Firearm News
Panama
Panama Destroyed 23,426 Illegal Firearms over Four Years
29 July 2022
Estrella de Panama
Entre el 1 de julio de 2019 y el 29 de julio de 2022, la Policía Nacional (PN) ha destruido 23 mil 426 armas de fuego ilegales. Las armas de fuego fueron decomisadas y recuperadas, durante diversos operativos y acciones preventivas entre la PN y el Ministerio Público en todo el país."Esta destrucción de armas es el producto del compromiso y esfuerzo de los estamentos de seguridad del país, con el firme objetivo de garantizar la paz y la sana convivencia de los... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Estrella de Panama
40703
Jamaica,Venezuela,Honduras,Trinidad & Tobago,Colombia,Belize,Mexico,Brazil,El Salvador,Guatemala,Guyana,Ecuador,Haiti,Panama,Costa Rica,Dominican Republic,Uruguay,Paraguay,Nicaragua,Peru,Chile,Argentina,Bolivia
InSight Crime's 2021 Homicide Round-Up
1 February 2022
InSight Crime
In 2021, most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean experienced a marked increase in murders. Resurgent violence was to be expected after some of the world's longest COVID-19 lockdowns were lifted.
Much of the population found themselves sinking deeper into poverty. With schools late to reopen, teenagers returned to the streets with little to do, making them prime targets for recruitment.
The pandemic also made law enforcement more difficult. Police were... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: InSight Crime
40677
Panama
Firearms involved in 75% homicides in Panama
30 January 2022
Panamaamerica
Firearms figure in more than 75% of homicides registered in the last seven years in Panama.
Firearms have become the tool with which most homicides have been committed in Panama in the last seven years. During this period, more than 75% of the homicides have been committed with this type of lethal device, according to statistics from the Public Prosecutor's Office.
From 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2021, 3,294 murders were committed, of which 2,436 were committed... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Panamaamerica
40705
Panama
Panama to Exchange Illegal Weapons for Food Stamps
13 December 2021
Tiempo (Panama)
The plan, which is an initiative of the Panamanian government and the Ministry of Public Security, was launched on Monday.
The Panamanian government on Monday launched a programme for the voluntary exchange of illegal weapons for vouchers to buy in supermarkets and shops, at a time when the country is experiencing a rise in homicides, the vast majority of which are committed with firearms.
The "Pacificando Mi Barrio" programme, which involves the exchange of weapons,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Tiempo (Panama)
40706
Panama
Panama Seeks to Curb Proliferation of Long Arms in the Country
27 September 2021
Ministerio de Seguridad Publica (DIASP)
The adoption of Resolution 048, dated 13 September 2021, seeks to prevent the proliferation of long arms in the country, as well as their detailed verification, said the head of the Institutional Directorate for Public Security Affairs (Diasp), Roger Mojica.
Resolution 048 suspends for a period of one year the importation of firearms (rifle type) with a semi-automatic firing mechanism, with the exception of .22 calibre rifles. The measure was adopted in view of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Ministerio de Seguridad Publica (DIASP)
40704
Jamaica,Venezuela,Haiti,Honduras,Trinidad & Tobago,Mexico,Belize,Colombia,El Salvador,Brazil,Puerto Rico,Guatemala,Pakistan,Panama,Costa Rica,Nicaragua,Uruguay,Dominican Republic,Peru,Ecuador,Paraguay,Argentina,Chile,Bolivia
InSight Crime's 2020 Homicide Round-Up
29 January 2021
InSight Crime
While unrest gripped much of Latin America in 2019, it was the coronavirus that took center stage and ripped through the region in 2020, upending everything from commercial trade to the operations of local gangs and transnational criminal organizations.
It's too early to tell with any degree of certainty how exactly the pandemic may have impacted levels of violence, but there were notable developments, including significant reductions in El Salvador, Guatemala,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: InSight Crime
40679
Jamaica,Honduras,Trinidad & Tobago,El Salvador,Belize,Mexico,Colombia,Guatemala,Puerto Rico,Brazil,Panama,Costa Rica,Uruguay,Dominican Republic,Peru,Nicaragua,Ecuador,Argentina,Chile,Bolivia,Paraguay
InSight Crime's 2019 Homicide Round-Up
28 January 2020
InSight Crime
Unrest gripped much of Latin America and the Caribbean throughout 2019. From record violence in Mexico that recalled the darkest days of the drug war, to increased fighting among armed groups in Colombia vying for control in the absence of the FARC and a rise in massacres in Honduras, the region was again one of the world's most homicidal last year.
