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Gun Control Policies in Latin America pp 55–96Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Gun Securitization and Gun Control Policies

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Part of the book series: International Series on Public Policy ((ISPP))

Abstract

This chapter addresses the securitization of guns and the efforts that are made to regulate their transfer, possession, and use in Latin America. It is argued that gun policies are part and consequence of a securitization strategy carried out by the small arms movement since the second half of the 1990s. From this premise, this chapter analyzes how states control gun-related activities at the international level as well as gun possession and use at the national and local levels. In order to find an equilibrium between the legitimate legal use of guns and the prevention of social harms, most Latin American countries draw from the basic premise that citizens should not be allowed to own guns unless there is a good reason to allow it. From there, gun regulations and programs vary widely, and their main differences and characteristics are discussed in-depth in the chapter next to what is known about the impact and efficacy of such policies and programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Political Science, University of the Republic (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay

    Diego Sanjurjo

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  1. Diego Sanjurjo
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Sanjurjo, D. (2020). Gun Securitization and Gun Control Policies. In: Gun Control Policies in Latin America . International Series on Public Policy . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17917-5_3

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