Australia
Crime Busters Hail 'DNA for Guns' as Australians Solve Killings, Cold Cases
Sydney Morning Herald
7 March 2010
A process hailed as DNA for guns has helped to clear up many crimes that would otherwise remain unsolved. The NSW Police Force has lifted the lid on its integrated ballistics identification system (IBIS) which has just scored it 350th "cold hit". IBIS is an electronic database of bullets and cartridge cases collected from crime scenes or seized firearms. Using state-of-the-art lasers and microscopes, it scans the unique... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Licensed Florida Gun Dealer Loses 29 Firearms, AK-47s to Thieves
Ledger (Florida)
1 March 2010
Orlando police are asking the public for help in finding thieves who broke into a gun shop and stole firearms and ammunition. Police said Monday that last week employees of Buffalo Bills Shooting Store arrived to find the store had been burglarized. Authorities said the stolen items include 29 firearms and at least 20 boxes of ammunition. Stolen guns include a Norinco AK-47 rifle, Yugo AK-47 rifle and SKS rifle. ( gunpolicy.org )
Nigeria
Highway Robbery Gang Arrested with 16 Rifles, AK-47s in Nigeria
Vanguard (Lagos)
1 March 2010
ASABA, Nigeria -- Men of the Delta state police command have arrested a five-man gang along Patani/Ughelli road with dynamites and AK-47 rifles. State police command's spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka who confirmed the incident said that policemen on patrol duty successfully dislodged the gang before they could strike. According to him, "police command has recovered 16 assorted rifles seized from five members of the gang terrorizing... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Licensed Florida Gun Dealer Loses 29 Guns, Assault Weapons to Thieves
WDBO-TV News (Florida)
23 February 2010
When employees of Buffalo Bills Shooting Store showed up for work Tuesday morning, they found their business had been broken into - and it only went down hill from there. Sgt. Barb Jones with Orlando Police says the employees called OPD to sweep the building and make sure no one still inside. And then there was the disturbing discovery. "They noticed that several guns had been stolen," Jones said. Twenty-nine firearms... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Licensed US Machine Gun Owner Loses 13 Firearms in Domestic Dispute
Milford Daily News (Massachusetts)
9 February 2010
MILFORD, Massachusetts - A Milford man was arrested and police seized more than a dozen of his guns, including an M16 and AK47, after officers went to his home Saturday for a report of a domestic dispute. Paul A. Delaney, 45, of 48 Harvard Drive, assaulted his wife during an argument about the music being so loud that it might wake their kids in the middle of the night, police said. One of the children ended up trying to... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Kenyan TV Crew Buy AK-47 in Turkana, Easily Smuggle It Into Nairobi
Standard (Nairobi)
9 February 2010
Buying a gun and transporting the loaded weapon past numerous police checks without detection has never been that easy. This is what KTN crew proved. Reporters and a cameraman were on assignment in Turkana last week when they managed to not only buy an AK-47 rifle and bullets, but also transport it to Nairobi. The reporters said the weapon was not discovered despite checks on the road from Turkana to Nairobi. ... ( gunpolicy.org )
Lebanon
High Demand for Guns, Lebanon's 'AK-47 Index' May Be Pointing to War
National (Abu Dhabi)
3 February 2010
BEIRUT - Abu Mahdi spends most of his day sitting in a plastic chair in front of a dilapidated concrete block shack on the outskirts of Beirut's southern suburbs puffing on a water pipe and pouring coffee for a steady stream of visitors and customers that have come to examine his inventory. Two of his first customers on a cold winter morning are young fighters in their late teens from the militant Shiite movement Hizbollah who are... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
In Sweep to Seize, Destroy Illegal Firearms, Kenya Police Kill Gun Owner
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
26 January 2010
NAIROBI -- A man was killed and 13 others arrested in a police operation to recover illegal firearms in Trans Mara District. District commissioner Albert Mwiritza said police shot the man who defied orders to surrender and instead fired his gun at the officers. He said an AK-47 rifle and 16 rounds of ammunition were found on the deceased. Among the 13 who were arrested was a taxi driver who was found with nine... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Loophole Allows British Arms Dealers to Sell Deactivated Machine Guns
Birmingham Mail (UK)
25 January 2010
As long as you have the cash, you can snap up a deactivated weapon -- because the law currently classes them as metal ornaments. But those with the know-how and the tools can easily reactivate them to fire live ammunition. Guns on display at the shop have included a Russian Kalashnikov AK-47 machine gun, a British-made World War II era Sten machine gun and a German Luger hand gun. The Mail found the fearsome looking... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Pennsylvania Gun Show Patrons Far Too Honest to Traffic in Firearms
Philadelphia Inquirer
17 January 2010
They began arriving well before the 9 a.m. Sunday opening, cramming the parking lots and forcing latecomers onto snowy fields. At least half the vehicles were pickups, peppered with road salt and bearing such bumper stickers as "Don't blame me, I voted for McCain" and "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." When the doors to the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center finally opened, they stepped inside and paid $5 to attend... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States,Jamaica
New York Traffickers Ship AK-47s, Submachine Guns, Pistols to Jamaica
Gleaner (Jamaica)
14 January 2010
With 14 days into the new year, the island's security forces have seized more than 1,000 assorted rounds of ammunition and at least 27 illegal firearms, including four high-powered weapons and a number of semi-automatic pistols. The cracks in the existing security system at Port Bustamante were tested on Monday, when a Jamaican connection in New York sent a shipment containing 12 illegal guns and more than 700 rounds of ammunition.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Boy Killed in Georgia Church by NYE Celebratory AK-47 Bullet
Sydney Morning Herald
5 January 2010
A four-year-old boy has been killed by a falling bullet that was fired into the air during New Year's Eve celebrations in the US. Marquel Peters was playing a video game inside a church in the state of Georgia when the bullet pierced the roof and hit him in the head, local media reported. He collapsed on the floor alongside his parents, bleeding, and was taken to hospital where he died. "I saw his Nintendo game... ( gunpolicy.org )
Australia
Illegal Guns Seized Frequently as Australian Police Turn Up Heat on Gangs
ABC News (Australia), Transcript
30 December 2009
