14AUG24- 'New regulations for gun ownership finalized- (These Gun Regulations were first initiated by Pres Lasso back in 01 April 2023)

"In a key decision for national security , the Plenary of the National Assembly approved, in its second debate, the Law on Weapons , Ammunition, Explosives and Related Materials, with 79 votes in favor.

According to the legislature, the purpose of this new regulation is to regulate, register and control all activities related to weapons, in order to strengthen public order and state security.

Lawmaker Xavier Jurado , who presented the report and is part of the Security Commission, highlighted the importance of this law to combat the growing problem of illegal weapons in the country.

"The fight against illegal weapons that terrorize Ecuador requires regulations that support the Armed Forces and the National Police, and allow for the creation of public policies on criminalistics to get approximately 1.2 million illegal weapons off the streets ," he argued.

Jurado also stressed that "with this regulation, Ecuador will be part of international organizations in the field of control of chemical and biological substances,

as well as ammunition and weapons of all kinds, such as less lethal and electrical weapons, which were not regulated."

REQUIREMENTS FOR CARRYING WEAPONS

The text of the law also establishes strict requirements for obtaining permits for the use and possession of firearms. These include:

-Be at least 25 years old,

-Have a forensic psychological certification and a toxicological analysis endorsed by the Ministry of Health,

-Demonstrate skills in handling weapons certified by the Ministry of Defense,

-Not having a history of gender violence or violence against members of the family unit.

During the debate, several legislators expressed their opinions on the article. Otto Vera and Sandra Rueda agreed that the law does not seek to arm the population , but rather to strictly regulate access to weapons, ensuring that only qualified people can possess them.

For her part, Lucía Posso stressed the urgency of this regulation, given that "84% of homicides currently committed in the country are carried out with firearms, so it is crucial to generate rigorous control in line with the new dynamics of organized crime."

Before the law was approved, the Plenary heard in general commission Gustavo Pico, president of the

Chamber of Suppliers of the Mining Industry , who stressed that the new regulations will avoid shortages of explosives necessary for industrial and construction projects.

According to projections from the Central Bank of Ecuador, demand for these explosives could increase by 500% by 2030, highlighting the importance of effective regulation.

With this new law, Ecuador takes a step towards gun control, in a context of increasing armed violence and criminal activity in the country."

https://www.vistazo.com/politica/nacional/2024-08-14-ecuatorianos-armas-nueva-ley-asamblea-requisitos-BL7836542

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