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Normally Law-Abiding Mexicans Take Up Illegal Guns for Protection
28 January 2012
National Public Radio (USA)
In Mexico, where criminals are armed to the teeth with high-powered weapons smuggled from the United States, it may come as a surprise that the country has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the world.
Law-abiding Mexicans who want a gun to defend themselves have no good options. Either they fight government red tape to get a legal permit, or they buy one on the black market.
After an outbreak of violence, one embattled community in northern Mexico called... (GunPolicy.org)
Russia Touts 20 New Kalashnikov Variants, Holds 17 Million Surplus
25 January 2012
RIA Novosti (Russia)
IZHEVSK - Izhmash, the manufacturer of Kalashnikov AK assault rifles, said its sales were up 57.4 percent last year at 5.73 billion rubles (about $190 million).
Civilian weapon sales rose 25 percent and a similar increase is expected this year, Izhmash press secretary Yelena Filatova said.
Production is to increase 30 percent this year, to 5.1 billion rubles, she added.
In September 2011, Chief of the Russian General Staff Nikolai Makarov said the Defense Ministry... (GunPolicy.org)
Russia's Kalashnikov Factory Dumped Assault Rifle Parts in Public Tip
16 January 2012
RIA Novosti (Russia)
IZHEVSK - Police have found functional gun parts at a dumping ground for destroyed Kalashnikov automatic rifles in the Urals republic of Udmurtia, local Interior Minister Alexander Pervukhin said on Monday.
"I regret to report we've discovered many firearms parts and details that can still be used," Pervukhin told the republic's head, Alexander Volkov. He did not elaborate on how the rifle parts ended up as waste.
The local Kalashnikov recycling facility already... (GunPolicy.org)
Siberian Truck Driver Takes Crates of Army AK-47s, Sells for Firewood
13 January 2012
RIA Novosti (Russia)
MOSCOW - A retiree in the Udmurtia region of the western Urals has alerted police after finding scores of Ak-47 assault rifles in crates he bought for firewood, police said.
The Udmurtian man contacted the police after he found "an object similar to a Kalashnikov assault rifle" in one of the wooden cases, a police source said.
Another 78 rifles and munitions were later found in the crates which the man bought for firewood from a Kamaz truck driver who was supposed to... (GunPolicy.org)
Israel,Jordan,Iraq,Turkey,Syria,Lebanon
Syria Crisis Amplifies Demand for Black Market Guns in Lebanon
10 January 2012
Daily Star (Beirut)
BEIRUT - As Abu Rida reels off a list of the latest prices for weapons and ammunition on Lebanon's black market, his small audience lets out low whistles of surprise."$2,000 for an RPG?" said one man, referring to a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.
"I swear to God," replied Abu Rida who has seen his profits skyrocket over the past year. "The prices are crazy. And it's all going to Syria."
Black market arms dealers like Abu Rida are struggling to cope with a soaring... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Sales Up? It's a Beat-up Story: Real US Industry Figures Suppressed
9 January 2012
Huffington Post (USA)
The media has been awash this holiday season with stories about a "dramatic increase" in gun sales in the United States. CNN, for example, declared, "December holiday shoppers were not just interested in buying the hottest electronics and toys--they also were purchasing record numbers of guns." USA Today claimed, "Along with millions of Kindles, Angry Birds and gift cards, Santa left a record number of guns under Americans' Christmas trees." Reuters gushed about "16.5... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada Police Ban, Seize 'Scarylooking Guns,' Registry at Death's Door
7 January 2012
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
With the firearms registry on death's door, the RCMP are using what little time remains to reclassify and seize certain scarylooking guns from Canadian firearms owners.
Among the guns being seized is a small-calibre varmint rifle called the Armi Jager AP80. Like many non-restricted rifles, it is semiautomatic and fires the .22-calibre bullet, the smallest used in any long gun.
The AP80 has been singled out because it looks too much like the infamous AK-47 assault... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Gun Love Under Fire - Experts Call for National Firearm Registry
5 January 2012
Local (Switzerland)
Almost two centuries have passed since Switzerland last fought in a war, yet the country's gun ownership rate remains the highest in Europe. After a series of gun-related killings at the end of last year, The Local's Meritxell Mir looks at what's being done to get fingers off triggers.
