Spooked by crime, Ecuadoreans train to carry guns for self-defense

Kevin Paredes, 28, poses for a photograph during a shooting class, as a growing number of Ecuadorians are learning to use firearms in the hope of protecting themselves, spurred by rising violent crime and increased gang activity, in Quito, Ecuador May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro

QUITO (Reuters) - Spurred by rising violent crime and increased gang activity, a growing number of Ecuadoreans are learning to use guns in the hope of protecting themselves from crime, four firearm instructors and their pupils said.

Dozens of people are training at the country's few shooting ranges, after conservative President Guillermo Lasso signed an April decree allowing civilians to carry guns for self-defense after completing a strict approval process.