Security Chiefs Called to Appear Before the National Assembly

[Keith Woolford]

Security Chiefs Called to Appear Before the National Assembly

Security Minister Alexis Bethancourt and National Police Director Omar Pinzón were summoned by the National Assembly to report on the status of insecurity and violence in the country.

Proposed deputies, Miguel Salas, Jorge Rubén Rosas, Zulay Rodríguez and Iracema de Dale prepared a questionnaire, approved by the full legislature, to be answered by the Minister of Security and the Director of the National Police.

Deputy Rodriguez stressed the importance of the investigation because "the population deserves a response on the crime rate and the deputies represent that fear of people."

The questionnaire to be answered by the authorities is the following:

1) What are the measures adopted by the security forces to reduce homicide rates throughout the country?

2) Explain if it is true that the number of gangs in the Panama and San Miguelito districts has increased and in how much, respectively.

3) Explain in detail the investigations that have been made by the country's security forces to determine what are the causes of insecurity in Panama.

4) Explain in detail the results of the Safe Neighborhood program.

5) If Panama has a weapons ban since 2010, how can we explain the great proliferation of illegal weapons in our country?

6) Please indicate whether it has been approved at a meeting of the Security Council to restrict the possession of weapons in the 16 streets of downtown Columbus; and whether it was also promised that Special Forces and two police commissioners would move to strengthen surveillance in this province. In turn, if it was promised to coordinate with the Public Prosecutor's Office the opening of a special prosecutor's office dedicated only to gang crimes in the Province of Panama and Colon. Explain in detail how the project is going.

7) How many men and women in the country's security forces are assigned to special services? Does this subtract units at the foot of force of the National Police?

8) What are the requirements for establishing a police checkpoint and what are its characteristics?

9) Deputy Rodriguez requested that her appearance be as soon as possible.

http://www.panamatoday.com/panama/national-assembly-summoned-countrys-security-authorities-5541

[JohnF13]

In regards to item 5, banning of guns, they are of course coming in over the borders. Meanwhile, law abiding citizens are being denied guns due to an alleged investigation into theft of weapons from the repository where they are kept and which, I understand, is under police control.  Some folks I know have been waiting 2 years to receive their permits for weapons that have been bought and paid for long ago.  As usual, bad guys have no problem getting guns, law abiding citizens, not so much.

[Hil]

Gun Control.

[JohnF13]

Hil, it's not gun control if the bad guys are getting all the guns they want and Joe Public is denied the same opportunity.  As a meme on another board said, we banned drugs, so now no- one takes them anymore......How's that workin'?  But here is the real rub - for $1600 I can buy a mini CNC lathe ( thank you America!) that will produce anything, in metal, from handguns to long rifles.  You can't stop this stuff.  Gone are the days of 3d printed single shot weapons.  Heck, backyard (insert Country here) metalworkers are producing AK 47's by the thousands.  It is a totally lost cause, the same as the war on drugs.

Edited October 20, 2017 by JohnF13

[Hil]

gun control should effect illegal operations, yes.