Police May Use Firearms Against Violent Protesters in Central Mexico Hispanically Speaking News
go to original May 22, 2014

Mexico Voices Update: The barrage of criticism received by the so-called “bullet law”, forced the government of Puebla to amend the law that endorsed the use of public force against demonstrations.

Lawmakers in the central Mexican state of Puebla approved legislation that allows police to use firearms and non-lethal weapons to deal with violent demonstrations, emergencies and natural disasters.

“The police officer will solely be able to use firearms in the case of legitimate defense, his or that of third persons, due to the imminent threat of death or serious injury,” Article 7 of the legislation says.

Thirty-five state legislators, all from the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, and the National Action Party, or PAN, voted in favor, while five leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD, and Green Party lawmakers abstained.

Human rights activists have come out against the legislation, labeling it the “Bullet Law” in Twitter posts and expressing concerns that police will abuse the right to use firearms against protesters.

Read the rest at Hispanically Speaking News

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