Above: the Senate of Puerto Rico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico’s illegal weapons collection programme has brought in 1,056 weapons and 55,044 rounds of ammunition in less than 60 days, according to Governor Luis Fortuño.

Anyone bearing an illegal gun in Puerto Rico has a grace period until April 18 to hand in their firearms.

“The solution to this social evil is not in the hands of the government, but the people,” Fortuño said. “That is why we have recruited community and religious leaders, so that they can be the ones to spread the word door to door and urge every Puerto Rican who is considering a life of crime to stop this evil way.”

The programme is being coordinated by Puerto Rico’s police, along with non-profit and faith-based institutions authorized to assist in collecting firearms.

Puerto Rico Police Superintendent Hector Pesquera said the programme would not have been possible without the help of faith-based organizations, and that the police would continue to work with them.

“We still have much to do, but I have faith in the extraordinary capacity of our people,” Fortuño said. “We will not tolerate crime and fear governing in Puerto Rico.”