Hundreds of illegal guns have been seized in Australia recently in a police crackdown on organised criminal groups such as bikie gangs. The confiscated guns range from rifles to pistols. Just where are the guns coming from? Police can't say for sure but there are several likely sources. Brendan Trembath prepared this report. BRENDAN TREMBATH: Police wrap up a raid in the New South Wales southern highlands. Twenty-five... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
California Felons Found with AK-47, Handguns, Drug and Ammo Cache
San Jose Mercury News (California)
29 December 2009
Specialized teams of Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies swarmed in on a pair of felons, finding in one San Jose home guns, ammunition and piles of drugs with a street value of more than $120,000, a sheriff's spokesman said. Sheriff's Sgt. Rick Sung said the arrests came Sunday morning, after an investigation led them to Philip Straley, 46, in San Jose, and Matthew Colangelo, 34, in Campbell. Inside Straley's home, deputies... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
13 Firearms and a Parrot Stolen From a South Beach Apartment
Miami News Times
29 December 2009
Michael Beasley hobbled up the stairs leading to his second-floor apartment near the southern tip of Miami Beach. On the way home from Haulover Park, the 60-year-old Jacksonville native had purchased a couple of burgers for himself and his beloved green Amazon parrot, Seaweed. Then something startled Beasley. His front door had been pried open. Normally, Seaweed would squawk the greeting, "Hey, how ya doing?" But this time there... ( gunpolicy.org )
South Africa
Six Dead, Three Injured in Kenyan Christmas Assault Rifle Ambush
Cape Times (Capetown)
26 December 2009
Six people were killed and three others injured on Friday night when three men armed with R5 and AK-47 rifles entered a Ngwane house and opened fire, Kwa-Zulu Natal police said on Saturday. According to National Police Commissioner, Bheki Cele, the gunmen entered the house at 11.30pm. "A group of 11 friends were enjoying themselves when the three men entered. They simply opened fire on the group," said Cele. Those... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Cache of Assault Weapons Stolen, Owner Arrested for Illegal Possession
Contra Costa Times (California)
24 December 2009
CONCORD, California - Intruders took a small cache of assault weapons from a house this week, and police made an arrest. The only man they arrested, however, was the homeowner -- for having the weapons in the first place. Police were called to a home in the 1600 block of Allegro Avenue about 2 a.m. Wednesday after getting reports of a home invasion, said police Lt. Garrett Voerge. A roommate told officers that... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Man Tests Tennessee Law, Totes 'Assault Weapon' in Park, Free to Go
WSMV-TV News (Nashville)
22 December 2009
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Hikers using the trails at Radnor Lake State Park encountered a man dressed in military garb with an altered AK-47 strapped to his shoulder, according to park rangers. Ellen Thomas told Channel 4 News she was hiking the upper trails Sunday when she encountered the man. "He was wearing military boots and a black skull cap," she said. "He didn't look like the friendliest of guys. It... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Civilians, Reservists Surrender Assault Weapons in Kenya Gun Ban Drive
Kenyan Broadcasting Service
21 December 2009
Residents of Iisiolo district have surrendered 177 assault rifles to the government in a bid to beat the amnesty period deadline. Security personnel have in the past two weeks also recovered 7,939 rounds of ammunition from civilians while Kenya police reservists have handed back 217 guns issued to them by the government. Isiolo DC Mr. James Mwaura commended the residents for surrendering illegal firearms and expressed optimism... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Race to Smuggle, Buy Assault Weapons as Kenya Pastoralists Re-arm
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
20 December 2009
NAIROBI, Kenya -- The demand for automatic weapons in Turkana, Samburu and Pokot has created a huge market and this could explain the recent arms seizures in the country. Fuelled by persistent droughts, the arms race among the pastoral communities in Northern Kenya has intensified in the last decade with almost 95 per cent of households said to own a firearm. A two-decade study of the three communities says that by the... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Philadelphia Man Regrets Trafficking, Wants Gun Dealers Accountable
Philadelphia Inquirer, Column
20 December 2009
Reading my colleagues' recent investigation, "Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied," you may have noticed a theme in the criminal cases that stall and die in Philadelphia's crazy court system: guns. Specifically, guns that their owners had no earthly right possessing, given their age or rap sheets. Today, I introduce you to a guy who put guns in criminals' hands. I'll call him "Jerome," because now that he's served 4½ years... ( gunpolicy.org )
South Africa
Police Seize Illegal Firearms in Conflict-ridden Greytown, South Africa
Mercury (Durban)
15 December 2009
Although 16 unlicensed firearms were recovered in Greytown at the weekend, police believe stability has returned to the conflict-ridden town since the temporary deployment of the National Intervention Unit in June. Police Captain Thulane Zwane said the unit had been deployed after a series of violent incidents before and after the general elections. Several people, including IFP and ANC councillors, were shot and killed... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Man Sprays AK-47, Kills 12yr-old boy Trick or Treating, Gets Minimum
Associated Press
14 December 2009
Quentin Patrick will spend at least the next 16 years in prison because the convicted drug dealer, paranoid of being robbed, answered a Halloween knock on his door with a barrage of bullets from an AK-47, killing a 12-year-old South Carolina boy. But the 16-year, eight-month sentence handed down Monday was just 20 months more than the minimum Patrick could have faced after pleading guilty to a federal charge of being a felon in... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Spate of US Cop Killings Belies 21% Reduction in Gun Deaths Since 1973
Associated Press
12 December 2009
NEW YORK -- A police officer is gunned down in his patrol car in Penn Hills, Pa., while waiting for backup. Near Seattle, four officers starting their day at a coffee shop are ambushed by an ex-con with a handgun. Another four officers are shot to death in Oakland, Calif., after a traffic stop gone awry. Across the nation, 2009 was a particularly perilous year for officers involved in gun disputes. The number of officers killed... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Refused a Drink, Gun Owner Shoots Up US Restaurant with AK-47
WMUR-TV News (New Hampshire)
7 December 2009
