According to a study carried out by the Safe Country Foundation, based on a transparency survey requested from Carabineros, the Investigative Police (PDI) and the Undersecretary of Crime Prevention, it revealed that in the last decade 218 young people have lost their lives, among them ages 0 and 17 due to gunshots.
These figures reflect an alarming reality. Well, 50.5% of these incidents are concentrated in the Metropolitan region, with 110 cases; 12.4% in the Biobío region, with 27 cases; and 9.2% in the Valparaíso region, with 20 cases.
“Each of these minors represents an irreparable loss for their families and communities. To visualize the magnitude of these tragedies, it is enough to imagine that the number of deceased girls and boys might fill six classrooms, form twenty soccer teams (…)” stated Alejandro Vega, director of the foundation.
In that sense, the entity explained that, despite legislative efforts (such as the improvement of law 17,798 on gun control with the additions of law 21,412 and 21,556), the sad reality is that it has not been possible to significantly reduce the number of victims.
Mothers of victims make bulletproof cotton
It is for this reason that the Safe Country Foundation, in collaboration with mothers and relatives of the victims, made the first bulletproof cotton cloth for students. In this way, they made a tactical vest with ballistic plates, adapted to the size of a child.
“This initiative is an urgent call for attention. The bulletproof cotton is a tangible manifestation of our demand to limit the entry of weapons and strengthen gun control legislation in our country,” added the director of the foundation in statements to radio ADN.
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