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El Salvador Has First Murder-Free Day Since 2009

Drug violence usually kills more than a dozen per day

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 16, 2012 7:57 AM CDT

(Newser) – Saturday was a banner day in El Salvador, because as far as anyone can tell, not a single person was violently killed. That may not sound like much of an accomplishment, but for El Salvador it is; the last time the country had a homicide-free day was 2009, Reuters reports. The country is plagued by drug violence, and this year has averaged about 18 homicides per day. Its UN-listed homicide rate is 66 per 100,000 people, among the world's highest.

The body of a man shot to death lies in the street as investigators work the crime scene in Guatemala City, Feb. 7, 2012.
The body of a man shot to death lies in the street as investigators work the crime scene in Guatemala City, Feb. 7, 2012.   (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
WarmWeatherGuy
Apr 16, 2012 11:16 AM CDT
If they were to legalize the drugs then drugs would cost way less and the killing would stop. Then the drug users would be dying from the drugs. That is the way it should be. They can spend the money they save on fighting the drug war and use it for education and rehab.
BrushMan
Apr 16, 2012 10:54 AM CDT
How long has it been since a day passed in the US without a murder?
Winston_Smith
Apr 16, 2012 9:19 AM CDT
Of the countries with the world's highest murder rates, four out of the top six are in northern Central America--far higher than either the US or Mexico. American press coverage tends to focus on few sensational crimes and ignore the daily reality of those countries, which can be very different from one country to the other.

 
drugs • murder • drug trafficking • El Salvador

 
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