TRANSFORMING ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE TOOLS OF VIOLENCE

Research student Bill Godnick (pictured left), from the Department of Peace Studies, has been taking part in an arms exchange programme in Argentina to transform public attitudes towards firearms.

Bill worked with The Ministry of Justice and Security in Mendoza after they read about his work in similar gun buy-back schemes.

Bill said: "I have carried out research on disarmament programmes in Guatemala and Panama and also documented, first hand, the voluntary disarmament programme in El Salvador known as 'Goods for Guns.'

"This programme sounded like an interesting challenge because there was concrete evidence that Mendoza was negatively affected by the presence and misuse of firearms in terms of crime and public health as well as the environment.

"The exchange programme encouraged people to hand in firearms in return for goods, provided advice, and reinforced the dangers that go hand-in-hand with firearm possession and ownership."

As a result of the programme more than 2,000 guns were exchanged for foodstuffs, soccer tickets and other items. It reduced the possibility of accidents and misuse in the home and, combined with the educational campaign in the schools, also highlighted the relationship of guns and violence in the minds of thousands of youths.

Bill is using his work in Mendoza towards his PhD thesis, which concentrates on qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating the effectiveness of civilian disarmament programmes.

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