Top prosecutor slams bill would let civilians own assault rifles

Santo Domingo.- Far from halting illegal gun trafficking thebill that regulates weapons worsens it by raising risks to the population’s publicsafety, since it will fully open a import and marketing business.

Justice minister Francisco Dominguez made the warned Tuesdayand questions an article in the proposed legislation which would allow civiliansto own assault weapons.

"We cannot allow even in exceptional cases, thatM-14, M-16 or Fal rifles, which are weapons of war, to fall into the hands for useby individual civilians, when they should be exclusively for military use"the official said in a press conference.

He said no one under 30 should be allowed to carry gunsbecause most homicides involve people aged from 18 to 22 and called for tougherprison terms of up to 40 years for murder during a robbery or burglary with a firearm.

Dominguez said the draft passed by the Lower Chamberunwittingly revives Dominican Republic’s weapons trafficking industry, whichhad been controlled by Executive Order 309-06 of July 24, 2006.

"The worst thing is that most weapons used to commitmurders, robberies and other crimes in the Dominican Republic are of legalorigin, and weapons that have been stolen from their owners, and kill ourwomen, our youngsters and many Dominicans.”