United States
American Opponents of Gun Violence Endorse Obama for President
Associated Press
13 Oct 2008
WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama and Joe Biden won the endorsement Monday of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The group is named after Jim Brady, the press secretary to former President Reagan, who was gravely wounded by a gunman who tried to assassinate Reagan in 1981. Paul Helmke, the organization's president, said Obama and Biden would strengthen background checks on gun purchasers, get assault weapons off the streets and give law enforcement more tools to stop illegal gun trafficking. "The Obama-Biden ticket will work with law enforcement, gun violence victims and ordinary citizens who want to do more to protect themselves, their families... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Buyback in Buffalo, New York Collects 723 Weapons for Destruction
Buffalo News (New York)
13 Oct 2008
Buffalo's gun buyback is receiving favorable reviews from city auditors who have scrutinized data from the Sept. 27 event. In an audit that will be reviewed Tuesday by the Common Council, Buffalo Comptroller Andrew A. SanFilippo said analysts detected no serious problems with the implementation of the anti-crime offensive. Auditors wanted to make sure all weapons collected at seven sites throughout the city were accounted for, along with cash cards that were provided to people who turned in weapons. The final weapons count in the audit is slightly higher than the estimate given hours after the buyback ended. Auditors said 723 guns were collected.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Control Battle Sees US ATF Director Shut Out by Republicans for 2yrs
Associated Press
13 Oct 2008
BOSTON -- For more than two years, U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan has been consumed by the latest entry on his resume: acting chief of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Republican has been balancing both jobs while dealing with opposition to his ATF confirmation from members of his own party in the Senate. Now, with the presidential election a month away and Congress adjourned, Sullivan, 54, could soon end up unemployed. "I am going to remain focused on these two positions until the time I decide or somebody else decides it's time for me to move on to something else," he told The Associated Press. "At that point in... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Control, Brady Campaign Endorsement Might Sink Obama in Virginia
Washington Post / Virginia Politics, Blog
13 Oct 2008
The Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence announced today it is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill) presidential campaign. "Senators Obama and Biden know that we make it too easy for dangerous people to get dangerous weapons in this country," Brady President Paul Helmke said in a statement. "They know that our weak gun laws have too many loopholes, which lead to over 30,000 deaths and 70,000 injuries from guns every year." But in a state like Virginia, which his home to the National Rifle Association and more than one million hunters, the endorsement carries considerable risk. The NRA, which has endorsed GOP nominee John McCain, is already running... ( gunpolicy.org )
China
Gun Culture, Gun Crime on the Rise, But Still Officially Hidden in China
Wall Street Journal
13 Oct 2008
SHANGHAI -- China's weapons laws are among the world's toughest. Its blanket ban on private ownership of rifles, pistols and even gun replicas is a core tenet of social policy. Still, a gun culture is taking hold. China may be freer from gun crime than many nations, and official statistics show overall crime on a continuous down trend. Yet, these days, reports about gun crimes turn up as often as several times a week even in the tightly controlled state-run media. The reports are often brief, without much follow-up as cases progress. Still, the splashy gunfights, murders, gun-factory raids and smuggling busts that get reported contrast with China's zero-tolerance... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Lobby Extremism Sees NRA Attack Obama, Endorse 'Enemy' McCain
Los Angeles Times, Editorial
13 Oct 2008
'I will not take your shotgun away. I will not take your rifle away. I won't take your handgun away." Those words, intoned by Barack Obama at a Virginia campaign event in September, were a kind of incantation aimed at exorcising the ghost of Al Gore from the Democratic presidential race. Gore's favorable stance on gun control was widely seen as a key factor in his loss to George W. Bush in 2000, and it's not likely another Democrat will soon make the same mistake. Yet if Obama thought he was making any friends with the virulently pro-gun National Rifle Assn., he's out of luck. The NRA on Thursday officially endorsed John McCain, though that was merely a formality... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
