Canada, Europe
Canada Lifts Restrictions, Will Sell Assault Rifles to East European Nations
Globe & Mail (Toronto)
23 Apr 2008
OTTAWA -- The Harper government is lifting restrictions on exports of automatic firearms to 11 countries, most of which are relative newcomers to NATO, a move that should be a boon for Canadian arms makers and signals greater trust in Ottawa's smaller European allies. This move expands by 50 per cent the number of countries to which defence firms can sell automatic firearms. Currently, the Automatic Firearms Country Control List allows exports to only 20 nations. The Harper cabinet quietly outlined its intentions this month in a publication of regulatory changes, saying this recognizes how important weapons makers are to Canada's economy. "The... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Dealer Armed Campus Shooters, Touts More Guns to Make US Safer
Green Bay Press Gazette (Wisconsin)
23 Apr 2008
A Green Bay-based online gun dealer linked to deadly shooting rampages on two college campuses today announced he'll sell guns at cost for two weeks in an effort to arm citizens and prevent future tragedies. Eric Thompson said his company TGSCOM will offer guns to customers April 23 through May 7 for the same price he pays for them. That could mean a savings of $100 on a $500 gun purchase, he said. "I'm not making a dime on this," Thompson said, adding that he hopes to make it easier for citizens to carry a gun to protect themselves. But a state group dedicated to reducing gun violence says Thompson's efforts may have the opposite effect. ... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Handgun Ammunition Microstamping Would Make Life Tougher for US Crims
Newsday (New York), Editorial
23 Apr 2008
In the battle against gun violence, every little bit helps. Microstamping, for instance. Last week, the Assembly passed legislation requiring gun makers to stamp codes on the firing pins of semiautomatic handguns delivered to New York dealers starting in 2010. The Senate should sign on, too. It's no crime-fighting panacea, but microstamping would enable police to identify guns by marks imprinted on the shell casings found at crime scenes. Authorities would be able to trace a gun back to its last legal owner, a lead that could help point the way to the perpetrator. Even more promising, the stamps would help police trace guns to the shops where they were... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Porous US-Mexico Border Lets Slip Guns, Gun Runners, Money Every Day
Arizona Republic
23 Apr 2008
GREEN VALLEY -- Thousands of border agents, dozens of checkpoints and hundreds of miles of barriers are set up to stop contraband and illegal immigrants getting into the United States. But little more than a chance roadside inspection stops smugglers going the other way. That imbalance shows no sign of changing soon, but it has given rise to a novel experiment under way in Pima County. There, the Sheriff's Department has set up an 11-member unit to disrupt southbound smugglers and bandits who steal drugs and hijack people coming north. The sheriff's Border Crimes Unit, established a year ago, added a second full-time squad in December. "For... ( gunpolicy.org )
|
|
