What effect has the proliferation of small arms and light weapons had on development in Latin America? This article, published in the NACLA Report on the Americas, reviews the multifaceted social consequences of the small arms trade. The trend of accelerating levels of crime and violence suggests that a broad-based and concerted gun control effort is needed. Gun violence is now holding back development in much of the region; fresh initiatives and the continued allocation of resources to tackling the trade will be needed to safeguard Latin America’s future prosperity.
Latin American governments have played only a mixed role in the numerous treaties, international agreements and other related initiatives undertaken by the international community. While in some cases encouraging the removal of arms from circulation, the US at the same time remains a key supplier of weapons. Opposed to participating in many international agreements and influenced by the National Rifle Association, the US is reluctant to stem its weapons exports. Although a few Latin American countries manufacture weapons domestically, imports from North America and Europe still account for the majority of small arms.
The abundance of small arms in Latin America has led to a number of a crises throughout the region. A few general conclusions can be drawn as to the trade’s workings, its consequences, and possible ways to stop it:
- The most significant and well-organised illicit arms-trafficking network is centred on the ongoing conflict in Colombia. The resulting arms race between rebels, paramilitaries, and private citizens has drastically impacted public security in the country.
- Anecdotal evidence suggests that the sea route into Central America through Panama is the major transit hub for Colombia’s illicit weapons imports. The US-Mexican border is a second major entry point; a Mexican government study suggests that 2,000 guns cross the border daily.
- Craft production of small arms – small-scale operations producing crude, handmade weapons – has been documented in Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, and El Salvador.
- Although civil wars in Latin America spurred the arms trade, gun violence has often increased after the end of formal warfare. An example is El Salvador, where the percentage of homicides caused by firearms has jumped markedly in the post-civil war period.
- Small arms are closely linked to the drug trade, both as one of its currencies and as a critical aide to cultivation and distribution.
Several policy implications stem from these assessments of the small arms trade:
- Programmes are desperately needed to tackle the issue of small-arms proliferation and misuse at international, regional, national, and local levels, with close coordination between levels. Small arms policies must seek to control the supply of weapons, to destroy stockpiles, end misuse, and manage demand.
- Governments and donors outside the region should assistLatin American countries in implementing the various treaties and agreements relating to light weapons disarmament.
- Reductions in gun violence should be seen as bolstering economic development. By combating the small arms trade, governments will benefit by lowering health care costs, increasing productivity, and spurring investment.
- Weapons collection programmes have been notably successful and should be broadened. For instance, Brazil’s National Voluntary Firearms Handover campaign resulted in the recovery of 250,000 weapons in just six months.
