"Guns and Ammunition For Food And Medicine" Event In Panama Next Friday

A totally futile and useless program. Only the law abiding citizens will give up their guns, or criminals upgrading to a more potent weapon. There are so many facts and studies that point out and demonstrate that more guns equal LESS crime. States in the USA that have liberal guns laws and carry permits have experienced less crime overall than states with restrictive guns laws. Examples of Chicago, Washingon, AC/DC, Filthydelphia, etc., and states such as California provide ample evidence. The academic studies of Kleck and Lott provide unassailable evidence of this.

A firearm is a tool of the trade for criminals, as instruments are for surgeons, dentist, musicians, etc. No matter how restrictive the laws are, possessing a firearm turbo charges the criminals' ability to make more money, easier and safer. Even if an illegal firearm costs many times the amount of a legal one, it is a profitable investment with great returns for the perps.

Draconian and prohibitive laws enacted in British Commonweath states eliminating all weapons possession have witnessed large INCREASES in homicide, robbery, and burglary rates. The crime of "home invasion" exploded after such laws were enacted.

Only naive, logically challenged, cognitively deficient (mentally disordered), and those with evil intentions of creating a defenseless and helpless population in the face of increasing authoritarianism and oppression by their governments advocate such a suicide pact.

Governments ban weapons from honest citizens to beget such social mayhem to perpetuate the perceived need for increased governmental police action.

Although the previous posters are right about the studies done in U.S.A., Panama is still a low population, low unemployment, relatively educated society(not mexico or El Salvador). If efforts ($$$)are put on stronger local law enforcement and large investments are made on controlling the amount of drugs going through the country we still have the chance to do without everybody having to arm themselves, like they have to do in other countries. In Canada for example most people don't carry weapons but when you call 911 the police response time in an emergency is of about 5 minutes. The murder, assault and robbery levels are low in comparison with those of similar societies that are armed to their teeth. Now the difference is that police in general are the highest paid public employees at least that is the case of Ontario. I believe that is important on improving the society in which we are living. The current government has made many improvements on infrastructure and has created new employment opportunities in the country, I was speaking with a reliable source on the higher ups of the police in Panama and even though he was not CD, the government was doing a lot to ensure the safety of the average panamenian and other residents. Let's just hope that the next government starts on healthcare and makes a big push on public education.

cheers everyone

Criminals love these brain-dead "buy-back" programs. Got a murder weapon you need to get rid of? No hay problemo! Bring it on down and trade it for some coupons, no questions asked.