United States
US Police, FBI Records Show More Assault Rifles Now Used in Crime
Peoria Journal Star (Illinois)
13 Dec 2008
PEORIA -- The recent discovery of two rapid-fire, high-powered assault-style rifles in Peoria has alarmed police because they know the devastating punch they pack. And when police are worried, residents ought to be. The first gun, a knock-off version of an AK-47, was recovered Oct. 29 from a Central Peoria house as police raided the home looking for drugs. Three days later, another AK-47-type semi-automatic rifle was used against officers in a shoot-out that ended with the gunman being killed. "It doesn't get more deadly than an AK-47," Peoria police spokesman Doug Burgess said. Figures from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Thousands of Mexican Crime Guns Traced to US Just Tip of the Iceberg
El Paso Times
13 Dec 2008
EL PASO -- The recent sentencing of two men convicted of federal arms-trafficking charges represents the latest cases with ties to El Paso investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. John Avelar, 32, of El Paso and Jonatan López-Gutiérrez, 33, of Mexico were sentenced, respectively, to 37 months and 48 months in prison, after pleading guilty to their roles in a gun-smuggling scheme. The indictment against them and others listed several weapons purchased from licensed dealers in El Paso, including a .50-caliber sniper rifle, then apparently smuggled into Mexico. Investigations and prosecutions have increased significantly... ( gunpolicy.org )
Ireland
Irish Gun Enthusiasts 'Caught in Political Crossfire' of New Handgun Ban
Irish Times
13 Dec 2008
On a bitterly cold Sunday morning in the depths of rural Co Cork, a man wearing earmuffs and thick goggles lifts a heavy rifle onto his shoulder and lines up his shot. He takes aim at his defenceless target 50 metres away. He smiles as he hits his target and prepares to reload. There is no scream of pain or shock, no blood or gore in sight, no damage caused at all, really, apart from a small hole in a large sheet of white paper. The man is one of over 100 members of the Fermoy Rifle Club, partaking in what target shooters regard as a "high performance sport" and which they claim is no threat whatsoever to public safety. With all of the negative... ( gunpolicy.org )
Guatemala
Guatemalan Police Audit Reveals 2,000 Missing Guns, More to Come
Latin American Herald Tribune (Caracas)
13 Dec 2008
GUATEMALA CITY -- More than 2,000 firearms are missing from the armories of Guatemala's National Civilian Police, or PNC, the force's director says. Marlene Blanco was quoted Wednesday by the press as saying that the inventory is ongoing and that the number of weapons listed as missing could rise. Among the unaccounted-for weapons are AK-47 assault rifles and Uzi submachine guns, the PNC chief said, acknowledging that some of the missing police arms have been used to commit crimes. Blanco also said that she knew of at least one judge, whom she declined to name, who was carrying a police-issue Uzi for personal protection. The director... ( gunpolicy.org )
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