Drizzt
February 20, 2003, 10:30 AM
Baja officials destroy guns traded for food coupons in Tijuana
By Anna Cearley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
February 14, 2003
TIJUANA – A roller machine twisted and flattened rows of guns yesterday as soldiers stoked a fire where the wooden rifle handles crumbled into ash.
The destruction of thousands of weapons marked the festive end of a statewide program that encouraged residents to turn in their pistols and rifles for food coupons.
"We will never know if through this campaign a life was saved, but what we can say is that the families that gave these up won't suffer an accident at home or won't commit a crime with the firearm," said Cmdr. Victor Manuel de la Peña, who is in charge of the military's Baja California units.
A total of 5,931 guns were collected throughout Baja California, exceeding the previous year's total of 5,000.
The military collected the weapons, no questions asked. The state rewarded residents with $100 in grocery store coupons for each gun. Owning firearms is illegal in Mexico, unless people work for a law enforcement agency, belong to a sanctioned gun club or can prove they need a gun for protection.
But countless numbers of residents, concerned about their safety, get guns illegally through the black market, where most, if not all, come from north of the border.
Officials said they never expected to persuade hardened criminals to give up their weapons.
They actually started the program two years ago after noticing that growing numbers of children were being killed or injured while playing with guns at home.
Yesterday's destruction targeted 2,642 weapons turned in to the cities of Tijuana, Tecate and Tijuana. The collection, which was displayed on tables draped with white cloth, ranged from dainty, purse-sized pistols with elaborate etchings to old wooden rifles.
"We surpassed our goal . . . and in the next campaign we are confident that thousands more will be turned in," said Manuel DÃ*az, the state secretary of public security.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20030214-9999_6m14burn.html
By Anna Cearley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
February 14, 2003
TIJUANA – A roller machine twisted and flattened rows of guns yesterday as soldiers stoked a fire where the wooden rifle handles crumbled into ash.
The destruction of thousands of weapons marked the festive end of a statewide program that encouraged residents to turn in their pistols and rifles for food coupons.
"We will never know if through this campaign a life was saved, but what we can say is that the families that gave these up won't suffer an accident at home or won't commit a crime with the firearm," said Cmdr. Victor Manuel de la Peña, who is in charge of the military's Baja California units.
A total of 5,931 guns were collected throughout Baja California, exceeding the previous year's total of 5,000.
The military collected the weapons, no questions asked. The state rewarded residents with $100 in grocery store coupons for each gun. Owning firearms is illegal in Mexico, unless people work for a law enforcement agency, belong to a sanctioned gun club or can prove they need a gun for protection.
But countless numbers of residents, concerned about their safety, get guns illegally through the black market, where most, if not all, come from north of the border.
Officials said they never expected to persuade hardened criminals to give up their weapons.
They actually started the program two years ago after noticing that growing numbers of children were being killed or injured while playing with guns at home.
Yesterday's destruction targeted 2,642 weapons turned in to the cities of Tijuana, Tecate and Tijuana. The collection, which was displayed on tables draped with white cloth, ranged from dainty, purse-sized pistols with elaborate etchings to old wooden rifles.
"We surpassed our goal . . . and in the next campaign we are confident that thousands more will be turned in," said Manuel DÃ*az, the state secretary of public security.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20030214-9999_6m14burn.html