LYNN, Massachusetts -- A New Hampshire man has been accused of opening fire on a restaurant in Massachusetts with a high-powered assault rifle. Authorities said Anthony Gobbi, 30, of East Wakefield, N.H., fired an AK-47 into the restaurant's ceiling as patrons ducked for cover. Police said Gobbi became enraged when bartenders at the China Lion restaurant refused to serve him alcohol, believing he was drunk. Police... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Virginia Gun Dealer Loses AK-47, 18 Handguns, Thieves Rob Each Other
Daily Press (Virginia)
4 December 2009
YORK -- York investigators have tied more people to a June gun shop burglary and subsequent home invasion in which a suspect in the burglary was shot and the stolen weapons pinched a second time. Charges now pending against two York County boys, aged 15 and 16, bring to three the number of people implicated in the June 11 burglary of the Winfree Firearms shop on Route 17 in Grafton. In that theft, 18 handguns, a semiautomatic AK-47-type... ( gunpolicy.org )
Philippines
More Leaked Military Guns Found in Maguindanao Massacre Probe
Manila Bulletin
4 December 2009
The noose further tightened on neck of the embattled Ampatuan clan as authorities discovered on Thursday a cache of high-powered firearms and ammunition near the family residence in Maguindanao which officials said is enough to arm a battalion of security forces. Director General Jesus Verzosa of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said subsequent raids conducted Friday on the houses of four members of the Ampatuan family, including... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Soldiers Arrested, Jailed for Theft of 20 Zimbabwe Army AK-47s, Shotgun
Sunday News (Zimbabwe)
30 November 2009
Police in Harare have arrested four suspects in connection with the theft of 21 firearms at the Zimbabwe National Army's Pomona Barracks last month. One of the suspects was last Friday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment while all the firearms -- 20 AK-47 rifles and a shotgun -- were recovered at their respective homes in the city. Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka confirmed the developments yesterday.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Jamaica
AK-47 Killing, Helicopter Gun Battle, Cops, Undertakers Shot in Jamaica
Radio Jamaica, Transcript
30 November 2009
There is a strong police/military presence in the volatile Canterbury community in St. James, which was the scene of several gun battles on Sunday. The series of incidents began unfolding just before when a group of men chased a construction worker along King Street into a gully and shot him several times. The men tried to escape in a waiting car but crashed into a wall when they were intercepted by the police. They... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Drive-by AK-47 Killer Another Iraq Veteran from Notorious US Army Unit
Colorado Springs Gazette
18 November 2009
A jury today found a Fort Carson soldier guilty on all counts in a pair of drive-by shootings that left two people dead and one injured. The eight-woman, four-man jury took nearly seven hours to find Jomar Falu-Vives, a 25-year-old Iraq war veteran, guilty of first-degree murder in the June 6, 2008, deaths of Amairany "Mayra" Cervantes, 18 and Cesar Ramirez-Ibanez, 20. The couple was placing garage sale signs in their southeast... ( gunpolicy.org )
Russia,China,Pakistan
Russia Confronts Pakistan, China Over 'Illegally' Copied AK Assault Rifles
United Press International
16 November 2009
HONG KONG, China -- At a press conference held during an international exhibition of defense equipment in Turkey last summer, a Russian military delegation harshly criticized the Pakistan Ordnance Factories Company for copying Russian weapons systems. The Russians claimed that the POF's RPG-7P anti-tank rockets, 122-mm D-30 howitzer ammunition and PK-10 assault guns were 100-percent imitations of Russian systems. The PK-10 assault... ( gunpolicy.org )
Russia,Venezuela,United Nations
Ten Countries Apply to Build Kalashnikov Assault Rifle Producing Plants
RIA Novosti (Russia)
10 November 2009
MOSCOW -- Ten countries have applied for licenses to construct plants to produce Kalashnikov assault rifles, a deputy CEO of Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said Tuesday. Rosoboronexport is currently fulfilling a 2005 contract to build a Kalashnikov plant in Venezuela. "In the past few years, ten foreign states have applied to Russia for the creation of facilities on their territories to build licensed Kalashnikov... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Politicians Said Trafficking in Illegal Guns, Bangladeshi Woman Arrested
New Nation (Dhaka), Editorial
8 November 2009
The president of the female wing of the Kushtia District Awami League was arrested along with some others by the police the other day with firearms including one AK-47 rifle. There have been noted some other arrests of females on charges of possession of unauthorised arms. The seizure of unauthorised arms is nothing very surprising. For the last two decades, the numbers of unauthorised arms being either produced in local clandestine... ( gunpolicy.org )
Thailand,United States,Russia,Colombia
Documents Shed New Light on Viktor Bout 'Merchant of Death' Arms Deal
Washington Times
5 November 2009
Newly obtained documents prepared by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) describe an elaborate sting operation to capture purported weapons trafficker Viktor Bout in Bangkok and America's current appeal to extradite him to New York. However, the documents, made public recently, do not confirm that Mr. Bout had access to the weapons or where the arms and ammunition were located. Mr. Bout, a Russian citizen, has... ( gunpolicy.org )
Belize
Police Find Abandoned, Loaded AK-47 in King's Park, Belize City
7 News Belize
4 November 2009
Police on an operation found a machine gun along with live rounds at a north side residence this morning. The weapon is an AK-47 with 7 live rounds. Police are tight-lipped but the head of Eastern Division David Henderson promised to provide more details after a few more pieces of the investigation fall into place. ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Soldiers 'Arrested, Tortured, Killed' After Theft of 20 AK-47s in Zimbabwe
SW Radio Africa (London)
2 November 2009
A group of soldiers were allegedly arrested recently, for reportedly stealing weapons from an army barracks in Harare. The Zimbabwe Times said 13 soldiers are accused of stealing 20 AK47 rifles and three shotguns from the armoury at Pomona Barracks. The Zimbabwe Times named the detained soldiers as: Sungiso Musa, Darlington Kanyingwe, Nyaruwata Lawyers, Charles Muzondo, Dzingai T Chibutwaka, Stanley Mvindwa, Chamunorwa Chinyere,... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
South Carolina Gun Culture's Dark Side Filled With Death, Horror, Grief
State (South Carolina)
1 November 2009
SUMTER -- Last Halloween, when Tony "T.J." Darrisaw happily ran up to a single-story house in Sumter, he was met by a burst of fire from one of world's deadliest weapons -- an AK-47 assault rifle. T.J. died instantly, a bag of trick-or-treat candy in his hand and more than a dozen bullets in his body. The AK-47 was set on fully automatic. It was, in effect, a machine gun. T.J. was 12 years old. His death... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Kenya 'A Nation on a Timebomb' of Illegal Guns, Death Penalty Mooted
Standard (Nairobi)
1 November 2009
More than 130,000 guns are in the wrongs hands. The Government and experts are unanimous the country is sitting on a time bomb, which could explode any time. Head of the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons David Kimaiyo warns the problem could reach unmanageable levels. "We have to address this issue once and for all, otherwise it might end up causing a serious social, economic and political problem,"... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
California 'Gun Collector' Gets Prison Term for Illegal Machine Gun Sales
Contra Costa Times (California)
30 October 2009
A federal judge sentenced a 69-year-old Crescent City man this week to serve 18 months in prison for illegally dealing machine guns. According to a press release from the United States Attorney's San Francisco office, Donald E. Nuss pleaded guilty in June to illegally dealing in firearms, admitting selling five machine guns over a one-year period. According to the release, Nuss also admitted to converting two semi-automatic rifles... ( gunpolicy.org )
Russia,China
Russia, China Near Copyright Deal to Licence Kalashnikov Production
RIA Novosti (Russia)
22 October 2009
KLIMOVSK -- Russia is working to reach an agreement with China on copyright protection of Kalashnikov assault rifles, the head of Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said Thursday. "We have received China's national patent for Kalashnikov products. The documents have been handed to the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation to prepare and conclude an intergovernmental agreement in the field," Anatoly Isaikin... ( gunpolicy.org )
South Africa
More AK-47 Robberies, Shootings in South African Shopping Malls
Times (South Africa)
22 October 2009
Despite police promises to curb shopping mall robberies, there have been at least three armed heists in the past week -- including a large-scale assault on Menlyn Retail Park, in Pretoria. In the latest incident, a security guard was injured and a shopper had a close encounter with death. The drama began at 9am yesterday when at least 12 armed men simultaneously robbed a jewellery store and a bank in the mall. Police... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Florida Republicans Proudly Proclaim Politics at Assault Weapon Shoot
Sun-Sentinel (Florida)
11 October 2009
HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida -- Armed with handguns and AK-47 and AR-15 assault rifles, the members of the Southeast Broward Republican Club abandoned the usual community center for their club meeting this week, and gathered at a gun range where they fired bullets instead of political bombshells. The aims, said club president Ed Napolitano, were to have fun, educate club members who were new to shooting -- and send a political message.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Registry Exposes Bogus AK-47 Tale, 4 Rhode Island Men Charged
Providence Journal (Rhode Island)
10 October 2009
A man who walked into the South Kingstown police station with a loaded AK-47 assault rifle is one of four men being charged or sought after a two-week investigation, the police said Friday. Mark A. Smith, 51, of Dam Street, turned in the rifle Sept. 24, saying he'd been driving on Route 108 near the Meadowbrook Apartments around 9 a.m. when he saw two boys about 12 years old playing army with the gun. He told the police that he... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Texas Gun Owner 'Didn't Mean To' Shoot Wife in Face, Kill Her with AK-47
Houston Chronicle (Texas)
8 October 2009
A Pasadena man who is in custody for fatally shooting his wife at their home during an argument early this morning said he accidently fired an assault rifle at her. The couple's 8-year old son was at home at the time of the shooting, but was not injured, police said. It's uncertain if the child witnessed the shooting. The shooting happened about 2 a.m. at the couple's home in the 500 block of Burke. Charges against the... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Influx of Illegal Guns as Kenyans 'Rearm for Ethnic Arms Race, 2012 Poll'
BBC News
7 October 2009
Rival ethnic groups in Kenya who fought after the 2007 election are rearming in readiness for violence at the 2012 poll, a BBC investigation has found. It is feared villagers in Rift Valley province are moving from traditional weapons such as spears to machine guns. Government officials insist they are tackling the influx of illegal arms. But they have been widely criticised for failing to punish the ringleaders... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Home Invaders Target Michigan Gun Collector, Family, Steal 50 Firearms
Observer & Eccentric (Michigan)
7 October 2009
Information is being sought about four gunmen who reportedly robbed and terrorized a Westland family in their home for two hours. About 50 collectible guns along with an unspecified amount of cash and jewelry were reported stolen from the home located in the area of Ford and Newburgh on Saturday, Sept. 26. "The family was tied up and gagged. They are scared to death, they didn't want this to be public," Westland Sgt. Kevin... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Government Must Do More to Seize, Destroy Illicit Guns in Uganda
Monitor (Kampala), Editorial
7 October 2009
President Yoweri Museveni on Monday torched a huge pyre of 3,500 illegal guns at the opening of the East African Peace and Security conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo. This is not the first time that thousands of such small firearms are being destroyed. In 2006, a total of 57,000 guns and small arms were smelted at the Steel Rolling Mills in Jinja. Only a year earlier, the government had destroyed 3,000 guns at Nsambya Primary... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Owning an Assault Weapon Could Soon Be a Hanging Offence in Kenya
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
6 October 2009
Owners of illegal guns and police officers who rent their firearms to criminals could soon face the death penalty. Law enforcement agencies are pushing for tighter gun control and have proposed a raft of tough measures to be discussed by the Cabinet soon. These include an amendment to the Firearms Act, the law governing the legal ownership of guns. According to the latest proposals contained in the National Policy... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Political Candidate Launches Campaign with Assault Rifle Giveaway
Greenville News (South Carolina)
25 September 2009
A Greenville man plans to launch his political campaign for adjutant general Saturday by giving away an AK-47 assault rifle. Dean Allen, 58, said he will give away the rifle in a free sweepstakes open to all. He said it's his way of celebrating the Second Amendment and showing solidarity against gun-rights opponents. The winner will receive a gift certificate, Allen said. To take possession of the gun, the winner will have... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Man Takes Loaded AK-47 from 12yr-olds on Street, Delivers to Police
Providence Journal (Rhode Island)
25 September 2009
SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The police say they are investigating the origins of an AK-47 rifle which a man brought loaded into the police station Thursday morning, saying he had taken it from two boys he had seen playing with it. The rifle's attached banana clip held 16 rounds of ammunition. A police report identifies the man who brought it in as Mark A. Smith, 51, of Dam Street. The report says Smith initially "refused to elaborate... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Depressed Kansas Mother Had AK-47, Handgun, Shot Her Two Boys
Wichita Eagle (Kansas)
24 September 2009
WICHITA -- Carolyn Richardson struggled with anxiety and depression, and had trouble communicating with her boys -- and those issues converged in a violent way Wednesday morning, Wichita police said. A day after a brief confrontation left two sons wounded and their mother dead, Lt. Ken Landwehr offered this account of what happened: Richardson's 16-year-old son awoke shortly before 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, walked into the living... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Machine Guns, AK-47s in 'Arsenal' Seized from Santa Barbara Homes
Daily Sound (California)
22 September 2009
Authorities over the weekend busted one of the largest illegal weapons rings in city of Santa Barbara history, seizing 13 guns, including eight fully automatic AK-47 assault rifles that officials say are used for one purpose: to kill. The raid, known as "Operation Apehanger," unfolded at 8 a.m. Saturday when more than 100 officers from federal, state and local agencies simultaneously stormed seven homes in the city, making 12 arrests.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Sudan
Gun Seizures Could Spark Further Violence in South Sudan's Juba
IRIN (UN News)
22 September 2009
JUBA -- The recent campaign by the Southern Sudanese authorities to seize illegal arms has yielded a "fearsome arsenal" of weapons, but critics warn that forcible disarmament could spark further violence. Security forces launched the campaign in the Southern capital of Juba on 9 September, with police and soldiers searching houses for illegal weapons. "This is the first step we have taken to collect the guns from the people,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Russia, United States
Kalashnikov Faces Bankruptcy as Knock-offs Outsell AK-47s Ten to One
Globe & Mail (Toronto)
21 September 2009
For years, the AK-47 assault rifle has been the world's most popular weapon, the gun of choice for dictators, gang members and Third World revolutionaries. But the global recession and a proliferation of copycats has left the Russian maker of the Kalashnikov, OAO Izhmash, in financial turmoil. Monday, a court in Russia said it will consider a bankruptcy application filed against Izhmash by a supplier owed more than $13-million... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Kentucky Barbershop's AK-47 Giveaway Promotes Sales, US Gun Lobby
WLKY-TV News (Kentucky)
18 September 2009
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky -- Get a haircut, get a chance on an AK-47 rifle; that's the offer from a Louisville barbershop. The shop owner said he's just trying to raise awareness to the right to bear arms, but the gun promotion is drawing fire. A customer at the Okolona barbershop will win a Romanian made AK-47. Everywhere you look around the shop, you can tell it is a pro-gun atmosphere, from the hats to the mounted... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Private Gun Sales OK, But Maine Should Insist On Background Checks
Portland Press Herald (Maine), Opinion
15 September 2009
Recently, Karen D'Andrea, the new director of Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence, wrote an impassioned letter to the editor detailing the need for background checks for all gun purchases. Unfortunately, her letter was given the erroneous headline, "Private sales of guns shouldn't be permitted." This is exactly the false and misleading rhetoric the gun lobby uses to scare people away from supporting sensible gun laws. Requiring... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Ohio AK-47 Owner Shoots Up Street, Hits, Injures 2 Police, Kills Himself
Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
13 September 2009
Some of Jason Farnsworth's neighbors knew he had a handgun. John Bauman, who moved in two doors from Farnsworth in May, said a neighbor told him about the gun to reassure him after they had a conversation about crime in the area. "He told me, 'If worse comes to worst, Jason's got a gun.' " Police think Farnsworth used that handgun Monday afternoon to shoot an officer behind the N. 4th Street apartment building,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Africa
Guns in Africa Out of Control as Governments Fight to Stem the Flow
Economist
10 September 2009
NAIROBI -- The UN reckons there are some 500m small arms in circulation around the world. At least 70m are Kalashnikovs. The Soviet-designed automatic assault rifle, the Avtomat Kalashnikova, was first manufactured in 1947 (hence its commonest version, the AK-47). Its compactness and durability have made it Africa's killing weapon of choice since the 1980s, despite its inaccuracy. These days, the continent has all of the score of Kalashnikov... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Ohio Gun Owner Shot 2 Police with Assault Rifle, Handgun, Killed Himself
Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
9 September 2009
Cops call it a "go bag." It's a duffel they can grab in a heartbeat, one that contains water, first-aid supplies, extra ammunition -- some of the essentials needed to stay alive if an officer is caught in an extended gunfight. "It's designed for the long haul, for the long battle," said Sgt. Rich Weiner, a spokesman for the Columbus Division of Police. That might, police believe, say something about the mental... ( gunpolicy.org )
India
Saddled with Home-made Assault Rifles, Indian Army Wants New AK-47s
Times of India
7 September 2009
NAGPUR -- The indigenous 5.56x45mm Insas (Indian National Small Arms System) rifle has been the standard assault weapon for the Indian Army since the late 1990s. However, the jawans using it in counter-insurgency operations find it ineffective. As part of the new Army doctrine, the gun is meant to incapacitate the enemy, rather than kill. Insas has a smaller calibre, which means it has less power. This is because -- and it's the... ( gunpolicy.org )
Ukraine, United Kingdom, Africa
UK Investigates Murky AK-47 Deal Linking Ukraine, Mystery African Nation
Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
3 September 2009
Once again, nation's reputation takes a hit after arms allegedly end up in an outlaw African nation facing an international arms embargo. The United Kingdom government is investigating a British arms broker in a sale of light arms originating from Ukraine to an undisclosed country under international embargo. Although no claims have been filed against Ukraine so far, the country is implicated in improper licensing procedures of... ( gunpolicy.org )
Afghanistan
Taliban Moving from AK-47 to AK-74 to Penetrate NATO Body Armour?
Wired (USA), Web page
2 September 2009
One way of finding out what sort of weapons the Taliban favor is to go the usual military route: examine captured arsenals and look for shell casings after a firefight. Or you could just go and talk to the man who apparently sells them their weapons, as Guardian reporter Ghaith Abdul-Ahad recently did. The results were highly instructive. Abdul-Ahab talked to a man named Hekmat, formerly a shopkeeper but now a wealthy smuggler.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Hidden-camera Gun Show Study Documents Illegal US Crime Gun Sales
KTXL-TV Fox News (California)
2 September 2009
SACRAMENTO -- Using undercover pictures and video, a UC Davis School of Medicine report says that gun shows are an important source for guns used by criminals. Dr. Garen Wintemute of the school's Violence Prevention Research Program went to 78 gun shows throughout the country documenting the private sales of guns at gun shows. His pictures and videos show men walking gun show floors with signs around their necks advertising the... ( gunpolicy.org )
Mexico
8 Killed with Assault Rifles in Mexico Party Town, Drug Cartel Stronghold
BBC News
30 August 2009
Eight people died when gunmen opened fire on a crowd partying in a Mexican coastal town, police say. The shooting took place in a boulevard in Navolato, Sinaloa state, said to be a popular weekend gathering place for young people. Local media said most of the victims were aged between 15 and 20. Sinaloa, which lies on Mexico's northern Pacific coast, is a drug trafficking hotspot and a stronghold for the notorious... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Law Abiding Gun Owners, Politicians Spray US Town with Machine Guns
Grand Rapids Press (Michigan)
23 August 2009
EVART -- When Rudolph Tuten and his wife heard machine guns firing near their home July 18, they did not expect the bullet that hit the side of the garage. "We thought the war was over here," said Tuten, who was standing in the backyard when a bullet pierced the vinyl siding. "All of a sudden: Kaboom! It could have killed someone. " The bullet came from a shooting demonstration more than a mile away on a farm owned by Kent... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Support US Veterans' Families, Educate a Marine: 'Buy an AK-47*' Promo
New York Times / At War, Blog
18 August 2009
You read that right. This week Arsenal Inc., an American manufacturer of Kalashnikov-style rifles, is beginning a promotion that will use proceeds from gun sales to try raising $250,000 to help families of American service members killed or wounded overseas. For at least several weeks, for every Kalashnikov that Arsenal sells, the company pledges to donate $50 to New England Warrior, a small nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Thailand, United States, Russia
'Merchant of Death' Viktor Bout Wonders Why the US Wants Him So Badly
Bangkok Post
16 August 2009
In a series of exclusive interviews, Viktor Bout talks to the press outside Russia for the first time about his arrest in Bangkok and the failed effort to extradite him to the US After the surprise court ruling in Bangkok last Tuesday when the United States was denied the extradition of Viktor Bout, the man they have dubbed the Merchant of Death flashed a "V" for victory sign as he was led in leg irons and an orange prison suit... ( gunpolicy.org )
Jamaica
Three of Nine Jamaican Gunmen Killed in Early Morning AK-47 Shoot-out
Jamaica Gleaner
15 August 2009
Police in St Elizabeth were kept busy up to late yesterday, as they traded bullets with approximately nine gunmen in the Lacovia area for hours. Three of the gunmen have been shot dead while two AK-47 rifles and 27 live rounds were recovered. Late last evening, police say they were only able to release the name of one of the dead men as Alric Green, alias 'Bulla'; 'Scar Face' and 'Bun Up', 35, of Dry Harbour, Lacovia. He... ( gunpolicy.org )
Thailand, Russia, United States
Thailand Rejects US Request to Extradite Russian Gun Runner Bout
Associated Press
12 August 2009
BANGKOK -- A Thai court on Tuesday rejected a U.S. request to extradite a Russian arms dealer who allegedly sold weapons to dictators and warlords around the world, raising the prospect that he could be freed by the weekend. The unexpected ruling in favor of Viktor Bout was welcomed by Russia. The United States, which had mounted the sting operation that led to his arrest at a Bangkok hotel, said it was "mystified" by the court's... ( gunpolicy.org )
Thailand, United States, Russia
Thailand Blocks US Attempt to Extradite Global Gun Trafficking Suspect
New York Times / International Herald Tribune
12 August 2009
BANGKOK -- A Thai court stunned American officials here on Tuesday by rejecting the extradition of Viktor Bout, a Russian businessman who is accused of global arms trafficking. Viktor Bout was escorted from a courthouse in Bangkok on Tuesday after a judge refused a request that he be extradited to face arms trafficking charges in the United States. The United States says Mr. Bout agreed to sell millions of dollars worth... ( gunpolicy.org )
Thailand, United States, Russia
Thai Court, Russian Suspect, US Disbelief as Global Gun Runner Walks
International Herald Tribune
12 August 2009
BANGKOK -- A Thai court stunned U.S. officials here on Tuesday by rejecting the extradition of Viktor Bout, the Russian businessman accused of global arms trafficking. Mr. Bout, the inspiration for the 2005 Hollywood film "Lord of War," was arrested in a March 2008 sting operation at a hotel in Bangkok after allegedly agreeing to sell millions of dollars worth of weaponry to undercover U.S. agents posing as rebels from the Revolutionary... ( gunpolicy.org )
Thailand, Russia, United States
Russian 'Merchant of Death' Defies US Attempt to Try Him for Gunrunning
Guardian (UK)
11 August 2009
Had Hollywood not already fictionalised Viktor Bout's extraordinary life in the arms-dealing blockbuster Lord of War, events today might have provided a fitting closing scene and set it up nicely for a sequel. For in front of a febrile media throng, a grinning, mustachioed Bout, 42, allegedly the world's biggest gunrunner, flashed a victory sign as he sauntered from a Bangkok court after a Thai judge refused to extradite him to... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Missouri Car Dealer Offers Free AK-47 With Every Truck: No More Trucks
Times (UK)
8 August 2009
Enterprising retailers in the US are rushing to offer the ultimate in discount vouchers -- a free AK47 assault rifle with every purchase. Max Motors, in Butler, Missouri, has run out of pick-up trucks after word got out of its offer of a complimentary semi-automatic weapon with every vehicle. The success of the promotion prompted a Harley-Davidson dealer and a boat and tractor dealer to set up similar offers. Mark Muller,... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Crime Boss Prayed Before Spraying Rival's UK Home with Assault Rifle
Press Association (UK)
6 August 2009
A Muslim "crime boss" who organised a drive-by shooting in which a Cambridgeshire house was sprayed with bullets from an automatic assault rifle prayed shortly before the attack was carried out, it was alleged in court. Drug dealer Matthew Carpenter placed a prayer mat on the floor of a hotel at which he was staying and prayed before a masked gunman riding pillion on a motorcycle opened fire on a semi-detached house in Fulbourn,... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US NRA 'Dedicated to the Cause of Making Everybody Loony' on Guns
