Context Homicide is a leading cause of death in Colombia, with much
of the fatal interpersonal violence concentrated in the country's largest
cities. Firearms are involved in as much as 80% of homicides in Colombia.
Objective To evaluate the effect of an intermittent police-enforced ban on carrying
firearms on the incidence of homicide in urban Colombia.
Design Interrupted time-series study with multiple replications.
Setting Cali, Colombia, during 1993 and 1994 and Bogotá, Colombia, from
1995 through August 1997.
Participants The populations of Cali and Bogotá.
Intervention Carrying of firearms was banned on weekends after paydays, on holidays,
and on election days. Enforcement included establishment of police checkpoints
and searching of individuals during traffic stops and other routine law enforcement
activity.
Main Outcome Measure Homicide rates during intervention days were compared with rates during
similar days without the intervention; estimates were based on comparisons
within the same month, day of week, and time of day.
Results There were 4078 homicides in Cali during 1993 and 1994 (114.6 per 100,000
person-years). In Bogotá, 9106 homicides occurred from 1995 through
August 1997 (61 per 100,000 person-years). The incidence of homicide was lower
during periods when the firearm-carrying ban was in effect compared with other
periods (multivariate-adjusted rate ratio, 0.86 [95% confidence interval {CI},
0.76-0.97] for Cali, and 0.87 [95% CI, 0.77-0.98] for Bogotá).
Conclusion An intermittent citywide ban on the carrying of firearms in 2 Colombian
cities was associated with a reduction in homicide rates for both cities.