Security Minister Bullrich: ‘If you want to carry a weapon, carry one’

Sparking controversy Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said Thursday that Argentine residents should feel free to “carry a weapon.”

“It’s an issue for individuals. If you want to carry a weapon, carry one. Those who don’t want to carry a weapon, then don’t carry a weapon. Argentina is a free country. We [in the government] prefer that people don’t carry weapons,” Bullrich told reporters outside a restaurant in Río Cuarto, Córdoba province.

Bullrich was speaking in the context of her support for Luis Chocobar, a police officer who faces manslaughter charges. Last December, Chocobar shot Juan Pablo Kukoc, an 18-year-old who had stabbed US tourist Joe Wolek in the La Boca neighbourhood of the capital. The scene was captured by surveillance cameras and the video of the incident has circulated widely.

“He acted to defend the people”, the minister said. “Reason and logic will determine that police officer Chocobar acted in defence of the people. It was that simple.”

“He acted like a police officer: properly. What are we going to do? Give a life sentence to a man who was defending another person?”, she pondered.