August 25, 2004

SAN JUAN - A proposal to leave federal legislation regarding the fabrication, sale and distribution of weapons without effect, currently in place in Puerto Rico, was emphatically rejected by the civil association Caribbean Justice and Peace Project.

All around the world people are demanding that Governments act firmly to control illegal weapons traffic and reduce their availability, to guarantee the protection of citizens and construct safer communities, said Wanda Colon Cortes, spokesperson for the pacifist organization established in 1973.

The increase of the loss of human life for armed violence, is clear evidence that fire arms are out of control, said Colon, lobbying the public to take a critical stance.

The proposal to not renew that ban in the federal Assault Weapons Ban that will expire next September 14, is part of a pressure campaign on the part of the weapons industry that invests millions to fund political campaigns in the United States, to guarantee the sale and export of weapons, said Colon. The most significant investment is aimed at the Republican Party, according to researchers.

In Puerto Rico an average 2 people are murdered each day and it is estimated that around the world half a million people die because of gunshots from small or light weapons.

Small and light weapons include revolvers, rifles, automatic rifles, grenades, machine guns and pistols.

The Caribbean Justice and Peace Project is part of an International Action Network Against Small Arms (IANSA) that is developing the international campaign called To control weapons.

The objective of the campaign is to denounce the lack of control in the world weapons traffic and promote the reduction of the illegal use of weapons, as well as to convince governments to establish a treaty to control the international weapons trade that will make it possible to bring down the number of dead and injured due to armed violence.

ALC News Service