Every year, more than 300 people die in Switzerland in gun-related incidents. In many ways, the figure is quite low, when one considers the country has about 2.5 million weapons in... (GunPolicy.org)
China,Europe,United States,Thailand
Firearms Only for the Rich: Bangkok Guns 'Like a Louis Vuitton for Guys'
2 January 2012
CNN
If you have an itchy trigger finger while visiting Thailand it may be difficult to purchase a gun, but wealthy foreigners and Thais who live here can now enjoy their weapon of choice thanks to the recent lifting of a ban imposed in Bangkok last year.
Tourists can, however, buy custom-made leather holsters and other accessories at the estimated 80 weapons stores along Burapha Road, just east of the Sala Chalerm Krung Royal Theatre, where the vast majority of Bangkok's... (GunPolicy.org)
Guatemala,Mexico,United States
Texas Gun Shop Sold 'Infantry Squad' Weapons to Mexican Cartel Smugglers
8 December 2011
Guardian (UK)
It was nothing more than a routine inspection for federal agents. But as they browsed the records of Carter's Country gun shop in Houston, investigators picked up on a series of big sales. For cash.
Federal agents were alerted not only by the number of guns involved – sometimes a dozen at a time – but the type. Time and again buyers walked out of Carter's Country clutching assault rifles, semi-automatic pistols with armour-piercing bullets and powerful sniper... (GunPolicy.org)
In a Year, NYC Police Fire 20% of Bullets Fired in Hours by Kenya Police
4 December 2011
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
Consider this and think of the situation in Kenya as you read on: Last year, 52 officers out of a force of 34,565 officers from the New York Police Department intentionally fired 236 bullets during confrontations with suspects.
The officers reportedly shot and killed only eight people and injured 16 the whole year, in what the Police Department say marked record lows.
Of course the social and economic realities of Nairobi and New York are totally different but there... (GunPolicy.org)
Congo (DRC),Africa,Kenya,United States
High-price US Fashion Jewellery Made from AK-47s Funds Gun Destruction
30 November 2011
New York Times
When Cara Buono arrived at the Emmy Awards in September, nominated as best guest actress in a drama series for her role as Dr. Faye Miller in "Mad Men," she wore a $150,000 political statement in her lobes. "These earrings," she said, "are made from AK-47 gun metal."
Ms. Buono's husband, Peter Thum, is a founder, with John Zapolski, of Fonderie 47, an organization that converts what is perhaps the most widely distributed assault rifle into jewelry.
On a visit to Kenya... (GunPolicy.org)
Household Shootings Prompt Swiss to Rethink Army Guns Kept at Home
23 November 2011
Local (Stockholm)
Several killings in the last few weeks have led Switzerland's Security Policy Committee to take steps to remove weapons from the hands of people with a history of violence.
The parliamentary committee said confiscating firearms was a matter of urgency for individuals known to have made threats or perpetrated acts of violence.
To help avoid further tragedies, a unanimous committee called on the National Assembly to pass a motion requiring the Federal Council to combat... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Army-issue Guns Involved in 300 Civilian Deaths a Year
14 November 2011
SwissInfo
Another deadly incident involving an army-issue gun has been reported only ten days after a man shot his girlfriend with his army assault rifle.
Police in canton Neuchâtel say the latest case occurred in someone's home at the weekend when three people were handling guns.
An investigation is underway to establish the course of events and the origin of the ammunition.
Last February, Swiss voters rejected a proposal by an alliance of NGOs and centre-left political... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Weapon Bribery Probe: Gun Maker Heckler & Koch Raided Again
10 November 2011
Associated Press
BERLIN — Some 300 police officers searched the headquarters of Heckler & Koch Thursday amid allegations the German arms maker bribed Mexican officials to boost its sales, prosecutors said.
The firm is under investigation on suspicion that it "bribed officials in Mexico using cash payments for several years" in connection with arms deliveries between 2005 and 2010, Stuttgart prosecution spokeswoman Claudia Krauth said.
