An alarming number of guns have disappeared recently in Costa Rica, 14,000 to be exact, and they are a danger to everyone, especially if they fall into the hands of organized crime or independent criminals. The Direccion General de Armamiento recently reported that they suspect local security companies are responsible for many of these missing firearms, reporting that security companies who have gone out of business or lost their licenses, are allegedly responsible for 8,706 missing firearms so far in 2018. They belonged to 285 companies – now defunct – and 895 whose gun permits were revoked. That’s 8,706 guns in the hands of people who possibly have no permits to have them, and either have no training in handling them, or who are seasoned criminals using them for illicit activities.
According to Eduardo Solano, Vice Minister of Security, “We can say that (these guns) are lost. The security alert nationwide has been elevated by the Security Minister, due to the danger of these weapons, and the risk of their falling into hands of criminals. We are trying to trace and retrieve them.” He added that they are also worried that these guns may fall into the hands of newly formed drug cartels here in Costa Rica.
In Costa Rica, 70% of homicides are by firearms. In 2017, there were an estimated 603 homicides in Costa Rica: 29 women, 26 minors, and the rest mostly young men.
According to the Gun Policy Organization, the number of privately owned guns held by civilians in Costa Rica in 2017 was 493,000, up from 400,00 in 2012. Costa Rica ranks 87th worldwide for firearm ownership, probably 257,369 illicit guns, up from 97,000 in 2014, but these numbers are hard to confirm.
Panama confirms that some of the missing guns may probably have been sold to security companies in Panama, where security companies have experienced strong growth recently, and firearms are perhaps more tightly controlled.
Certainly it is better that these firearms are out of Costa Rica, for the safety of all its citizens.
According to Eduardo Solano, Vice Minister of Security, “We can say that (these guns) are lost. The security alert nationwide has been elevated by the Security Minister, due to the danger of these weapons, and the risk of their falling into hands of criminals. We are trying to trace and retrieve them.” He added that they are also worried that these guns may fall into the hands of newly formed drug cartels here in Costa Rica.
In Costa Rica, 70% of homicides are by firearms. In 2017, there were an estimated 603 homicides in Costa Rica: 29 women, 26 minors, and the rest mostly young men.
According to the Gun Policy Organization, the number of privately owned guns held by civilians in Costa Rica in 2017 was 493,000, up from 400,00 in 2012. Costa Rica ranks 87th worldwide for firearm ownership, probably 257,369 illicit guns, up from 97,000 in 2014, but these numbers are hard to confirm.
Panama confirms that some of the missing guns may probably have been sold to security companies in Panama, where security companies have experienced strong growth recently, and firearms are perhaps more tightly controlled.
Certainly it is better that these firearms are out of Costa Rica, for the safety of all its citizens.