In its annual Homicide Round-Up, InSight Crime looks into the country-by-country murder rates and the factors... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: InSight Crime
40680
Panama
Panama Destroyed 2,226 Firearms in 2016 [ES]
31 October 2016
Noticias Terra (Argentina)
[Translated summary: Authorities in Panama have destroyed 2,226 firearms so far this year. The guns were seized during police operations or obtained in buyback programs. Among the firearms were pistols, revolvers, shotguns, rifles, sub machine guns, carbines, pellet and homemade guns.]
Las autoridades panameñas han destruido un total de 2.226 armas de fuego en lo que va de año, que han sido decomisadas mediante requisas, hallazgos e intercambios por comida, informó... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Noticias Terra (Argentina)
40117
Panama
Police Destroy 1,036 Seized Firearms in Panama [ES]
31 October 2016
La Prensa (Panama)
[Translated summary: Authorities from Panama destroyed 1,036 firearms of different calibres on October 31. The general director of the National Police said that these guns were seized in different police operations to dismantle gangs, or because they were illegally owned by civilians.]
Las autoridades panameñas procedieron este lunes 31 de octubre con la destrucción de mil 36 armas de diverso calibre.
El director general de la Policía Nacional, Omar Pinzón, dijo... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: La Prensa (Panama)
40094
Panama
Panama Police Have Seized 1,387 Guns Since January [ES]
26 October 2016
Panamá America (Panama)
[Translated Summary: From January to October, Panama's National Police seized 1,387 firearms and 18,692 rounds of ammunition. In this cache were 15 sub-machine guns, 60 shotguns, 49 automatic rifles, 448 handguns, 347 revolvers, 37 rifles and 57 other firearms (pellet and home-made).]
De enero a octubre la Policía Nacional ha decomisado unas mil 387 armas de fuego y 18 mil 692 municiones de diversos calibres.
El informe de la Policía destaca que entre las armas de... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Panamá America (Panama)
40065
Panama
Over 900 Firearms Seized in Panama So Far This Year [ES]
3 October 2016
Crítica (Panama)
[Translated summary: Panama's National Police seized 916 firearms and 16,714 pieces of ammunition so far this year. Among the firearms there are pistols, revolvers, shotguns, rifles, pellet guns, sub-machine guns and homemade guns.]
La Policía Nacional y el Ministerio Público (MP) de Panamá decomisaron un total de 916 armas de fuego y 16.714 municiones de diverso calibre en lo que va del año, indicó hoy una fuente oficial.
Entre las armas recuperadas y sacadas de... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Crítica (Panama)
39960
Panama
Panama Police Lose 100 Military Guns, Grenades to Theft [ES]
28 September 2016
Panamá América
[Translated summary: At least 100 assault rifles, machine guns and grenades were allegedly stolen from the Institutional Protection Service, as reported by a lawyer with the Firearm Owners Association of Panama. The Association also noted that they receive between 15 and 30 gun theft complains each year, but that the police seize 1,500 in the same time.]
La supuesta pérdida de al menos un centenar de fusiles de asalto M4, ametralladoras y granadas dentro de los... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Panamá América
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Panama
400 Detained for Illegal Possession of Guns in Panama [ES]
6 June 2016
El Siglo (Panama)
[Translated Summary: Panama Police confiscated 535 firearms and arrested 400 persons for illegal possession of these firearms in the first five months of 2016. ]
La Policía de Panamá decomisó 535 armas de fuego y detuvo a 400 personas por el delito de tenencia ilícita de este armamento en los primeros cinco meses de 2016, indicó hoy una fuente oficial.
Entre los pertrechos hay pistolas, revólveres, escopetas, rifles, fusiles, sub-ametralladora y otras armas de... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: El Siglo (Panama)
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Panama
Panama Gun Owners Say Import Ban Incites Smuggling [ES]
18 April 2016
Telemetro (Panama)
[Translated summary: The Panama Firearm Owners Association claims that the current firearm import ban encourages smuggling. They say that after five years of the ban, illegal firearms are still being seized in the streets, even military weapons.]