A spokeswoman for Heckler & Koch GmbH confirmed... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Soldier Kills Girlfriend with Army Rifle, Restarts Guns-at-home Debate
9 November 2011
Local (Switzerland)
Politicians, criminologists and police have called for army-issue weapons to be kept out of the hands of lawbreakers after a young man with a criminal record shot and killed his girlfriend last Friday.
The alleged murderer, a 23-year-old-man had several previous convictions for threatening behaviour and property damage before he shot his girlfriend in the head with his army assault rifle.
A heated debate has raged for years in Switzerland about firearm control and... (GunPolicy.org)
Demand Growing in Canada for High-Tech Guns Popularised in Games, Movies
26 October 2011
Vancouver Sun (British Columbia)
Whether it's computers, cars, motorbikes or guns, 28-year-old Greg MacDonald — a self-confessed "tech nerd" — is always looking for the latest and greatest technology.
A Newfoundlander and lover of fine machinery, MacDonald says the rigorous research and development that goes into modern military-grade firearms — known as "black rifles" within shooter circles — is a sort of poetry in motion.
"When I see a firearm, I see engineering, mathematics and physics,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Groups Want Some Guns Banned Before Registry Is Scrapped
23 October 2011
Vancouver Sun (British Columbia)
After finishing a rotation through Afghanistan with the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, 22-year-old Dan Styles is back in Canada, safe and sound with his young family.
When he's not caring for his one-year-old baby daughter, Styles now spends a lot of his personal time at the shooting range near his home at CFB Petawawa, in eastern Ontario. There, he hones the skills he relied on in the field.
"It's practice, practice, practice," he says. "The better you get at it,... (GunPolicy.org)
Quebec Woman Charged with Trying to Export Assault Rifle Parts to Lebanon
21 October 2011
National Post (Toronto)
MONTREAL — Young and striking in her black hijab, Mouna Diab was once active in a Quebec youth group that fought discrimination against Muslims by challenging the stereotypes that too often associate them with violence and terror.
But the outspoken 26-year-old activist had little to say this week after appearing in a Montreal courtroom to face a charge alleging she had violated a United Nations Security Council arms embargo that prohibits the export of weapons to... (GunPolicy.org)
Airguns Allowed into Canada Easily Converted into Real AK-47, Police Say
20 October 2011
CBC News (Canada)
The RCMP are racing to track down and seize hundreds of replica AK-47 BB guns imported from China that investigators fear can be easily reconfigured into deadly prohibited weapons.
The Mounties launched raids and seizures last week on a number of gun stores in B.C., Ontario, and Quebec. Investigators believe the toys — assembled with authentic parts from the Chinese Type-56 version of the AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle — can be transformed into weapons with a... (GunPolicy.org)
Iran,Yemen,Turkey,Libya,Iraq,Lebanon,Syria
Syria's Alawites Go on Arms Shopping Spree
16 October 2011
Jerusalem Post (Israel)
Small arms are increasingly in demand inside volatile Syria, particularly among the country's Alawite minority, who fear they may face retaliation over the revolt against their co-religionist, President Bashar Assad.
Most of the weapons are being smuggled in from Lebanon, once an end user of small arms during the country's 15-year civil war that ended in 1990. Today, Lebanon is overflowing with automatic weapons, grenades and hunting rifles, all of which are in demand... (GunPolicy.org)
Gunman Who Killed 4 and Himself in US Used Illegally Altered AK-47
5 October 2011
Las Vegas Review Journal (Nevada)
CARSON CITY - The gunman who killed four people and then himself at a restaurant on Sept. 6 used a Chinese-made version of an AK-47 assault rifle altered into an illegal automatic weapon, the Carson City sheriff's office said Wednesday.
Sheriff Ken Furlong said his deputies and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were continuing to investigate how the weapon and others ended up in the hands of Eduardo Sencion.
Sencion, 32, of Carson City, fired 60... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Dealer Trapped After UK Police Set Up Fake Shop in Manchester
4 October 2011
Manchester Evening News (UK)
A gun dealer was trapped after police set up a fake shop selling combat clothing.
