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Bahrain — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Bahrain is 180,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Bahrain is 24.82 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Bahrain ranked at No. 1201

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Bahrain ranked at No. 182

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Bahrain are reported to have 7,0003 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Bahrain are reported to have 12,6004 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

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Number of Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Bahrain, annual homicides by any means total

2006: 75
2005: 4
2004: 76
2003: 3

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Bahrain, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2008: 0.807
2007: 0.50
2006: 0.955
2005: 0.55
2004: 1.016
2003: 0.43

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Bahrain is reported to be US$26,6498 (2008)

Import Control

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Bahrain is reported to be US$2,130,6188 (2009)

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Bahrain, only licensed gun owners9 10 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

Firearm Registration

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Gun Dealer Record Keeping

In Bahrain, licensed firearm dealers are required10 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In Bahrain, State agencies are required10 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Bahrain, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law11

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

League of Arab States

As a member of the League of Arab States, Bahrain adopted the Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material in January 200212

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Bahrain abstained from endorsing13 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed14 by Bahrain

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Bahrain committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects15

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Bahrain has submitted one or more national reports16 11 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Bahrain, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated11

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Bahrain, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated11

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Bahrain submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is not apparent11

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated11 by Bahrain to other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Bahrain has not declared17 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Bahrain has been a Member State of the United Nations since 197118

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list19 Bahrain as a Participating State
Last Updated on 24 January 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

5.

UNODC.2008.‘Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed.’ Tenth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2005-2006).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,10 December. (Q10)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2006.‘Reported Overall Homicide Numbers and Rates per 100,000 Population for 64 Countries, 2003-04.’ Ninth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2003 – 2004).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,10 December. (Q9)Full Citation

7.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘Middle East and North Africa, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3813)Full Citation

8.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

9.

United Nations.1999.‘Analysis of Country Responses.’ United Nations International Study on Firearm Regulation.Vienna:UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division,30 August. (Q1)Full Citation

10.

Bahrain.2011.‘Control and Numbering of Public Security Force Weapons.’ National Report of Bahrain on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the United Nations,5 April. (Q4644)Full Citation

11.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

12.

League of Arab States / UNODA.2002.‘Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Council of the League of Arab States / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,1 January. (Q3215)Full Citation

13.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

14.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

15.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

16.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

17.

UNODA.2011.‘National Reports on Small Arms Exports.’ United Nations Register of Conventional Arms - The Global Reported Arms Trade.New York:United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,21 October. (Q14)Full Citation

18.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

19.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation