17 February 2006 – A young police officer shot and killed his girlfriend in the middle of a McDonald's restaurant in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on 16 February. He then committed suicide by turning the gun on himself. This was the sixth incident in 8 weeks of a current or former police officer in Argentina shooting dead family members, then shooting himself.

On 15 February (the day after Valentine's Day) a former police officer in Córdoba shot dead his four children aged 6-14, before killing himself.

In both incidents the perpetrator used a 9mm police pistol.

Guns are a common weapon for murder-suicide, where a perpetrator kills others, often family, and then commits suicide. It is very difficult for the victims to escape or for somebody else to intervene.

At least one commentator in Argentina has pointed out that these incidents highlight both the widespread occurrence of family violence and the culture of violence that prevails within the police.

IANSA members in Argentina are calling for stronger controls on the police use of guns, including prohibiting police from taking their guns home. Click here to read the press release from Espacios.