A comment left under my El Salvador article is illustrative:
Get the Hell Outta Here!
"The pattern could be repeated in Brazil, or Mexico, or “murder capital” Honduras"
Brazil? Check. Mexico? Check. Honduras? Eh ehhhhhhhh. Honduras has LAX gun laws.
You appear to think having the highest murder rate in the world must
mean you have tight gun control, regardless of what the gun laws (or
lack of them in Honduras' case) actually are. The sooner you guys see
past this the more we might move on and find workable, long-term
solutions.
"Guiding gun control legislation in
Honduras includes the Act on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and
Other Related Materials (Decree 30 of 2000)
Guns in Honduras are
regulated by the Ministry of Defence and the Preventive Police
In
Honduras, only licensed gun owners may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a
firearm or ammunition
In Honduras gun owners must re-apply and re-qualify
for their firearm licence every four years
In Honduras, authorities
maintain a record of individual civilians licensed to acquire, possess, sell or
transfer a firearm or ammunition
Licensed firearm owners in
Honduras are permitted to possess up to five firearm
In Honduras, the law
requires that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each
privately held firearm be retained in an official register
Authorities in Honduras are known to
have implemented voluntary firearm surrender
schemes, and/or weapon seizure programmes in order to reduce the number of
illicit firearms in circulation
As a member of the Central American
Integration System (SICA), Honduras is party to the 2007 Central American
Programme on Small Arms Control and the Code of Conduct of Central American
States on the Transfer of Arms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related
Material
On 14 November 1997, as a member of the Organisation of American
States (OAS), Honduras adopted the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit
Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition and Other
Related Materials (CIFTA), a legally binding multilateral treaty of which the
OAS is depository. The CIFTA Convention has since been signed and
ratified by Honduras
The Geneva Declaration on
Armed Violence and Development, a diplomatic initiative aimed at addressing the
interrelations between armed violence and development, was signed in 2006 by
Honduras.
The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing
of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has
been signed and ratified by Honduras
On 21 July 2001,
Honduras committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt,
support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and
Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its
Aspects"
But wait, as Billy Mays used to say, there's more!
Under
Article 8 of Title II, Chapter I of the Act on the Control of Firearms,
Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials, automatic weapons of any
kind are forbidden in Honduras, as well as silencers and high-precision guns,
such as sniper rifles.
in 2003, the government passed a law banning
several types of military-issue assault rifles from private possession.
Legislative Power Decree 101-2003 gave a 90-day grace period to surrender all
weapons prohibited under Article 8, along with weapons described in the new law,
without fear of criminal or civil prosecution and provided an incentive of 1,000
lempiras (US$52.92) per weapon surrendered.
Under Decree Number 69-2007, signed into law on June 29, 2007, private
citizens were restricted to register only up to five firearms and are no longer
permitted to carry their firearms in public unless they are being transported
and in the proper manner.
Additionally, firearms cannot be carry while on a motorcycle unless the
bearer is a law enforcement officer.
The legal carry of a firearm by his owner, either apparent or
openly, is only allowed in the spaces of private property such as homes,
businesses, workshops, ranches, farms and similar only by their owners. It is
also permitted to openly carry to employees performing duties of surveillance
and security in public and private businesses, industrial, of service,
agricultural, and private security, and strictly in the assigned places and time
of employment, in compliance with the requirements of identification, use of
uniforms, and other required by this or other law.
In regards to the transport of firearms,
Article 27A, third paragraph, explains that firearms can be transported on the
streets, in public spaces or areas, public transportation and private vehicles
when:
- ...the weapon carried by his owner is kept
or contained in a case or container that does that permit its immediate
use... and,
- ...should be kept on the glove compartment
or visible storage areas in the vehicle.
In regards to openly carrying firearms in
public, Article 27A, fourth paragraph, states:
- At no time is permitted to openly carry
weapons on the streets, public areas, public transportation vehicles, public
institutions or commercial establishments, [of] industrial, of service,
recreational, and any other space where people gather, except under the
circumstances described on the first paragraph.
In regards to bringing firearms to
Honduras, Article 30 makes the possession of a firearm while in transit
through Honduras illegal and requires visitors and tourists who will engage in
hunting and shooting sport activities to register and request temporary import
permits with the Ministry of Security prior to traveling to
Honduras.
I could go on, but the point has been
made.
Aren't those the "workable long-term solutions" we're told are needed
here?
If that’s your starting point for “lax” and “lack of,” why would I want to
“move on” with you on anything?
About the only thing I agree with you on is your screen name.
