Societal Derivations for the Illegal Gun Trafficking: In Addis Ababa: Ethiopia
Pages 127-132

^{Desalegn Birara}

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2017.06.13

Published: 10 October 2017

Abstract: Gun is not allowed to buy and own for civilians in Ethiopia. There are national laws, regulations and administrative procedures that allow production, export, import, transit or retransfer of small arms which are limited to state and federal security purposes; while any other, if any, is explained by the anti-terrorists act. The law requires a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register. Nonetheless, both the anti-terrorist act and other firearm regulations, have not been successfully implemented to prevent illicit trafficking of guns and violent crimes associated with illegal gun possession. Peripheral neighborhoods in Addis Ababa prove its existence and people in these neighborhoods are found to be defenseless. Graveyards of church and jungles have been the busiest illegal gun exchange belts. The number of people involved in the different courses of action to procure guns is also considerable. This research assesses the societal apprehension to the illicit gun exchange. Residents in the village where illegal gun trafficking took place have negative impressions to it. The illegal gun exchange created fear in the residents; limited the right of people to movement; and embarrassed in many respects. Trust on police for security purposes is diminishing; because, residents understood policemen, themselves, as part of the illicit trafficking. The midnight time when people are most likely to sleep is the peak time of the gunfire. This compels to prognosticate the impending terrorism; as its opportunity of emergence and development is open.

Keywords: Gun trafficking, emerging terrorists, gun troubles, neighborhood insecurity.

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Double Expectations: Law Enforcement Workers and Dilemmas on Handling Drug Use at the Street Level
Pages 103-116

^{Rafaela de Quadros Rigoni}

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2017.06.11

Published: 20 June 2017

Abstract: This paper analyses law enforcement workers’ experiences when transforming policies for crack cocaine and heroin into practice. It focuses on dilemmas workers have and choices they make when approaching drug users. Grounded theory principles and ethnographic techniques were used to gather and analyse in depth interviews and extensive participant observations of 20 workers across the cities of Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Porto Alegre (Brazil). The comparative analysis enables to explore the impact of different socio-economic and political environments on workers’ practices around drug use. Three areas in which law enforcement workers reported to have dilemmas concern workers’ choices on how to deal with violence; choices between being tough or friendly towards users; and on defining their role on curbing public nuisance. If a first sight shows differences between the cities, in a closer look interesting similarities appear. When deciding upon approaching drug users, law enforcement workers drift between order and care approaches. At the street level, different contexts produce ambiguities and workers’ experiences question the etic reductionism in simple dichotomies of care vs. order approaches. From this closer perspective, similarities appear more clearly, as well as counterpoising perspectives to the stereotypical views of Dutch and Brazilian workers.

Keywords: Law enforcement, drug policy, street-level bureaucracy .

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