms in the Dominican Republic. He said that in the last eight years, the use of firearms has left 12,793 victims. He said that of every 10 people who die a violent death in the country, six are victims of a bullet. He said that disarming the population would reduce the alarming levels of violence in the country.
Pou was referring to the report “Firearms and its Effects on Violence in the Dominican Republic.” This recent study shows that 42% of deaths by firearms are the consequence of theft, robbery, settling of scores and contract killings. 23% of the killings are linked to personal conflicts, including brawls, violent family suicides and domestic disputes.
He said that there is great circulation of firearms in the country. This increased from 30,516 in 2000 to 207,000 in 20111, up 567%. There are now an estimated 750,000 firearms in circulation in hands of civilians and military. Pou describes these levels as alarming. “There needs to be a disarmament policy. There is a direct link between the use of firearms and the increase in violence,” said Pou. He said that the Law on Commerce, Carrying and Holding of Firearms is very weak and permissive. Anyone can have a firearm here. That law is too simple, and the government entity puts revenue generation first.
He said that the perception of insecurity is what has led people to purchase firearms for self-protection. Nonetheless, he said: “Most people do not realize that possessing a firearm increases their risk of being a victim by 14%.”
He also criticized the practice by military and police agents who take their firearms home when they are not on duty: “The police should only use them when they are on duty because when they show their guns on the street they increase their own risk of being victims,” he said.
www.eldia.com.do/nacionales/2013/9/15/124585/Armas-de-fuego-dejan-mas-de-12-mil-victimas-en-RD