A dos meses para que culmine la prórroga que ordenó el Ministerio de Seguridad para la suspensión de importación de armas de fuego, la Asociación de Propietarios expresó este lunes, una vez más su malestar por esta... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Telemetro (Panama)
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Panama
Ban on Firearms Imports Extended in Panama
9 July 2015
CentralAmericaData.com
From a resolution of the Ministry of Public Security:
It is resolved:
To extend the suspension of the import of weapons allowed in the country by companies duly authorized to apply for licenses from the Ministry for importing such goods. State Security and the security services of state institutions are excepted.
This Resolution is legally binding for a period of one (1) calendar month.
IT IS ADVISED that appeals in opposition to this resolution Resolved may appeal... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: CentralAmericaData.com
38838
South America,Central America,Caribbean,Cuba,United States,Russia,Nicaragua,Israel,El Salvador,Honduras,Europe,Belgium,Czech Republic,Germany,Italy,South Africa,Spain,Colombia,Mexico,Venezuela,Brazil,Argentina,Chile,Paraguay,Panama,Ecuador
Small Arms Trade a 'Dramatic Threat' to Latin America
13 October 2014
NACLA
Small arms and gun violence present the most dramatic threat to public safety in Latin America and the Caribbean. After decades of uncontrolled proliferation, at least 45 million to 80 million small arms and light weapons—that is, weapons operated by an individual or small group, including handguns, assault rifles, grenades, grenade launchers, and even man portable surface to air missiles—are circulating throughout the region.(1) Gunshots kill between 73,000 and... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: NACLA
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Paraguay,Panama,United States,Costa Rica
Costa Rica Puts Gun Permit Applications Online
1 October 2013
Tico Times
Starting Tuesday, aspiring gun owners in Costa Rica can now obtain their permits online, part of a larger trend by the government to include more services on the web.
The head of the Public Security Ministry, Mario Zamora, made the announcement at a Tuesday press conference in the western San José neighborhood of La Sabana. Zamora noted that the system will make it easier for permit-holders and will be a law enforcement tool, tracking the country's firearms.
"The new... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Tico Times
37935
United States,El Salvador,Brazil,Philippines,Jamaica,South Africa,Swaziland,Guatemala,Panama,Mexico,Colombia,Honduras
Top 12 Countries for Firearms Related Deaths
17 December 2012
Forbes (USA)
Few major nations have the right to bear arms configured in their Constitution. Even fewer (as in we are the only one) have gun control legislation as a hot button political issue. The U.S. is the most violent core economy in terms of gun related deaths. It is also the leader in gun violence at school campuses. Yet, the U.S. does not lead the world in firearms related deaths. Countries where gangs and drugs are a problem top the list, even where there is strict gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Forbes (USA)
36832
Panama,Liberia,Oman,Yemen,Egypt,Saudi Arabia,Mauritius,Seychelles,Mongolia,Djibouti,Madagascar,United Arab Emirates,United Kingdom,Somalia,Kenya
Anti-piracy Security Firms Keep Guns in Floating Armouries to Avoid Law
22 March 2012
Associated Press
NAIROBI, Kenya — Private security firms are storing their guns aboard floating armories in international waters so ships that want armed anti-piracy guards for East Africa's pirate-infested waters can cut costs and circumvent laws limiting the import and export of weapons, industry officials say.
Companies and legal experts say the operation of the armories is a "legal gray area" because few, if any, governments have laws governing the practice. Some security... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
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Costa Rica,Panama
Costa Rica Police Lost 215 Guns to Thieves, Some Found in Panama
18 February 2012
Inside Costa Rica
A total 17 of the 215 firearms stolen from the Policia de Tránsito warehouse almost two weeks ago were recovered by Panamanian police.
Jorge Rojas, director of Cost Rica's Organismo de Investigacion Judicial (OIJ) said in a press conference on Friday that Panamanian police found the guns in a house and two unidentified suspects were in custody. Police also said they found us$11.000 in cash and empty bullet clips.
Rojas said that Costa Rican authorities are in contact... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Inside Costa Rica
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