No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

Homegun controlCosta Rica institutes gun control platform in face of rising homicides

Costa Rica institutes gun control platform in face of rising homicides

The government of Costa Rica has announced the implementation of a new arms control system that will track weapons from importation to sale as a way to address rising crime.

The ControlPas platform will provide authorities with information about the quantity of arms import requests, their source, permits issued, and users’ psychological profiles, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

“This project, which has been in development for more than three years, has allowed us to gain control of the arms market in the country. We’ll take advantage of this platform to continue redirecting our prevention and repression policies to improve citizen safety in our communities,” Public Security Minister Gustavo Mata said at a news conference to present the new platform.

 

He said the data from the platform will be analyzed on a daily basis by ministry personal to support the police in their efforts against homicide, assault and drug trafficking.

Costa Rica registered 603 homicides last year, an average of 12 per 100,000 people. This is the highest level in the country’s history and qualifies as an epidemic by the standards of the World Health Organization.

According to the ControlPas platform, Costa Rica has 12,452 firearms registered to individuals and another 22,616 registered to companies.

So far in 2018, 106 requests for permits to import weapons have been filed, along with 3,657 requests to register a weapon and 13,606 applications to carry a weapon, the ministry reported.

 

Trending Now

Retired Nicaraguan Army Captain Sentenced to 50 Years for Treason

A retired military officer was sentenced to 50 years in prison in Nicaragua for the crime of "treason against the homeland," his family denounced...

Why Costa Rica Feels Like a Safe Haven for This Longtime Expat

If someone asked me to sum up why I live in Costa Rica in 5 words or less, my answer could well be: “It...

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 Closing Event Bans Minors, Sparks Outrage

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 closing event, set for June 29 at San José’s Plaza de la Democracia, was thrown into controversy when the government...

Climate Change in Costa Rica Devastates Coffee Farms in Los Santos

In Costa Rica’s Los Santos region, famous for producing nearly half the country’s coffee, farmers are reeling from heavy losses driven by wild weather....

Costa Rica’s Rare Birds at Risk as Human Activity Threatens Extinction

Costa Rica’s bare-necked umbrellabird, a striking black bird with a red throat pouch and crest, is in trouble. A new study in Nature Ecology...

Panama Regains Control of Bocas del Toro After Violent Protests

Panama’s government has regained control of Bocas del Toro province after months of violent anti-government protests sparked by pension reforms, officials announced. The unrest,...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica