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Syria — 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 Syria is 735,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Syria is 3.92 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, Syria ranked at No. 621

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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, Syria ranked at No. 1122

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Syria are reported to have 2,010,0003 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Syria are reported to have 66,8544 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

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Number of Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Syria, annual homicides by any means total

2006: 2395
2005: 206
2004: 2126
2003: 189

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

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

2007: 3.007
2006: 1.87
2005: 1.75
2004: 1.90
2003: 1.04
2002: 2.70
1999: 0.95
1996: 0.96
1995: 1.09

ProductionGun Industry

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Firearm Manufacture

In Syria, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence, but is not conducted in practice8

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

In Syria, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law 9

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Syria is reported to be US$151,35510 (2009)

Import Control

In Syria, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 9

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Syria is reported to be US$736,90910 (2009)

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Smuggling Guns and Ammunition

Reports suggest that the level of firearm and ammunition smuggling in Syria is negligible8

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Syria is reported to be US$20011

MeasuresGun Regulation

Prohibited Firearms and Ammunition

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Regulation of Handguns

In Syria, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is permitted under licence, except for collection8

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Syria, only licensed gun owners (for certain arms)8 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Minimum Age for Firearm Possession

The minimum age for gun ownership in Syria is 18 years8

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Gun Owner Background Checks

An applicant for a firearm licence in Syria must pass background checks which consider criminal, mental and domestic violence8 records

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Domestic Violence and Firearms

Where a past history, or apprehended likelihood of family violence exists, the law in Syria stipulates8 that a gun licence should be denied or revoked

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Licensing Records

In Syria, authorities maintain a record12 of individual civilians licensed to acquire, possess, sell or transfer a firearm or ammunition

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Syria, the law requires12 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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Gun Dealer Record Keeping

In Syria, licensed firearm dealers are not required12 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority

Storage and Transport of Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm and Ammunition Transport Regulations

Regulations in Syria include8 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition while in transit

Carrying Guns

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Carrying Guns Openly in Public

In Syria, carrying a firearm in plain view in a public place is allowed without a permit, with some restrictions8

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

League of Arab States

As a member of the League of Arab States, Syria adopted the Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material in January 200213

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Syria abstained from endorsing14 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 signed15 by Syria

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Syria 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 Aspects16

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Syria has submitted one or more national reports17 9 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Syria, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated9

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Syria, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated9

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Syria submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is not apparent9

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated9 by Syria to other UN Member States

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UNPoA International Assistance – Recipient

Funds for UNPoA implementation have been provided9 to Syria by other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Syria has not declared1 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Syria has been a Member State of the United Nations since 194518

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list19 Syria as a Participating State
Last Updated on 18 March 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.

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

9.

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

10.

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

11.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

12.

Syria.2010.‘Marking, Licensing and Registration.’ National Report of the Syrian Arab Republic 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 the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations,1 January. (Q4687)Full Citation

13.

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

14.

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

15.

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

16.

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

17.

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

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