United Kingdom
New UK Law 'Doesn't Seem to Change Anything' on Retribution, Gun Use
Guardian (UK)
21 July 2008
"New law backs 'have-a-go' heroes," the Ministry of Justice proclaimed in its press release. Much of the media followed with references to homeowners being given, for the first time, the legal right to defend their property and person with violence. A new law on that subject came into force last week -- section 76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. But does it really give the householder a new legal right? That is... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom, Lithuania, Russia
UK Criminals Kill with Lithuanian Gas Guns Converted to Fire 9mm Bullets
Times (UK)
21 July 2008
James Andre Smartt-Ford, known as Dre, was standing by the steps to the ice at Streatham rink when a black-clad youth emerged from the crowd, gripping a gun. He fired two shots from close range into his victim's back. Dre fell forward dying, his blood spreading across the ice. The revolver that killed Dre had the words "Made in Russia" imprinted close to the muzzle, and was fitted with a silencer to muffle the shots. But nothing... ( gunpolicy.org )
Germany
Report Counts 10 Million Private Guns in Germany: National Registry Needed
Mathaba News Agency / IRNA
17 July 2008
While there are no serious estimates about illegal weapons in Germany, the dark figure is believed to be in the millions. Meanwhile, the German GdP police union has warned of an increase in the misuse of small arms by criminals. Pointing to the imminent threat of illegal weapons for police, GdP chief Konrad Freiberg has called for a nationwide arms register. Germans must be 21 years old to own a weapon, however... ( gunpolicy.org )
Ukraine
Police Bust Crime Gang Stealing Ammunition from Troubled Ukrainian Depot
BBC Monitoring Service / Kommersant-Ukraina (Kiev), Transcript
16 July 2008
The Ukrainian police have busted a criminal group which was stealing redundant arms and scrap metal from the troubled Novobohdanivka arms depot in Zaporizhzhya Region, a business daily has reported. The following is the text of the report by Yakiv Noskov entitled "Police's high class performance" published by the Ukrainian edition of the Russian business daily newspaper Kommersant on 15 July: It became known yesterday that on 11... ( gunpolicy.org )
Switzerland
Switzerland Named As One of the Most Transparent Exporters of Guns
SwissInfo
16 July 2008
The diversion of small arms and light weapons is a major source of firearms for criminals and insurgents around the world, says an international report. However, Switzerland was named one of the most transparent small arms exporters in the latest Small Arms Survey, published annually by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies (GIIS). "The score for Switzerland on transparency has improved dramatically,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Iraq, Afghanistan, World, Bosnia, Serbia
Iraq, Afghan Wars, Exports from Bosnia, Serbia Hurt Bid to Destroy Guns
Zee News (India)
15 July 2008
UNITED NATIONS -- The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are undermining efforts to destroy surplus weapons by creating new markets for countries to sell their unwanted firearms, according to a survey published here. Although the world is witnessing "the largest systematic destruction of military small arms and light weapons since the end of World War II," countries that would normally have destroyed their surplus weapons are now being... ( gunpolicy.org )
Ireland
Fewer Than 20% of Gun Crimes in Irish Republic Result in a Conviction
Irish Times
14 July 2008
Fewer than one in five gun crimes results in a conviction, new figures released by the Department of Justice have revealed. The conviction rates are low because the identities of many of those suspected to be involved in particular gun crimes are never established. In other cases, where the suspects' identities are known, witnesses are often too frightened to give evidence against those responsible. The new Department of... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Afghanistan, Albania
Pentagon's Afghan Army Ammo Sale Fraud Takes Political Twist in Congress
Los Angeles Times
14 July 2008
WASHINGTON -- A top-priority federal investigation of military procurement fraud in Afghanistan has been forced to shift direction because of a congressional panel's allegation that a senior U.S. diplomat sought to cover up the scheme. The accusation against the ambassador appears to be unraveling, however, and prosecutors are scrambling to assess the effects on a case involving what is considered to be one of the most serious procurement... ( gunpolicy.org )
Ireland
Judge Cites 'Alarm' as Legally Owned Handguns Proliferate in Ireland
Independent (Dublin)
5 July 2008
A High Court judge has said reasonable people are "entitled to feel alarmed" about the large increase in the number of pistols licensed for private use. There was "a pressing need" for drawing together into a clear law the multiple "piecemeal" rules on the control of firearms, Mr Justice Peter Charleton urged. He made the remarks when giving judgment in a case in which he rejected a bid by a shooting enthusiast to overturn... ( gunpolicy.org )
France
French Soldier Used Wrong Ammunition, Fired Into Crowd, Injured 17
Times (UK)
1 July 2008
PARIS -- A French paratrooper who fired his assault rifle into a crowd of spectators during a hostage-freeing exercise will face charges of grave negligence, prosecutors said yesterday. A three-year-old boy and his parents were among the 15 civilians and two military personnel who were wounded in the shooting, which took place during an open day at the 3rd Marine Parachutist Regiment barracks on Sunday afternoon. The boy... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Much UK Gun Crime Unreported, Reasons for Gun Ownership Neglected
Press Association (UK)
29 June 2008
Much of the gun crime on Britain's streets goes unreported, it is claimed. A study of data on firearms-related offences by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (CCJS) said many victims were reluctant to alert police. Crimes missing from the official statistics may even include incidents where guns were fired, but which did not lead to injuries, the paper said. The CCJS, which is based at King's College, London,... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Overall UK Gun Crime Falling, Violence Has 'Direct Correlation' to Poverty
BBC News
29 June 2008
Policies on gun crime are flawed because ministers overlook its root causes -- poverty and inequality, a report by criminologists claims. There is "no compelling evidence" that enforcement strategies would cut firearms-related offending, the King's College London researchers warned. The study authors said much gun crime was probably unreported because people were scared of calling the police. The Home Office said... ( gunpolicy.org )
Turkey
Celebratory Shooting, Stray Bullet Injury Require Urgent Action - Turkish MP
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
27 June 2008
ANKARA -- A member of Parliament's Human Rights Commission has recommended that a parliamentary commission should be set up to address the problem of deaths and injuries caused by stray bullets fired into the air in celebration, a common problem in much of Turkey. Speaking to Today's Zaman, Democratic Society Party (DTP) Diyarbakir deputy Akin Birdal stressed that a cultural and social transformation was needed to prevent deaths... ( gunpolicy.org )
Germany, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa
Gun Laws in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, UK, Australia, South Africa
Associated Press
26 June 2008
GERMANY: Requires license to obtain and use firearms and stipulates a check on the "reliability and suitability" of holders at least once every three years. Under-25s must undergo psychological screening. Buyers must justify why they need a gun. Would-be buyers of recreational firearms must produce proof of regular membership in shooting club for at least one year. Legal age for owning recreational firearms is 21. That... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Albania, Afghanistan
US Ambassador to Albania Targeted in Illegal Afghan Ammunition Probe
Reuters
24 June 2008
WASHINGTON -- The State Department said on Tuesday it would review the conduct of the U.S. ambassador to Albania, after a congressman alleged the envoy knew about a case in which Chinese-made ammunition was falsely relabeled as manufactured in Albania and shipped to the Afghan army. In a hearing on Tuesday and a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice the previous day, Henry Waxman, chairman of the House of Representatives... ( gunpolicy.org )
Turkey
Turks Wound At Least 23, Firing Guns in Air to Celebrate Soccer Win
International Herald Tribune / AP
21 June 2008
ANKARA, Turkey -- At least 23 people across Turkey were wounded by stray bullets following the firing of shots across the country to celebrate the win over Croatia in the European Championship quarterfinals. Governor Muammer Guler said Saturday that 11 people were accidentally shot in Istanbul, the country's largest city where all night festivities were the wildest. Twelve other people, including a 10-year-old girl and... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
UK Dad Tips Off Police, Son Gets 3yrs' Jail for Illegal Gun Possession
BBC News
20 June 2008
A teenager has been jailed for three years after his father told police he had found bullets in his son's bedroom. Paul Metcalfe's father discovered 11 bullets in the room and called police -- who also found a handgun under the bed. The 19-year-old, of Hibson Road in Nelson, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon and the ammunition at Burnley Crown Court. His father Neil Metcalfe, 43, said he had... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Thailand, Russia
Global Gun Runner Plays US-Russia 'Cold War' Card to Escape Prison
Sydney Morning Herald
16 June 2008
The Cold War has broken out again, and Thailand suddenly finds itself caught uncomfortably in the middle of competing US and Russian interests. At the centre of the conflict is the alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was arrested on March 6 in Thailand and is in detention in Bangkok. The US wants Bout extradited to stand trial in New York, where he has faces charges of conspiracy to provide weapons to a foreign terrorist... ( gunpolicy.org )
Finland
Man Kills Two Adult Daughters, His Wife, Then Himself in Finland
Associated Press
15 June 2008
HELSINKI, Finland -- An 88-year-old man on Sunday killed his two disabled adult daughters and shot his bedridden wife before turning the gun on himself in northern Finland, police said. The man's wife, also in her 80s, later died at a hospital, police said. The mentally handicapped daughters, both in their 50s, died immediately from gunshot wounds at home in Ylitornio, about 500 miles north of the capital, Helsinki, police... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
English Police Officer Shot Dead During Training Exercise in Manchester
Telegraph (UK)
9 June 2008
A police officer has accidentally been shot dead by a colleague during a training exercise in Manchester. Pc Ian Terry, 32, was struck in the chest as he and other members of the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) firearms unit practised in a disused factory on Monday. GMP said Pc Terry was taking part in a "reasonably routine" tactical manoeuvres exercise when a weapon being held by one of his colleagues was fired. As... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
English Publican Gets 3 Years' Jail for Sawn-off Shotgun Beside His Bed
BBC News
9 June 2008
A pub landlord has been jailed for three years for keeping a sawn-off shotgun by his Carlisle bedside. Armed police swooped on Michael Charlton's home in Richmond Green, following a tip-off in March. He told officers he needed the weapon to defend himself after a masked gang had raided his house in 2002. The 44-year-old, who until arrest ran the Golden Lion in Botchergate, was jailed at Carlisle Crown Court after... ( gunpolicy.org )
Turkey
Increasing Armed Violence by Licensed, Unlicensed Turkish Gun Owners
Turkish Daily News
9 June 2008
Turks are already regrettably accustomed to media reports about victims of stray bullets at wedding ceremonies and New Year's parties, where some people lose their lives and others -- sometimes even children -- become murderers in a heartbeat. The percentage of those using licensed guns in crimes in Turkey has increased, police data reveals, while experts who spoke with the Turkish Daily News warned that the state must not give... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
London Youth Rally Protests Recent Knife, Gun Violence in Britain
BBC News
7 June 2008
At least 2,000 people, including many teenagers, have joined an anti-gun and knife crime march through London. The demonstrators began their walk from Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon which culminated in a rally at Kennington Park, south London. The march, which urged youths to keep off weapons, comes following the deaths of 16 teenagers in London this year. Relatives of youths killed in London also joined... ( gunpolicy.org )
Finland
Airguns to Be Included in Finland's Gun Law, Owner Licensing Update
YLE News (Finland)
6 June 2008
New rules governing the sale of air guns are being planned by the Ministry of the Interior. A licence would be needed for a type of air rifle, the fire power of which is equivalent to that of a small-bore rifle. The newspaper Turun Sanomat reports the Ministry is worried about the proliferation of small arms. The calibre of larger guns on sale is nine millimetres, which is equivalent to that of arms carried by... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kosovo
Civilians Hold More Than 300,000 Illegal Guns in Kosovo, Survey Shows
SEESAC (Belgrade) / BBC Monitoring Service, KosovaLive
6 June 2008
More than 300,000 illegal small weapons are in Kosova [Kosovo], based on a research by the UNDP, whereas 49 persons were killed and 57 were wounded by these weapons in 2007. This was said today at a debate in Mitrovice [Mitrovica] in the framework of the campaign, "World Week Against Violence With Weapons." The head of the project, Enver Kqiku, from the Kosova Centre for International Cooperation said that such debates are taking... ( gunpolicy.org )
Vatican, World
Vatican Airs Campaign for International Gun Control, Global Gun Trade Treaty
Vatican Radio, Audio
5 June 2008
The Global Week of Action Against Small Arms, which began on Monday and ends June 9th, aims to link commitments by the International Action Network on Small Arms at the regional and global level with actions by national governments. The project aims to raise awareness, campaign for better gun laws and push for stronger regulation of the global arms trade. One of the organizations participating is Pax Christi International.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Serbia, Iraq
Serbia Begins Exporting Another 18,000 Handguns to Iraqi Security Forces
B92 Radio (Belgrade)
2 June 2008
KRAGUJEVAC, Serbia -- The first consignment of CZ 99 handguns destined for the Iraq market will be shipped out of the Zastava factory three weeks ahead of schedule. Even though the first shipment was first planned for July, according to CEO Rade Gromovic, the weapons are ready and the permits necessary for exporting them have been secured, so the date has been shifted to June 11. This will mark the official beginning of... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
UK Campaigner Against Gun Violence Stabbed to Death: Grandson Arrested
BBC News
2 June 2008
The grandson of prominent anti-gun campaigner Pat Regan has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing her to death. Mrs Regan, 53, was discovered at the property on Marlborough Grange in the Hyde Park area of Leeds on Sunday. The mother-of-six started campaigning against gun crime when her son Danny was shot dead in 2002. The 20-year-old man was being held on suspicion of murder, police said. It is thought he had... ( gunpolicy.org )
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bosnian Gunman Killed 6 Family Members, Had History of Post-war Trauma
Agence France Presse
29 May 2008
TUZLA, Bosnia-Hercegovina -- A gunman shot dead six of his relatives and wounded another man in a rampage in a Bosnian town on Thursday before being detained as he fired on a parked car, police said. The 45-year-old man shot dead three neighbours in Tuzla before moving on to a bus station where he killed three passengers and wounded a bus driver, police spokesman Izudin Saric told AFP. The gunman, who was identified as... ( gunpolicy.org )
Germany
Gun Crime Down Again in Germany: Only 1 in 4 Cases Involve Real Firearms
MNN / IRNA
29 May 2008
Gun crimes were down seven percent last year compared to 2006, according to a report released Wednesday by the Federal Crime Office "BKA" based in the southwestern city of Wiesbaden. Police registered 11,526 weapon law violations in 2007, while they confiscated 14,466 arms last year, up six percent from 2006. The use of fire-arms in felonies was continuing its downward trend in Germany. In three out of four cases,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Gun Enthusiast, Loner Shoots Dead Six Relatives in Bosnian Village, on Bus
Reuters
29 May 2008
TRSTJE, Bosnia -- A Bosnian Croat man shot and killed six of his relatives in a village near the northern Bosnian town of Tuzla on Thursday, gunning down three in their homes and three aboard a bus, police said. Local people identified the man as 45-year-old Tomislav Petrovic and said all the victims were related to him and lived in the neighborhood. "The man has been arrested and an investigation is under way," said Tuzla... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Fewer Gun Owners Now Own More Sporting Long Guns in Scotland
Scotsman (Edinburgh)
28 May 2008
The increasing popularity of deer stalking is behind a significant rise in the number of legally-held guns in Scotland, it emerged last night. Figures released by the Scottish Government showed the number of such firearms has reached a ten-year high. There are now 66,893 firearms held by 26,056 people and a further 133,940 shotguns held by 49,213 people. The statistics showed that the number of people owning guns had gone... ( gunpolicy.org )
Croatia, Sweden
57 Firearms, Explosives Seized from Croatia-to-Sweden Gun Running Gang
SEESAC (Belgrade) / BBC Monitoring Service / HINA, Transcript
25 May 2008
Zagreb police cracked down on a ring of arms producers and smugglers, and charged nine persons with having specialised in producing arms and explosives and smuggling them to western Europe, notably Sweden, the head of the Zagreb police, Marijan Tomurad, said at a news conference on Saturday. He stressed that the arms and bombs had been intended for clashed among underworld crime gangs and that the arms smugglers had no connections... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Britain Launches New Push Against Youth Gun Crime, Armed Violence
Guardian (UK)
22 May 2008
The government today began a new push against gun and knife gang crime. The initiative is intended to halt the increase in the number of people being killed in violent attacks throughout Britain. Addressing a conference in Birmingham, the home secretary, Jacqui Smith, said £5m would be committed to tackle gun and knife crime, while witnesses would be offered anonymity to encourage them to come forward. Smith called... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Gang of 7 Converted, Sold Hundreds of Illegal Guns to Criminals Across UK
BBC News
22 May 2008
A 29-year-old man from Manchester has been found guilty of being involved in what is believed to the UK's biggest ever gun conspiracy. Kaleem Akhtar was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. He supplied an "assassin's armoury" of handguns, and ammunition to gangsters across the UK, the court was told. Akhtar, of Chorlton, will be sentenced,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Europe
Terrorists Said Moving Guns to Croatia for Easier Smuggling Into Europe
SEESAC (Belgrade) / Blic Daily
22 May 2008
Members and supporters of Al Kaida and vehabias from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been transferring large numbers of weapons and explosives to Croatia, as stated by the intelligence agencies in BiH. The information held by the Independent paper ("Nezavisne novine") of Banja Luka, reads that they are taking advantage of the current political situation in BiH and involvement of the government in the current reform processes in order... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Gun Injury Halved, Gun Crime Down as UK Cities Adopt Gang Violence Plan
Press Association (UK)
21 May 2008
An action plan targeting gun and gang violence in four of Britain's major cities has halved the number of firearms-related injuries, according to the Home Office. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the Tackling Gangs Action Programme saw a 51% fall in gun injuries from 93 in October to 46 in February. There was also a 27% decrease in the overall number of gun offences in the four areas -- London, Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
UK Soldiers Said Smuggling Pistols, Assault Weapons, Renting to Criminals
BBC News
16 May 2008
Some British army weapons are finding their way into the hands of criminal gangs -- and a former Royal Military Police investigator believes they may be ill-equipped to stop it. Mark is in his 30s and he says he now lives a quiet life. But in the 1990s, he had links with criminal gangs in Manchester. He claims to have bought hundreds of guns to hire out to his associates for use in serious crime, and they would often come... ( gunpolicy.org )
Turkey
Handguns, Uzi Found as Istanbul Officials' Bodyguards Flee Turkish Police
Sabah (Istanbul)
13 May 2008
A luxurious automobile, found with guns in Kadiköy turns out to belong to Çakrak, the chairman of Istanbul's Service Bus Executives Chamber. 'Yunus' motorcycle police teams, who were making rounds in Kadiköy, Istanbul searched a suspicious luxurious automobile and seized one Uzi with a silencer, one Glock, which is undetectable by x-ray machines and one Smith-Wesson gun. The team followed the car, loaded with six passengers... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Barrister Shot by Police in Central London Was Licensed Shotgun Owner
Telegraph (UK)
11 May 2008
Mark Saunders passed stringent checks on his suitability to own guns -- including investigations into his mental health -- before being issued with a shotgun licence. The Metropolitan Police require all applicants for licences to give permission for mental health checks to be made with their GP. The fact that Mr Saunders was visited by a gun licensing officer after he moved to his flat in Markham Square last September suggests... ( gunpolicy.org )
Turkey
Celebratory Gunfire, Occasional Deaths Inexplicable Feature of Turkish Life
Today's Zaman (Turkey), Column
11 May 2008
I have always been awed by the inability of people around me to celebrate joyful events. Weddings and soccer games that end victoriously are celebrated with guns held aloft, fired incessantly into the air. Someone who is not familiar with the local culture may feel they have fallen into an ambush, just as the foreign guests did at the wedding ceremony of one of my younger family members last year. They gathered around me in bewilderment... ( gunpolicy.org )
Turkey
Turkish Wife Shot, Paralysed by Husband, Focus of Anti-Violence Campaign
Los Angeles Times / AP
11 May 2008
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Emine Yaman lies in bed, her legs rigid, her feet prone to sores and swelling. Paralyzed by a bullet that her husband fired into her chest, she is the face of domestic violence in a country struggling to discard long-held cultural practices that denigrate women. She wears diapers and reaches for a knotted sheet hanging from an overhead bar to shift her upper body. The weak bones in her 40-year-old hips, knees... ( gunpolicy.org )
Albania, Kosovo
75 Handguns Seized from Albanian Brothers Said Gunrunning from Kosovo
BC Monitoring Service (Tirana) / Shekuli
7 May 2008
"Operation Morina" has led to the arrest of two brothers and the seizure of a veritable arsenal, including 74 handguns, which was in their possession. Yesterday afternoon, the organized crime department's anti-illegal trafficking unit, acting jointly with the prosecutor's office, organized an operation that ended with the arrest of two brothers suspected of arms trafficking. The two brothers arrested yesterday near Tirana's Pharmacy No.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Austria, United Nations, Asia, Pacific
Austria Gives 100,000 Euros to UN Centre to Curb Asia-Pacific Gun Running
United Nations (New York), Media release
7 May 2008
Austria will contribute 100,000 to a United Nations project to curb the illicit flows of small arms and light weapons in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the world body's Office for Disarmament Affairs. The funds, pledged by Austria on 5 May, will go towards the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, which requires $2.2 million for its projects and to bolster its institutional capacity. ... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Lawyer, Licensed Gun Owner Shot Dead in Central London Police Seige
Independent (UK)
7 May 2008
A gun recovered from yesterday's siege in Chelsea was "lawfully held" by the gunman shot dead at the scene, a police watchdog said today. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it was too early to say if the man who was shot dead after a five-hour stand-off with police had been killed by police bullets. Earlier it was revealed that the man was a practising barrister, named locally as Mark Saunders, 32. Mr... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom, Scotland
Scotland Mounts Breakaway Gun Summit, Demands Tougher Airgun Law
BBC News
7 May 2008
A summit meeting to discuss Scotland's gun laws has ended with calls for Westminster to take action to deal with the problem of air weapons in Scotland. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said he would be writing to the home secretary pressing for a tightening of the law. Members of the police, gun control lobby and sport-shooting groups attended the Edinburgh meeting. Mr MacAskill described the current law as "inadequate".... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Under Pressure from Pistol Shooters, UK Plans to Loosen Handgun Ban
Scotland on Sunday
4 May 2008
Anti-gun campaigners have warned the Government not to relax firearms legislation in the run-up to the London Olympics, saying: "A child's life is not worth a medal." UK and Scottish ministers have agreed that from August, sportsmen and women will be given special permission to use their weapons at Ministry of Defence ranges in Britain. At present, competitors have to train abroad. It is a major breakthrough for British... ( gunpolicy.org )
World, United States, France, Canada, Germany, Angola, Thailand, Australia, Colombia, South Africa, Turkey, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, United Kingdom, India, China
Guns Around the World: Civilian Firearms per 100 People in 16 Nations
Economist
30 April 2008
An estimated 875m small arms are in circulation worldwide: one for every seven people on the planet. Nearly three-quarters of these are owned by civilians. And about 80% of those guns in civilian hands are found in just 30 countries, according to the Small Arms Survey, a research group. Although America accounts for 40% of firearms in civilian ownership, people put them to more deadly use elsewhere. The gun murder rate in Colombia... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Afghanistan, Iraq, Albania
Inferior Ammunition to Afghanistan Leads US Army to Review Arms Policy
New York Times
27 April 2008
MOSCOW -- The United States Army has begun a broad review of procedures used to supply security forces in Afghanistan and Iraq with foreign arms, prompted by an allegation of fraud and questions about the competence of the main private supplier of ammunition to Afghanistan. The company, AEY Inc. of Miami Beach, was suspended last month after Army investigators accused it of shipping aged Chinese rifle cartridges and claiming they... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom, Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe
Guns 'Commonly' Smuggled in UK Army Vehicles Crossing Europe from Iraq
BBC News
25 April 2008
Two former soldiers who were jailed for their involvement in a gun smuggling ring have said the practice is common in the British army. Shane Pleasant and Ben Whitfield were in the Third Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, when they helped to smuggle weapons from Iraq into Europe. They said if soldiers had the right contacts it was easy to smuggle weapons out of countries. The MoD said there was no evidence such... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe, Zambia, United Kingdom, Canada, China, World
Chinese Gun Shipment to Zimbabwe Shines Spotlight on Global Gun Trade
Toronto Star (Ontario)
24 April 2008
When the Chinese freighter An Yue Jiang pulled into the South African port of Durban last week loaded with weapons bound for crisis-ridden Zimbabwe, it seemed to be just one more day in the lucrative arms trade that has engulfed the continent with deadly results. Instead the ship ran into a storm of protest -- with dock workers joining union leaders, church officials and the High Court to block the shipment -- until the vessel left... ( gunpolicy.org )
Russia, United States
Russia Jails US Pastor for Smuggling, Boarding Planes With Ammunition
CNN / AP
21 April 2008
MOSCOW, Russia -- A Moscow court on Monday sentenced a U.S. pastor to more than three years in prison for smuggling hunting ammunition into Russia. Phillip Miles, from South Carolina, has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 3. He was arrested several days after customs agents at a Moscow airport found a box of 20 rifle shells in his luggage. The court sentenced him to serve three years and two months in prison, with... ( gunpolicy.org )
Finland
Report on Finland's Campus Mass Shooting Sees Little Hope of Prevention
International Herald Tribune
17 April 2008
TUUSULA, Finland -- Five months after an 18-year-old student killed eight people at a Finnish school before turning the gun on himself, authorities say they can do little to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. A police investigation that wrapped up on Thursday concluded 18-year-old gunman Pekka-Eric Auvinen acted alone in the November 7 shooting. In the days and hours before the massacre the teenager posted messages detailing... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Safety Record of Grand Old British Shooting Club Marred by Gun Suicide
Woking News and Mail (UK)
16 April 2008
A man found dead at a shooting centre is believed to have shot himself in the head. The grim discovery was made by staff at the shotgun ranges of Bisley's National Rifle Association. Centre director Jeremy Staples said: "Unfortunately a male was found close to the shot gun ranges last Monday. It appeared that he had self-inflicted shotgun injuries. "The site was closed as there is no shooting on Monday. We immediately... ( gunpolicy.org )
Italy, Libya, Chad, Sudan, China
Libya Tried to Buy 1 Million Chinese Assault Rifles, Perhaps for Chad, Sudan
Associated Press
13 April 2008
PERUGIA, Italy -- The Libyan officer tried to cloak the purpose of his call to the Italian arms dealer. "A friend," he said, wanted to buy 1 million "pieces" and 50 million items of "food." But when that phone call was placed in 2006, Italian police were listening. They knew the meaning. Libya was shopping for guns -- lots of them. Authorities shadowed the negotiations between Libyan officials and a group of black-market... ( gunpolicy.org )
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Former Soviet States Plan Database of Gun Runners, Illicit Arms Dealers
BBC Monitoring Service / Interfax, Transcript
11 April 2008
A joint CIS database of transnational criminal groups involved in illegal arms trafficking will be created, the press service of the Minsk-based CIS Executive Committee has told Interfax. "This is stipulated by a draft agreement on cooperation in combating the illegal manufacturing and sale of firearms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices, which has been discussed by the committee's expert group," the press service said.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, United Kingdom
Charlton Heston's Pro-gun Views Were Liberal, Supported Human Freedom
Times (UK), Column
8 April 2008
Charlton Heston's obituarists worry that his acting career might be "overshadowed" by his controversial stance against gun control. Let's hope so. Most of Heston's movie roles were as stiff as his chiselled jaw. But his rock-like defence of the right to bear arms was worthy of an award. I say this not as a right-wing Republican, but as a Brit of the Left. Hollywood liberals demonised the man who was Moses for his pro-gun views.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Slovakia, United States, Afghanistan, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary
Slovakia Sold Ammunition to Miami Gun Dealer, Pentagon for Afghan War
SME (Bratislava) / BBC Monitoring Service, Transcript
8 April 2008
Slovakia has traded in arms with the AEY company, which is being investigated over fraud in the United States. The daily New York Times found out that the company had been selling old Chinese ammunition from Albania to the Afghanis for decades, claiming that it was from Hungary. It purchased other weapons and munitions for the Afghanis in Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. It is not clear what exactly happened... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
British Gun Control Group Deplores Sale of 'Bullet Proof' Hoodies to Youth
United Press International
5 April 2008
A London company is defending its invention of a bullet-proof hoodie from criticism from anti-gun groups. Barry Samms, owner of Bladerunner, said the product is designed to protect people from violent attacks, The Times of London reported Friday. "Our current customers range from undercover police officers to concerned parents," he said. Some gun control advocates said the product, which is scheduled to go on sale... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Afghanistan, Albania
US Congress Afghan Guns Inquiry Pins Albanian PM in Corruption Probe
Balkan Insight
4 April 2008
TIRANA -- The United States Congress has announced a probe into the arms deals between U.S.-based AEY and Albanian officials. The investigation was announced by U.S. Democratic Congressman, Henry Waxman (California) and will be conducted by the House Government Oversight Committee. The weapons involved were intended to supply the Afghan Army. AEY President, 22 year-old Efraim Diveroli, the company's 25 year-old... ( gunpolicy.org )
Germany
German Collector Had So Many Guns He Had to Move Out, Live at an Inn
Cape Times (Capetown)
3 April 2008
BERLIN -- A German man was such an avid collector of weapons and other paraphernalia that he ran out of space at home and had to sleep in a hotel, neighbours said following the 71-year-old's death. Executors found an arsenal of weaponry and assorted goods at the man's two-storey home in the western city of Aachen. "There were 71 guns, one for each year of his life," said police spokesperson Paul Kemen. "He also had 41 cases... ( gunpolicy.org )
Serbia
Serbian Policemen Detained for Illegal Sale of Assault Weapons, Handguns
Radio B92 (Belgrade) / BBC Monitoring Service, Transcript
3 April 2008
Four Belgrade police officers have been arrested on suspicion of illegal possession and sale of firearms. They were arrested and remanded in custody for 48 hours, announced the Interior Ministry late last night. The ministry states that members of the Sector for Internal Control Dragan J., Sasa Z., Branko R. and Zoran M. have been arrested as part of the Interior Ministry's wider activities in fighting corruption and crime.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Albania, Afghanistan, United States
US/Afghan Ammunition, Gun Trafficking Scandal Implicates Albanian PM
Balkan Insight (Sarajevo)
27 March 2008
TIRANA -- Albanian leaders are accused of profiting from a murky arms deal with a company whose contract with the U.S. Army was suspended this week. The allegations implicate politicians as high as Prime Minister Sali Berisha and former Defence Minster Fatmir Mediu, with corruption. The allegations were the subject of a heated debate in Parliament on Thursday. "You are thwarting our integration into NATO and should resign,"... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Afghanistan, China, Albania, Iraq
US Offers 22yr-old Miami Man $300m for Old, Often Dud Afghan War Ammo
New York Times
27 March 2008
Since 2006, when the insurgency in Afghanistan sharply intensified, the Afghan government has been dependent on American logistics and military support in the war against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. But to arm the Afghan forces that it hopes will lead this fight, the American military has relied since early last year on a fledgling company led by a 22-year-old man whose vice president was a licensed masseur. With the award... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Many UK Judges Ignore Minimum 5yrs' Jail for Gun Crime - Police Chief
Times (UK)
25 March 2008
The fight against gun crime is being undermined by judges who fail to ensure that tough penalties set down in law are imposed in the courts, a senior police chief has told The Times. Bernard Hogan-Howe, Chief Constable of Merseyside, said last night that the mandatory five-year minimum sentence for possession of a firearm was being ignored by some members of the judiciary. Mr Hogan-Howe, whose force is investigating the... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Why UK Judges Find Ways to Ignore the Law in Gun Crime Sentences
Times (UK)
25 March 2008
Passing sentence in the case of the death of Kamilah Peniston, Mr Justice Holland condemned Britain's gang-gun culture. "At the heart of this case is the status of handguns in parts of our society," the judge said. "A handgun in circulation gives the holder a spurious self-confidence and a perverted self-respect, the status of the armed man." The judge, sitting at Manchester Crown Court in October, then passed a sentence... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom, England & Wales
'Chaos, Gross Incompetence' Found in North Wales Police Gun Destruction
BBC News
19 March 2008
Serious failings in the handling of weapons given to North Wales Police by the public for safe disposal have been highlighted in an internal report. It said it was impossible to determine how many weapons had been destroyed and that there is no national policy on how the police should handle such weapons. The BBC has seen details of the report which was completed last year. The force said it regretted poor record... ( gunpolicy.org )
Russia
Russian Priests Told to Carry Guns, Fight Armed Thieves of Religious Icons
Herald Sun (Melbourne)
19 March 2008
MOSCOW -- Police in a central Russian region have advised priests to apply for firearms licences so they can defend their churches from marauding thieves who have been stealing religious icons at gunpoint. But a cleric with the Russian Orthodox diocese of Kostroma said the guns would probably be wielded by church wardens because the biblical commandment "Thou shalt not kill" prohibited priests from bearing arms. Police... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Gun Injuries Increase as Armed UK Police Shoot Themselves, Colleagues
Daily Mail (UK)
16 March 2008
The number of armed police officers accidentally shooting themselves -- and other colleagues -- has soared in the past five years. Now, nearly half of all injuries caused by police shootings are the result of officers blasting themselves or a colleague, often during bungled training and demonstrations. Since 2003, there have been seven incidents in which armed police injured themselves or a fellow officer due to the careless... ( gunpolicy.org )
Bulgaria
Shooting by Licensed Owner Prompts Bulgaria to Vow Tough New Gun Law
Xinhua
16 March 2008
SOFIA -- Changes in the law that regulates issuing permits for possession of firearms are urgently required, local press reported Saturday citing Bulgaria's Interior Minister Rumen Petkov. According to the minister, stricter rules are required, because 90 percent of the appeals against the Interior Ministry over rejections for arms permits are accepted by the court while permits are then issued. Petkov declared that in... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom, Scotland
Scots Police Destroy 'Huge Cache' of Confiscated Firearms, Imitation Guns
BBC News
14 March 2008
Firearms surrendered to the police are being destroyed in an operation taking place in Edinburgh. About 800 weapons have been handed over to Lothian and Borders Police over the past six months. The cache includes shotguns, air weapons, replica guns and other imitation weapons. Friday's operation will see the guns destroyed using specialist cutting equipment before being taken away for disposal. Assistant... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall's Armed Police Guard Shoots Himself Dead
Daily Express (UK)
11 March 2008
The Duchess of Cornwall was said to be "deeply upset" yesterday after one of her police bodyguards apparently committed suicide at his home. Sergeant Richard Fuller, 55, head of security at Camilla's country mansion in Wiltshire, is believed to have blasted himself to death with a shotgun. The officer, who was married with three children, was a popular member of the force and was highly regarded by the Duchess and her staff.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Netherlands, Liberia
Dutch Timber Magnate Acquitted of Gun Running, Stoking Liberian Conflict
Reuters
10 March 2008
AMSTERDAM -- An appeals court acquitted a Dutch businessman allied to former Liberian President Charles Taylor on Monday, overturning a guilty verdict for arms smuggling in Liberia. Guus Kouwenhoven was sentenced in 2006 to eight years in jail by a Dutch court for smuggling arms to Taylor's government between 2001 and 2003 in contravention of U.N. sanctions but acquitted of war crimes for lack of evidence. Kouwenhoven had denied... ( gunpolicy.org )
Nigeria, Germany
German Gun Makers Profited from Decades of Armed Violence in Nigeria
Guardian (Lagos), Opinion
10 March 2008
On New Year's Day 2008, 18 people died in a shooting scene in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt, amongst them civilians who were caught up in the crossfire. Just like in Kenya -- where massacres were raging at the same time -- there was a German weapon at the centre of the violence: according to Nigerian press reports, the police confiscated one Heckler & Koch (H&K) G3 assault rifle from the attackers. However, German media only reported... ( gunpolicy.org )
Serbia, Iraq
Serbian Arms Industry Expects to Thrive on Major Gun Making Deal with Iraq
SEESAC (Belgrade) / BBC Monitoring Service, Beta News Agency, Transcript
10 March 2008
The contract on exporting weapons and military equipment to Iraq, worth 236m dollars, which the Serbian arms trading company Jugoimport SDPR signed with the government of Iraq, is the most significant deal the Serbian military industry has made since the end of 1990, when a contract was signed with Kuwait about the exports of 175 domestically produced M-84 tanks. The first instalment, adding up to 20 per cent of what the deal is... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
UK Gun Crime Falling, Gun Homicides Slowly Rising, New Database Coming
BBC News
10 March 2008
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is launching the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) to help the fight against gun crime. But what is it and how will it work? Official figures suggest gun crime has been falling, but firearm killings showed a slight rise in the most recent Home Office statistics and the government has pledged to tackle the problem. "We are determined not to let violent offenders get away with wrecking... ( gunpolicy.org )
South Africa, Thailand, Russia, United States, Africa, World
'Merchant of Death' Gun Runner's' Secret Connections in Southern Africa
Cape Argus (Capetown)
9 March 2008
An arrest at a luxury Thailand hotel has sent shockwaves rippling through various governmental, aviation and murky arms-trade, diamond-dealing and money-laundering circles from Johannesburg and Polokwane through to Kabul, Kinshasa, Ostend and Washington. Former Johannesburg resident Viktor Bout, the man dubbed the Merchant of Death and said to have inspired the blockbuster movie The Lord of War, was arrested on Thursday in a sting... ( gunpolicy.org )
Thailand, United States, Russia, World
Coalition of Forces, US Sting Toppled Global Gun Runner Bout in Thailand
Globe & Mail (Toronto)
7 March 2008
The elusive global gunrunner dubbed the Merchant of Death has finally been captured. Viktor Bout, originally from Russia, was arrested yesterday at a five-star hotel in Bangkok. Thought to be a former Russian spy, something he denies, he is said to speak six languages and hold as many passports. He has long been known to global intelligence services for dispatching transport aircraft brimming with weaponry to anyone willing to pay,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Thailand, United States, Russia, World
Russian Arms Dealer's Arrest Reflects Global Web of Gun Runners
Agence France Presse
7 March 2008
MOSCOW -- From factories in a breakaway zone of Moldova to underwater test sites in Kyrgyzstan, the ex-Soviet Union has provided rich pickings for arms dealers like the legendary Viktor Bout. Bout, who was arrested March 6 in a joint U.S.-Thai operation in Bangkok, is alleged to have been at the heart of a new kind of weapons trading that emerged from the ashes of the Cold War in 1991. Various reports have linked Bout to... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Russia, Thailand, Colombia, World
US Charges Notorious Russian Arms Dealer With Gun Running to Colombia
New York Times
7 March 2008
WASHINGTON -- A Russian businessman regarded by the United States as one of the world's most notorious arms dealers was arrested in Thailand on Thursday as part of an American-led sting operation. He was promptly charged in the United States with conspiracy for trying to smuggle missiles and rocket launchers to rebels in Colombia. The businessman, Viktor Bout, 41, is suspected of supplying weapons to the Taliban and Al Qaeda and... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
'Matter of Time' Before British Bobby Must Shoot Child Holding Imitation Gun
Telegraph (UK)
6 March 2008
The spiralling use of guns among children means it is only a matter of time before an armed officer is faced with shooting a child, the head of a Home Office task force has warned. The number of young people prosecuted for firearms offences has risen by more than 20 per cent in the past five years -- and children as young as eight have been found carrying weapons. Jon Murphy, the head of the gun crime task force at the... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Russia, Thailand, Colombia, World
'Most-wanted' Global Gun Runner Arrested in Thailand: US Wants Viktor Bout
CNN
6 March 2008
NEW YORK -- For years, Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout made millions of dollars delivering weapons and ammunition to warlords and militants, officials say. On Thursday, Bout and his associate, Andrew Smulian, were arrested in Thailand after a series of events that officials said could have come straight out of a spy novel. The men's capture involved law enforcement agencies from at least five countries, including two undercover... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Russia, Thailand, Colombia, World
Russian Gun Runner Dubbed 'Merchant of Death' Arrested in Bangkok Sting
Associated Press
6 March 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A suspected Russian arms dealer dubbed the "Merchant of Death" was arrested Thursday in Bangkok on allegations that he conspired to supply Colombian rebels with arms and explosives, Thai police said. Police Lt. Gen. Pongpat Chayapan said Viktor Bout was arrested in a hotel on a warrant from a Thai court following a monthlong manhunt. The warrant came out of an earlier one issued by the U.S. Drug Enforcement... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Russia, Thailand, Colombia, World
Thais Arrest 'Merchant of Death' Russian Gun Runner, US Feds Lay Charges
Reuters
6 March 2008
BANGKOK/NEW YORK -- Viktor Bout, an international arms dealer dubbed the "Merchant of Death," was arrested in Thailand and charged in New York on Thursday with trying to sell weapons to Colombian rebels, officials said. Bout, the target of U.S. sanctions, was charged with conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said in New York.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Arsenal of Illegal Guns Sees 'Deceitful' Head Teacher Jailed, Struck Off in UK
BBC News
5 March 2008
A former primary school head teacher has been struck off after a disciplinary hearing was told he was "deceitful" about his arsenal of guns. Martin Wynn Davies, from Wrexham, was jailed for four years in 2006 for keeping 21 weapons, including revolvers and semi-automatic pistols and rifles. He bought guns after tightening of laws following the Dunblane massacre. The committee ruled his crimes were "fundamentally... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kosovo
Gun Destruction Programme Targets 400,000 Illegal Weapons in Kosovo
SEESAC (Belgrade) / BBC Monitoring Service, KosovaLive, Transcript
5 March 2008
Although different organizations evaluate that there are more than 400,000 illegal weapons in Kosova [Kosovo], the high officers of the Kosova Police Service (ShPK) say that Kosova is a very safe country and that the citizens do not have to worry over this issue. These comments were made during the signing of the handover of documents of the support for ShPK by international organizations and diplomatic offices, for the establishment... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
UK Bans Realistic Imitation Guns: More Than 1,000 Handed Over by Dealers
BBC News
4 March 2008
More than 1,000 fake guns have been handed over to police by shop keepers as part of a month-long initiative to help make Manchester's streets safer. According to police, people who carry an imitation gun are more likely to be shot by a real weapon as it is almost impossible to tell the difference. As a result, Greater Manchester Police is urging all owners to give them up. The plea comes five months after it became... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom, Scotland
Westminster Accused of Complacency in Scottish-English Gun Law Feud
Herald (Glasgow)
3 March 2008
Gun law reform as demanded by Holyrood ministers has been ruled out by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. The move prompted her Scottish counterpart, Kenny MacAskill, to accuse her of complacency yesterday after she declined an invitation to co-host a summit on the subject in Scotland. Mr MacAskill, the Justice Minister, said: "I'm disappointed our invitation has been rejected and concerned that the Home Secretary says a review... ( gunpolicy.org )
Yemen, Somalia, Australia, Denmark
Australians, Dane Among Gang Smuggling Guns from Yemen to Somalia
Yemen Times
2 March 2008
SANA'A -- Two men, Abdi Othman Soli, 28, a Danish citizen of Somali origin, and Abdullah Awadh Al-Masri, 37, a Yemeni national, were found not guilty this week of smuggling weapons to Somalia in 2006. However, the court gave Al-Masri a three-year prison sentence for other charges such as working with and providing shelter for Al-Qaeda operatives and illegal weapons trading. Among other accusations, the two suspects were tried for... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom, Scotland
UK Rejects Scottish Government's Call for Gun Law Review, Tighter Control
BBC News
2 March 2008
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has rejected Scottish Government calls for a review of firearms laws. She has also declined an invitation to co-host a firearms summit with Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, saying it would not be "timely". Firearms control is reserved to Westminster, but a series of high-profile shootings have given the issue growing prominence in Scotland. Mr MacAskill pledged to press ahead... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Suffolk, UK Police Issue Shotgun Licences to Children as Young as 10
East Anglian Daily Times (UK)
1 March 2008
Children as young as 10 are being issued with shotgun licences by Suffolk police, an EADT investigation has found. Anti-gun campaigners have condemned the decision, arguing children are not responsible enough to use the powerful weapon. A Freedom of Information request found that an 11-year-old has been given a shotgun licence by police already this year, while in 2006 a 10-year-old was handed one. In the past... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
English 'Shocked' as Suffolk Newspaper Reveals 40 Guns Stolen in 4 Years
Ipswich Evening Star (UK)
25 February 2008
More than 40 guns have been stolen in Suffolk in the space of four years, The Evening Star can reveal today. New figures show that between 2003 and last year, 43 guns, including shotguns, rifles and handguns, have been "misappropriated", a term including stolen guns as well as those obtained by fraud or forgery. It is not clear how many of the weapons remain at large on the streets of Suffolk. The alarming figure... ( gunpolicy.org )
Germany
Germany Tightens Gun Control, Bans Replica Firearms, Airsoft, Airguns
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
22 February 2008
BERLIN -- The German parliament approved tighter gun-control laws on Friday in a move designed to stop the spread of violent crime. The new legislation bans the carrying of replica firearms and so-called airsoft guns as well as certain types of knives. "The change to the gun control laws will ensure greater security ... and counter threatening situations in public places," said Reinhard Grindel, a domestic affairs spokesman for... ( gunpolicy.org )
Sudan, China, Chad, Austria
Guns, Grenade Launchers in Chad, Darfur Traced Back to China, Austria
Mother Jones (USA)
22 February 2008
My first glimpse into the flow of small arms into Darfur began at 4:45 on a February morning in 2006. The lights were off in the first-class Sudan Airways lounge at Khartoum International Airport. Sitting to my left was Abdallah, resplendent in white robes, sporting spectacles and a sharply trimmed goatee. Back then, Abdallah's younger brother, Mahamat Nour, was the leader of an 8,000-man rebel force sworn to overthrow the government of... ( gunpolicy.org )
India, Russia
Kalashnikov Faces Tough Fight Rebuilding Gun Sales in India, World
Telegraph (Calcutta)
22 February 2008
NEW DELHI -- Mikhail Timofeyevich's terrible legacy spawned a culture that changed the face of war forever. But now the Avtomat Kalashnikov assault rifle that bears his surname is struggling to recreate a culture in which everything Russian was the preferred choice for the Indian armed forces. The makers of the Kalash, arguably the best-known name in small arms, were tucked away in a five-foot-by-five-foot prefab stall... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
UK Police Find 'Gun Which Killed Rhys,' the 11yr-old Liverpool Soccer Player
Guardian (UK)
20 February 2008
Detectives investigating the death of 11-year-old Rhys Jones today said they had found a gun they believe is the murder weapon, as the schoolboy's parents said the past six months had been "a living nightmare". Rhys, a keen Everton supporter, was shot dead a few hundred metres from his family home in Croxteth park, Croxteth, Merseyside, as he returned from football practice last August. Merseyside police said the gun was... ( gunpolicy.org )
Germany, United States, Iraq, Afghanistan
German Gun Maker H&K Dumps 'Unique Partnership' with Blackwater USA
Deutsche Welle (Germany)
19 February 2008
Weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch said it would end its relationship with Blackwater after German media reported that the controversial US-run military firm was using its guns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Blackwater, a private security company which has been contracted to protect high-profile US officials and foreign dignitaries in Iraq, had been using Heckler & Koch machine guns in both Iraq and Afghanistan, German broadcaster ARD's... ( gunpolicy.org )
India, Russia
India to Manufacture Kalashnikov Assault Rifles Under Licence to Russia
Times of India / TNN
19 February 2008
NEW DELHI -- With the 61st anniversary of the famed Kalashnikov AK-47 series around the corner, the Russian manufacturer of the world's best-known assault rifle announced that the latest AK-100 series will be manufactured in India. The Russian arms company, Izhmash, will shortly issue a licence to an Indian private arms manufacturer with whom negotiations are at an advanced stage. Company spokesperson Alexander Xavarzin said assembling... ( gunpolicy.org )
India, Russia
Kalashnikov Assault Rifles May Be Made in India, Under Licence to Russia
Daily News & Analysis (Mumbai)
19 February 2008
NEW DELHI -- The legendary Assault rifle Kalashnikov (AK) is set to make a 'legal' entry into India. The Russian firm making the AK rifles, Izhmash, is in advanced talks with a reputed Indian industry group to start manufacture in India of the latest AK-100 series. This is the lighter, though deadlier version of the assault rifle born a few months after World War II ended. "We are carrying on negotiations with one major... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
UK Army NCOs Arrested for Stealing Machine Guns, Selling to Criminals
Mirror (UK)
18 February 2008
Three soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of stealing machine guns, grenades and ammunition from their base and selling them to gangsters. A 36-year-old sergeant and two lance corporals -- a man of 27 and a 26-year-old woman -- were seized as police raided their barracks in Canterbury, Kent. An Army insider said: "The police swoop was sensational, there were squad cars everywhere. "We all knew something very... ( gunpolicy.org )
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