lt venezuela guns destroyed 111209
On the homepage
NewsBreak
Out There
Sunday's paper
Reusse's Turkey
Venezuela destroys more than 30,000 firearms as country struggles with soaring crime
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on Digg
Minnesota business by the numbers
See Minnesota's top earning companies, CEOs and non-profits
More from Business
CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan authorities have destroyed more than 30,000 illegal firearms as part of an effort to combat soaring crime.
The government plans to sell the demolished guns as scrap metal and donate the proceeds to a foundation that cares for children suffering from cancer.
Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami says workers used blow torches to destroy the weapons Wednesday. He says the initiative will further the fight against criminal organizations.
Violent crime is one of Venezuela's most pressing problems. The government stopped releasing complete annual murder figures in 2005, but last year the Justice Ministry said homicides averaged 152 a week, or roughly 7,900 for 12 months.
Recent Business stories
Idaho Attorney General joins fight with states, federal government on foreclosure fraud - November 12, 2009
Idaho Attorney General joins fight with states, federal government on foreclosure fraud - Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is teaming with federal regulators and 26 other states to get tough on foreclosure rescue fraud. More
- 2 charged with running $190M Ponzi scheme
- Toyota replacing some 4M gas pedals that could jam
- FDA says Cheerios health claims lack evidence
- Obama to plead US case at global warming summit
- Minnesota's banks are bruised, but healing
- No verdict; Petters jury to resume deliberations Monday
- Good news raises hopes recovery won't fizzle
Blog: Patent Pending
Lights out at U energy conference. Irony police notified.
Just as Lawrence Kazmerski, a top official at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, was about to give the keynote address at the University of Minnesota's annual E3 conference at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, the lights went out, bathing the audience in darkness and a deep sense of irony.
Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments