Balancing criminal policy on firearms with public safety and the limits of the right to punish.
Keywords:
Firearm possession, criminal policy, ius puniendi, minimal interventionAbstract
Within the Ecuadorian legal framework, the application of criminal law in firearm-related matters raises concerns about the proportionality of punishment and the necessity of state punitive intervention. The principle of minimal criminal intervention becomes crucial when addressing offenses that, although punishable, might be better resolved through less repressive means. Article 360 of the Organic Comprehensive Criminal Code, which addresses the possession and carrying of firearms, presents challenges regarding the extent of the ius puniendi when applied to conduct that does not involve violence or threat. This critical reflection questions whether the state is exercising its punitive power rationally and legitimately or violating the subsidiary nature of criminal law. The study advocates for a reevaluation of criminal policy grounded in a rights-based and minimal-intervention approach.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Geoconda Del Rocío García-Sánchez, Diana Elizabeth Correa-Manzano, César Elías Paucar-Paucar

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