Honduras Bans Guns In Colon Region, But Paramilitaries Will Be Exempt

[Judi Lynn]

Source: International Business Times

Honduras Bans Guns In Colon Region, But Paramilitaries Will Be Exempt
By Palash R. Ghosh
August 3, 2012 4:41 PM GMT

Honduras, one of the most violent nations on Earth, has imposed a ban on guns in the northern coastal Colon region, a rich farming area afflicted by drug trafficking and conflicts over land.

The measure passed by the Honduran Congress prohibits civilians from possessing weapons in public, cancels existing gun permits and bans the transportation of weapons in vehicles; however, police, soldiers and private guards will still be allowed to arm themselves.

~snip~
Aaron Schneider, a professor of political science at Tulane University in New Orleans, commented that given the tidal-wave of killings in Honduras, a ban on guns is a welcome development.

However, he noted that in the Colon region, the major problem is violence sponsored and supported by the state, not necessarily weapons held by civilians.

Read more: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/370164/20120803/honduras-gun-bans-colon-drug-trafficking-land.htm

[slackmaster]

1. I think anyone who would want a gun in his or her Colon region has serious issues

[Blandocyte]

2. Talk about explosive diarrhea

or, better yet, let's not.

[rocktivity]

4. DUzy candidate!

rocktivity

[Enrique]

9. you can have my gun

when you pry it out of my Colon region.

[Judi Lynn]

11. That's o.k. You keep it. n/t

[yellowcanine]

17. Shouldn't that be "pry it out of my Cold Dead Colon Region"

[Aerows]

16. I thought the same thing

When I saw that. LMAO!

[Volaris]

3. Isn't that akin to outlawing cellphone use...

unless you're behind the wheel of a car?

I didn't click the link to the full story, so I may not have all the facts. Anyone who thinks this is the case this morning can feel free to say so=)

[dipsydoodle]

5. Or a typewriter

[harmonicon]

6. USA! USA! USA! (nt)

[davepc]

15. Go Honduras! Murder those pesants!

Over the past few years, scores of peasants and farm workers have been killed in Bajo Aguan for “squatting” on land they believe rightfully belongs to them. The government of President Porfirio Lobo has dispatched about 1,000 soldiers into the area to quell the violence, without much success.

Aaron Schneider, a professor of political science at Tulane University in New Orleans, commented that given the tidal-wave of killings in Honduras, a ban on guns is a welcome development.

However, he noted that in the Colon region, the major problem is violence sponsored and supported by the state, not necessarily weapons held by civilians.

“In Colon, state and paramilitary forces are supporting the efforts of elite landowners to expel peasants from lands occupied as a result of efforts at land reform,” he said.

“A gun ban applied to this [region] alone will address none of the murders concentrated in the urban centers of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa and will likely not be applied to the paramilitary groups who have been murdering peasant activists.”

Right wing death squads! Wohoo!

[harmonicon]

18. Oh, yeah, of course they need their guns.

It's the poor who shouldn't have guns - or voting rights. I'm just glad that US foreign policy FINALLY is supporting oppressive right-wing regimes over populist leftist elected governments in Latin America.

[4th law of robotics]

7. How is disarming the public a "welcome development" when the violence is mostly caused by the state?

If the problem is soldiers and police indiscriminately killing people what will disarming everyone *except* soldiers and police do?

[Judi Lynn]

10. That has a special strangeness to it doesn't it?

Horrific murders, assassinations, torture exploding in Honduras started after the filthy military, acting on behalf of the tiniest elite violently removed the beloved President President Zelaya.

The victims usually seem to be journalists, teachers, labor leaders, union workers, community leaders, and people seen as "political" activists, and gay men and women.

[Bacchus4.0]

14. b.s. meter alarm. the "beloved" Zelaya had a 25% approval rating.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/34139/president_zelaya_drops_to_25_in_honduras/

and violence exploded during Zelaya's presidency

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

finally, calling police and soldiers "paramilitaries" does indeed have a special strangeness.

[Odin2005]

8. Step 1 in a violent authoritarian crackdown: disarm the populace.

[Monk06]

12. Now the army and the paras don't have to worry about return fire when they're murdering people.

Oh and where are the baggers and the NRA condemning Hondurans' god given right to bear arms.

Good for me but not for thee.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Exactly. They wouldn't want leftists, or the poor armed anywhere. n/t

Last edited Mon Aug 6, 2012, 12:49 AM - Edit history (1)