In Virginia, Sarah Palin Knocks Obama for Supporting Gun Control
National Journal (USA) / Hotline, Blog
13 Oct 2008
RICHMOND, Virginia -- Gov. Sarah Palin added a line attacking her opponent for opposing gun rights Monday, while crooner Hank Williams, Jr., changed the lines of his song to fit the political event. "We believe in the forward movement of freedom, not the constant expansion of government," Palin told a crowd at the Richmond International Speedway Monday. "And though Barack Obama disagrees, that freedom includes... the rights and liberties under the Second Amendment." Palin spoke to a crowd of about 20,000 people, according to the Associated Press. A large part of the crowd in the back could not hear her and yelled "Louder" several times during the speech.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Largest US Gun Control Group Endorses Barack Obama for President
Boston Globe / Political Intelligence
13 Oct 2008
John McCain has backing from the National Rifle Association. Today, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence threw its support to Barack Obama. "Senators Barack Obama and Joseph Biden know that we make it too easy for dangerous people to get dangerous weapons in this country," Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign, said in a statement. "They know that our weak gun laws have too many loopholes, which lead to over 30,000 deaths and 70,000 injuries from guns every year. "Senators Obama and Biden know that we can reduce those deaths and injuries from guns by strengthening our Brady background check system, getting military-style assault weapons... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda, Sudan
Proliferation of Guns in South Sudan Threatens West Nile, Uganda
Daily Monitor (Kampala)
13 Oct 2008
Illicit acquisition and open sale of small arms in South Sudan capital Juba poses a threat to security in the West Nile districts, the Arua Municipality MP has said Mr Akbar Godi said today the trade could lead to formation of armed groups who could attack the West Nile districts at will. "I was in Juba three months ago and discovered that guns like pistols are sold in open markets in Sudan," Mr Godi said. "If we don't check out this, our people will fall victim to armed attacks." Mr Godi said while the presence of weapons does not directly cause conflicts, the uncontrolled proliferation and misuse of small arms in vulnerable communities may increase... ( gunpolicy.org )
Australia
Spate of Shootings Spurs South Australia to Plan Another Gun Amnesty
Australian (Sydney)
13 Oct 2008
The South Australian Government is considering a gun amnesty after a spate of shootings in Adelaide. The city's restaurant district in Gouger Street has been the scene of three shootings in recent months, including one involving rival gangs that sent diners diving for cover. Police Minister Michael Wright said today he would raise the gun amnesty plan this week with Police Commissioner Mal Hyde. He said it was hoped the plan would clear the streets of illegal, unwanted and unregistered weapons. "This one measure won't solve all of the problems but it was successful when it was last done in 2006," Mr Wright said on ABC radio. "There... ( gunpolicy.org )
India
Stray Bullet from Police Gun Range Kills Passing Farmer in Bangalore
Times of India / TNN
13 Oct 2008
BANGALORE -- A civilian was killed by a stray bullet which was fired during shooting practice at the Aralur KSRP range near Hoskote on Sunday. Subbanna (52), a farmer from Solur village, was walking towards a temple near the KSRP range in the afternoon when the tragedy occurred. He is survived by wife, two sons and two daughters. According to police, a state-level meeting was on and the police personnel who had gathered at the range were practising for the shooting competitions. "We had informed the nearby villages about the practice one day earlier and also installed several safety measures before the shooting practice. Unfortunately, this... ( gunpolicy.org )
China
Weapons Trail: A Timeline of Major Events Involving Guns in China
Wall Street Journal
13 Oct 2008
China boasts one of the world's strictest gun-control regimes. But the restrictions are increasingly being undermined by criminals, hobbyists, hunters and enthusiasts (See related article.) Timeline: 10th-12th century: Among world's first guns are Chinese-made "fire spears," an armament that employs gunpowder, an earlier Chinese invention. 19th century: Guns become more prevalent as China goes through decades of warfare and revolution. 1938: Mao Zedong declares "political power grows out of a barrel of a gun" as his Communist Red Army fights Nationalists and Japanese for control of China. 1954: The "54," or Black Star, handgun... ( gunpolicy.org )
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