New York Times, Column
1 August 2009
Plaxico Burress, the former football star, appeared before a grand jury in Manhattan this week to explain how he came to carry a concealed weapon into a nightclub. Burress, you may remember, had cannily tucked his loaded pistol into the waistband of his sweatpants when he went out for a night on the town. The gun started to slip, as objects in waistbands are wont to do. When he grabbed it, he accidentally shot himself in the thigh. ... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Increasingly Brazen Assault Weapon Shootings Chill Boston Police
Boston Globe
30 July 2009
The gang shoot-out that rained gunfire and smoke on a quiet Dorchester street this week disturbed police on many levels: the seemingly new height in disregard for neighborhood safety, the fact that a 12-year-old girl watching TV inside a nearby house was shot through the leg. But even more alarming: At least one of the weapons used in the gunfire was an AK-47 assault rifle, the fourth time in three weeks that one had been found... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Maine Buy-Sell Guide Dumped for Encouraging Interstate Gun Running
Maine Public Broadcasting Network
27 July 2009
Uncle Henry's Weekly Swap or Sell It Guide can be found in thousands of homes throughout northern New England, but trying to buy a copy in Massachusetts has just gotten a little more difficult. That's because the Boston Herald has stopped distributing the magazine over Uncle Henry's gun sale policies. Under pressure from law enforcement and anti-gun violence groups, the Herald became convinced that guns advertised in Uncle Henry's... ( gunpolicy.org )
Pakistan
Insecurity Generates High Demand for Guns in Pakistan's Arms Bazaar
Islam Online (Qatar)
26 July 2009
PESHAWAR -- Darra Adamkhel, a small, dusty town that consists of one main street with some alleys all lined with shops and workshops, is one of the most famous and unique bazaars in Pakistan and its restive tribal belt. It is the place where anyone can buy weapons made by the local population who are able to manufacture exact replicas of any kind of gun in the world. "We can copy any kind of arms, even a rocket launcher,"... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Boston Herald Ditches Classifieds Which Aid Interstate Gun Traffickers
Boston Globe
24 July 2009
In Maine, Uncle Henry's Swap or Sell it Guide is best known as a folksy compendium of thrift: a cheap way to buy puppies and snowmobiles directly from their owners. But in Boston's inner-city neighborhoods, the classified ad catalog's firearm section -- a black-and-white list of AK-47s, Rugers, and Glocks -- serves as another link in the illegal gun trafficking chain, according to community activists. Next week, the pastel-colored... ( gunpolicy.org )
Pakistan
Pakistan Gun Violence Cause of Soaring Prices for AK-47s, Ammunition
Agence France Presse
22 July 2009
PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- The price of a Kalashnikov assault rifle is soaring as militant groups and private militias mushroom in an increasingly battle-torn northwest Pakistan, arms dealers and buyers say. Civilians too, frightened by the upsurge in violence and citing a lack of government protection, are also forking out to arm themselves with a weapon that has come to symbolise violent struggle the world over. Easy to use,... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Missouri Truck Dealer Offers AK-47 with Each New Vehicle Purchase
USA Today
17 July 2009
A Missouri truck dealer hopes to reverse a nationwide slide in sales with a catchy offer: An AK-47 with every new truck purchase. The website for Max Motors of Butler, Mo., features a drawing of the Soviet-made assault rifle and an animated cartoon character wielding two handguns against the backdrop of a waving American flag. Mark Muller, owner of Max Motors, is upgrading an earlier sales gimmick in which he offered new... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
What Assault Weapon Ban? Loopholes Have Weakened California Law
San Luis Obispo New Times (California)
15 July 2009
On paper, California has among the strictest prohibitions of assault weapon-style guns in the nation. First passed in 1989 in response to a mass murder of elementary school children involving an AK-47, the state law bans the sale of weapons with certain militaristic features and bans other weapons and parts specifically by name. The law has been vilified by gun enthusiasts and heralded as an example to the nation by gun opponents.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Ugandan Security Guards, Police, Soldiers Rent Guns for Armed Crime
Monitor (Kampala)
11 July 2009
KAMPALA -- With cotton wool in both his ears and one of his eyes covered with a plaster, Mr Jim Twebaze, 25, is fighting for his life. The clinic bed has become his home for a month now. "Pain is all over my body. My right eye can't see and blood is oozing from my ears. I fear that I may lose my hearing ability," Mr Twebaze said. He has also undergone a surgery in his abdomen. Mr Twebaze's injuries and suffering was inflicted upon... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Sales Soar in America Amid Fear of Obama, Assault Weapon Ban
Telegraph (UK)
11 July 2009
MEMPHIS -- President Barack Obama may never have fired a gun but he is turning out to be one of the best firearms salesmen in American history. "I've sold probably four times as much in the last six months as I have in 20 years combined," said Cliff Hunter, owner of Tommy Bronson Sporting Goods in Memphis. "Hand guns and the tactical weapons, they're absolutely off the charts." Most of his gun sales used to be for hunting,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Papua New Guinea
Industry Watchdog Worries About PNG Security Guards Shooting Wildly
Post-Courier (Port Moresby)
10 July 2009
The Security Inspection Authority (SIA), the body in charge of looking after security companies operations in the country has raised concerns about the use of firearms by security companies. Alphonse Krau manager for licensing enforcement in SIA, yesterday expressed his concern and that of the authority that many firearms, especially high powered ones allowed by the firearms and licensing arm of the police themselves, had been abused.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Ban Assault Weapons: They Turn Mean Streets Into Killing Fields
Miami Herald
8 July 2009
Miami Police Chief John Timoney is not one to shy from a fight. He's found a formidable adversary in the National Rifle Association. In remarks on the carnage wrought by a gunman shooting up a large group of party goers, some of them also armed, in Overtown early Monday morning, Chief Timoney noted that one of the guns used was an AK-47. "This is Washington's problem," said Mr. Timoney, referring to the federal ban on the... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Fear Over Obama's Gun Laws Sparks Massive Rush to Pack a Pistol
Sunday Herald (Scotland)
7 July 2009
NEW YORK -- Last summer, the National Rifle Association ran adverts claiming that Barack Obama would "ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns" if elected. The campaign didn't do much for John McCain, but in every other respect it has been wildly successful: NRA membership is up 30% and gun control has disappeared from the administration's list of priorities. Americans have gone on an extraordinary gun-buying spree.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Alarm as Assault Rifle, 'AK-47' Shootings Spread Even to Rural Louisiana
