Deputies of the Special Commission on Security and Narco-trafficking, who are in charge of analyzing bill #20.508 on the Weapons and Explosives Law, last week approved a motion to eliminate subsection K of article #25 of that bill.

Subsection K specifically prohibits people from carrying of some semi-automatic weapons as the AK47 and AR15.

In his reaction to the elimination of that subsection, Michael Soto, Minister of Security, said this error should be corrected.

"We are very surprised by this news. I believe that this is a mistake in a country like Costa Rica that we say is a peaceful country."

Subsection K of chapter #25 says that the following weapons are prohibited, "any long weapon or any type of revolver or pistol using the calibers: 0.23- 5.56- 5.7x28 - 7 - 7.62x25 - 7.62x39 - 7.62x51 - 7.62x57 except for those weapons registered and used for the practice of sports duly accredited."

Those calibers are used in assault semiautomatics arms type AK and AR15. The bill wants these weapons to be banned since the law currently allows individuals to own weapons type AK and AR15.

The elimination of subsection K was approved by five votes in favor from deputies Zoila Rosa Volio, Otto Roberto Vargas, David Gourzong, Roberto Thompson and Gustavo Viales. The four votes against the elimination were from deputies Carolina Hidalgo, Enrique Sanchez, Harllan Hopelman and Marulin Azofeifa.

The bill #20.508 was presented by the Ministry of Security, in order to control crime. "This initiative was done analyzing the need to control crime problems and the incidence of homicides. In this project what we have tried is to implement controls, because we believe that the controls will help us in these two issues. The firearms produced the 68 percent of the homicides," said Minister Soto.

With regard to the section of the bill that would prohibit people with a police record from possessing semi-automatic weapons such as the AK47 or AR15, the deputies also had eliminated that section last week. With that action, they indirectly allowed people with police records to obtain these weapons. However, after a deeper analysis of that motion, the deputies went back and the bill was approved at night on Friday.

According to the statement issued by the Legislative Assembly, the deputies approved the following items:

- People with a criminal record cannot carry weapons.

- It is prohibited for people to enter places of medical services or educational services carrying a weapon.

- In the event that a security company closes its operations, representatives should send all firearms, ammunition, loaders, and other items to the Security Ministry for custody within six months. Failure to do so could mean a sentence of from one to three years in prison. 

- With regard to the purchase of weapons by civilians, the transaction must be formalized before a notary. The seller will report the sales transaction to the Department of Weapons and Explosives of the Ministry of Security.