another country to watch.

[raevan]

They plan to be gun free to make it safer.

Ecuador launches police operation against illegal possession of guns



The Ecuadorean government on Monday began a police operation to seize illegally-owned weapons to boost citizens' safety, Ecuador's Interior Minister Gustavo Larrea said.

Authorities will patrol highways, streets, squares and areas where crime is high, Larrea told a domestic televion on Monday.

"Illegally bearing arms is a crime carrying a sentence of up to five years in jail," he said, adding that those with illegal guns should hand the weapons over to the nearest police station.

He also said that illegal munitions factories would be searched, closed and their owners be jailed.

Larrea called on civil society groups to support the fight against crime and help build a peaceful, democratic and secure society.

Larrea's statement came after Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa launched the Ecuador Without Weapons program, following six deaths this year of minors in gun fights in coastal Ecuadorean city, Guayaquil.

Speaking on his Saturday radio show, Correa said "Ecuador is going to be a nation without guns, where our children can walk the streets in peace".

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[P95Carry]

"Ecuador is going to be a nation without guns, where our children can walk the streets in peace".

Tell that to the bad guys - who will treat a five year jail term with total disdain - like all BG's.

seize illegally-owned weapons to boost citizens' safety

I wonder how they will target illegal guns specifically, which would yes, make honest folks potentially a tad safer. There is no mention made of legal guns so - that presupposes - no guns for anyone?

The wonders of a ''gun free society'' - seems to work well in UK and Aus, to give but two examples

[TN_Mike]

I guess they figure since it worked so well in England and Australia it would work as well there.

Good luck to them is all I can say. They are going to need it.

[Miggy]

Ecuador is mimicking the "Disarmament Policy" of Venezuela. And it is no surprise since its President (Rafael Correa) is in the same intellectual & political stream as Hugo Chavez. He cannot be that dumb as to think that it will solve crime, Venezuela top murder rate in the Americas is proof of that, so he has to be doing it for the reason any government wants a tight gun control: Control its population.

[MD_Willington]

Truth is, they don't want some old codger with an Argentine Mauser popping them in the head when they are putting the people to task with one of their long winded Castro style speeches.

[Pete]

I guess they figure since it worked so well in England and Australia it would work as well there.

Good luck to them is all I can say. They are going to need it.

Mike, you know that Britain is a far safer place since they banned guns, how can you be so cynical to suggest they need luck?
They are all just fine, politely drinking tea and eating little cakes...

http://alphecca.com/mt_alphecca_archives/000904.html

[PaulG]

Tell that to the bad guys - who will treat a five year jail term with total disdain - like all BG's.

It's worse than that; they will treat the five year jail term as a long seminar to receive "bad guy" training from the pros.

[CopperKnight]

People control it is. Politicians know this. There are some honest ignorant civilians who will swallow that it is better for everyone, but people running a country know better.

[mtnfreak]

Larrea's statement came after Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa launched the Ecuador Without Weapons program, following six deaths this year of minors in gun fights in coastal Ecuadorean city, Guayaquil.

Chicago's got this place beat! Let us know when you have real problems with your gangbangers killing each other.

Authorities will patrol highways, streets, squares and areas where crime is high, Larrea told a domestic televion on Monday.

What a concept!

The Ecuadorean government on Monday began a police operation to seize illegally-owned weapons to boost citizens' safety, Ecuador's Interior Minister Gustavo Larrea said.

So, leagally owned and used weapons aren't a problem? I'm confused! I thought that was the root of the problem

Larrea called on civil society groups to support the fight against crime and help build a peaceful, democratic and secure society.

Criminals in Ecuador must not have lawyers to protect them against the 'vigilante mobs'.

[Juggernaut]

Any of you guys ever been to Ecuador? I went there elven years ago. Probably not much has changed, but Guayaquil is an incredibly densely populated area. Every store that has anything of value has armed guards with submachineguns posted around it. Try going to Burger King with two guys armed to the teeth outside the front door. The people we were staying with told us to keep the windows closed in the car because thieves would cut off fingers and hands to steal watches and rings. The mountains are better, but Guayaquil is on the same list as Atlanta, "Places I'm Never Going to Visit Again".

[Lew]

"another country to watch...

"In God we trust; All others we watch."