Houma Today (Louisiana)
7 July 2009
HOUMA -- When police responded to a shooting that wounded a 30-year-old man this weekend, officers were alarmed by the crime as well as the shell casings left at the scene. Police aren't sure of the exact weapon that fired the bullets, but they suspect they came from an AK-47, a high-powered assault rifle rarely used in local shootings. More than a dozen casings were found scattered on Canal Boulevard, where the shooting... ( gunpolicy.org )
Russia, United Nations
Born on 6 July, 1947: The AK-47 Assault Rifle, an All-Purpose Killer
Wired (USA)
6 July 2009
1947: The AK-47, one of the world's first operational assault rifles and probably the most durable and enduring small-arms weapons ever made, goes into production in the Soviet Union. More than 60 years later, it remains the standard infantry weapon in numerous armies, and a mainstay in the arsenals of rebels, drug traffickers and terrorists worldwide. The AK-47 was the brainchild of self-taught inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov, the... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
12 Youths Shot as Florida Birthday Party Erupts Into AK-47 Gang Battle
Miami Herald
6 July 2009
Twelve people were shot shortly after midnight Monday when gunfire erupted at a birthday party in Overtown. Several people are now in the hospital, some barely clinging to life, as Miami police search for three shooters responsible for the mayhem that occurred at 12:45 a.m. outside a home in the 500 block of Northwest Fifth Street. Some at the block party were gunned down as they ran. Others were shot as they sipped their... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Shoot 'em Up on the Fourth; Regular 4 July Machine Gun Shoot in Florida
Hernando Today (Florida)
4 July 2009
CHASSAHOWITZKA -- They wore earplugs and had to scream over machine gun fire, but that didn't stop a couple of gung ho firearms enthusiasts from swapping a few jokes. "Is this what July 4 is all about?" one guy screamed to another. "If I heard (Thomas) Jefferson correctly, he said do this every 4th of July!" he answered. Seconds later, someone fired off 100 rounds from a custom-made, chopped-down, .223-caliber... ( gunpolicy.org )
North Korea, Myanmar, United States
Gun Running North Korean Freighter Turns Tail from Myanmar
BBC Worldwide Monitoring / Yonhap (South Korea)
4 July 2009
SEOUL -- The North Korean freighter that changed course after being tracked by the U.S. Navy appears to be carrying conventional small arms, including Soviet-era rifles and anti-tank launchers, a source said Saturday. "Most of its consignments are believed to be small-scale military supplies such as AK-47 rifles and RPG-7 anti-tank rocket launchers," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the information has... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Gun Dealer Tells His Story After 3 Years' Jail in Zimbabwe Under Mugabe
SW Radio Africa (London), Transcript
3 July 2009
Violet Gonda: My guest on the programme Hot Seat is Michael Peter Hitschmann who was released from jail on Thursday. The former police constable was initially arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe at his birthday celebration in Manicaland in 2006. He served a total of 40 months for possessing dangerous firearms without a licence. I spoke with the firearms dealer on the day he was released and first asked... ( gunpolicy.org )
Ireland
To Beat Ban, Irish Gun Dealers Sell Off Fake AK-47s, Assault Weapons
Connacht Sentinel (Galway)
30 June 2009
Exact replicas of deadly handguns and AK47s are being flogged at knockdown prices by dealers in Galway ahead of a limited ban, which is expected to be introduced by the Dáil shortly. Discounts of up to 50 percent are being offered on highly realistic Glock pistols and sniper rifles by retailers before restrictions are imposed on the sale and use of the items, in an effort to 'beat the ban'. There are fears that the delay... ( gunpolicy.org )
Thailand, Russia, United States
Russian Gun Runner in Thai Extradition Case Says US Agents Broke Law
New York Times
30 June 2009
BANGKOK -- Viktor Bout, the Russian businessman and suspected arms trafficker facing possible extradition to the United States, is pursuing what his lawyer calls a rare legal procedure that accuses American officials of overstepping their jurisdiction during a sting operation here last year. The procedure could delay the extradition process and, if successful, result in criminal charges filed against three agents of the Drug Enforcement... ( gunpolicy.org )
Mexico, United States
Mexican Drug Cartels Shop for Guns in Arizona, Where Feds are Scarce
Arizona Daily Star
28 June 2009
PIMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS -- Behind the rows of gun-filled tables at the back of the exhibition hall, a large red banner shines like a beacon: AK-47. Beneath the sign, Joeken Firearms owner Joe Cox does a brisk business selling the popular semiautomatic rifle at gun shows such as this one and at his store in Winslow. The rifle is fun to shoot and easier to clean than other rifles, and, perhaps more importantly, it carries... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Feds Seize 75 Weapons from Virginia Man Making, Selling Machine Guns
Washington Post
27 June 2009
Federal agents raided an Alexandria man's home and seized 75 guns after he sold three machine guns to an undercover agent beginning in April, authorities said yesterday. John M. Walker, 50, was charged with illegally converting semiautomatic weapons into fully automatic ones, court records show. Fully automatic weapons are legal but heavily regulated. Walker was not a licensed dealer, according to Special Agent Mike Campbell of... ( gunpolicy.org )
Bulgaria, Greece
Bulgarians in Greece Accused of Trafficking Assault Weapons, Drugs
Sofia Echo
23 June 2009
The four Bulgarian citizens apprehended by the Greek coastguard on June 22 were charged with weapons and drug trafficking, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has said. The Bulgarians were caught ferrying four sidearms equipped with suppressors, an AK47 assault rifle, 1.4kg of TNT and 5.4kg ammonium nitrate, which is used to make improvised explosive devices. The Bulgarians also had in their possession an undisclosed amount of cocaine.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Fear and Fury Drive Gun Sales: US Gun Owners Will Shoot Gun Grabbers
New York Times
21 June 2009
BELLEVILLE, New Jersey -- At the Bullet Hole, an Essex County gun store, and at Gun for Hire,across the street, where Anthony Colandro offers courses in firearm use, martial arts and personal safety, it's the best of times and the worst of times. Worst of times? Just ask Manny Cerca, who for the past 27 years has run the Bullet Hole, a family-owned shop and firing range about five miles from Newark. Inside, there are deer heads... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Kenya's Killer Gangs Increasingly Own, Rent Handguns, Assault Rifles
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
20 June 2009
Saturday's shooting of permanent secretary Kinuthia Murugu is the latest demonstration of a resurgence of gun crimes in the country, especially in Nairobi. Other high-profile cases in the past week include the killing of a university lecturer and the shooting dead of three people in the city's Eastlands, on suspicion of being police informers. Prof Peter Kenya was shot dead on Wednesday night in Zimmerman estate as he frantically... ( gunpolicy.org )
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