Undercover cops posed as shop workers who were looking for lethal weapons in the elaborate sting.
The store was set up after police became concerned at the number of firearms on the streets of Manchester.
After weeks at the store on Princess Road, Moss Side, a gang member customer introduced the plain clothes officers to Marc Billingham, who supplied them with two working guns, an air... (GunPolicy.org)
Russia Defence Ministry Orders an Update of the Kalashnikov Rifle
28 September 2011
Moscow Times
The Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it has suspended purchases of the legendary Kalashnikov rifle and is expecting the manufacturer, Izhevsk machinery plant, to present it with a new model of the weapon.
Mobilization reserves of Kalashnikov assault rifles, which the Soviet armed forces began using in 1949, are too big, and the ministry is not satisfied with the quality of the current firearms arsenal, General Staff chief Nikolai Makarov said.
The current reserves... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigeria,Bahrain,Saudi Arabia,United Kingdom
UN Estimate: 1 to 3 Million Automatic Guns in Civilian Hands in Nigeria
17 September 2011
Next (Nigeria), Opinion
Arms manufacturers and dealers are delighted when a new conflict breaks out.
Desert Storm was a fantastic business opportunity for arms manufacturers. Every round shot through the barrel of a gun was another "ching-ching" in the cash register.
They are not the only ones that benefit through conflict. The likes of Halliburton rejoice with every airstrike and artillery shell that destroys a building or some part of national infrastructure in a foreign country. Every bit... (GunPolicy.org)
Boy Injures 2 Students with Unattended Police Assault Rifle in Russia
17 September 2011
RIA Novosti (Russia)
MAKHACHKALA - A high school student in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan accidentally wounded two other students after he made a shot from an assault rifle in a school, a local police spokesman said on Saturday.
He said several policemen were invited to a school in the Tarumovsky district of Dagestan to deliver a lecture for children.
"A senior class student was examining an assault rifle that was left unattended for some time by one of the policemen after... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Kills his Parents and Himself with Legally Owned Gun in Quebec
16 September 2011
Ottawa Citizen (Ontario)
A Gatineau man shot and killed his parents and then shot himself with a handgun that he legally owned, police said Thursday.
Police confirmed Patrick Mongeon-Johnson, 32, used his licensed and registered nine-millimetre handgun to kill his mother and stepfather before turning it on himself at 115 De Saguenay Street on Sept. 7.
An autopsy confirmed Lucie Johnson, 51, and Denis Lagacé, 59, died of gunshot wounds.
A handgun is considered a restricted firearm under... (GunPolicy.org)
Automatic Assault Rifle, Military Weapons Seized from Australian Bodyguard
15 September 2011
Sydney Morning Herald
The former bodyguard of the deceased billionaire Richard Pratt was caught with a cache of military weapons, explosives, stolen NSW police files and false passports stashed in his apartment, court documents reveal.
Sean Shane Bowman, who allegedly had an affair with one of Mr Pratt's mistresses, Madison Ashton, while still employed by him, appeared in Burwood local court yesterday on 60 charges after a police raid on his Rhodes apartment on May 12 uncovered the massive... (GunPolicy.org)
Major Seizures of Guns Mainly Firearm Dealer Imports - Australia Customs
14 September 2011
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
December 23, 2008
Sydney
Huge haul of weapons including:
Assault rifles: Steyr F88, Norinco SKS, Marlin 60 and ADI SLR L1A1
Handguns: Beretta 92FS and Remington 870 Wingmaster
Shot guns: Mossberg 500A
Teargas
16cm rifle silencer
Pistol scope
Megatron Transformer
December 8, 2009
Sydney
980 rounds of FMJ green tip M855 Penetrator armour piercing bullets
July 25, 2006
Brisbane
Steyer tactical scout elite .308 calibre rifle, with telescopic sight
May 30,... (GunPolicy.org)
Trinidad: 'For Such a Small Country, a Large Number of Illegal Guns'
12 September 2011
Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday
Nine more guns including a high-powered AK 47 assault rifle, have been recovered by the police within the past three days in various exercises in North, Central and West Trinidad from Friday to yesterday. This brings to 88 the number of guns seized since the start of the State of Emergency (SOE) on August 22.
A nitrogen cannister believed to be used in the manufacturing of silencers for firearms was also recovered and seized. A silencer is a component of a firearm used... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Charged with Smuggling Hundreds of Guns to Puerto Rico from US
8 September 2011
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)
Investigators have charged a New Jersey man with trafficking hundreds of .40-caliber Glock pistols from Central Florida to Puerto Rico though underground channels, a federal affidavit states.
Luis Velazquez-Pinero was indicted on Aug. 31 on charges that he illegally shipped firearms in interstate and foreign commerce, travelled from New Jersey to illegally acquire firearms and lied to investigators.
Records show agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and... (GunPolicy.org)
Armed Gun Owner Takes Cover as Nevada Killer Shoots 10 with AK-47
6 September 2011
New York Times
LOS ANGELES — A man armed with an AK-47 assault rifle opened fire Tuesday morning on a group of uniformed National Guard members as they ate breakfast at an IHOP restaurant in Carson City, Nev. He hit all five Guard members, killing three of them, and killed another woman and wounded five other people before taking his own life.
The gunman, identified by the police as Eduardo Sencion, 32, began his five-minute shooting rampage around 9 a.m. as people flocked to the... (GunPolicy.org)
3 Civilians Killed in a Restive Russian Province in North Caucasus
28 July 2011
San Francisco Chronicle / AP
MAKHACHKALA, Russia -- Police say a village leader and an elderly couple have been killed in a restive Russian province in the North Caucasus.
Vyacheslav Gasanov, a police spokesman in the republic of Dagestan, said village chief Rabadan Omarov in central Dagestan was killed late Thursday night when an unidentified man stormed his house and gunned him down with an assault rifle.
In southern Dagestan, a married couple in their 60s known, for having conservative Muslim... (GunPolicy.org)
Norway Shooter's Ruger Mini-14: Very Popular, 'Poor Man's Assault Rifle'
27 July 2011
Huffington Post (USA), Blog
The attack in Norway by Anders Behring Breivik, apparently involving a Ruger Mini-14 assault rifle, is only the most horrific of the mass shootings involving the company's products.
Founded in 1949, the "corporate motto" of Sturm, Ruger & Co. is "Arms Makers for Responsible Citizens." But Sturm, Ruger firearms are also often found in the hands of mass shooters: last year's attack at a Connecticut beer distributor, leaving eight victims dead and two wounded; the 1999... (GunPolicy.org)
Pakistan,South Asia,China,United States,United Kingdom,Germany,France,India,Nepal
Global Gun Trade Treaty the Only Way to Control 'Arms Bazaar'
25 July 2011
República (Kathmandu), Opinion
In 2009, I recall visiting a militant camp in India's North East a day before they would surrender. The deputy commander who was in charge and allegedly responsible for the death of at least 200 people brandished his M16 assault rifle and flaunted his bodyguard who was following him with a rocket launcher. He was calm but shifty-eyed and admitted having a personal saving of a few billion INR in his account. Barely 24 hours after his formal surrender, he was in seen in... (GunPolicy.org)
Judges Giving Gun Rights Back to Americans with History of Mental Illness
2 July 2011
New York Times
PULASKI, Virginia — In May 2009, Sam French hit bottom, once again. A relative found him face down in his carport "talking gibberish," according to court records. He later told medical personnel that he had been conversing with a bear in his backyard and hearing voices. His family figured he had gone off his medication for bipolar disorder, and a judge ordered him involuntarily committed — the fourth time in five years he had been hospitalized by court order.
When... (GunPolicy.org)
600 US Mayors Invoke Terrorism as an Argument for Stricter Gun Control
29 June 2011
Winnipeg Free Press (Manitoba)
WASHINGTON -- America's love affair with guns is a passionate and enduring one, the bonds strengthening even further in recent years thanks to the country's powerful pro-gun lobby.
But could the prospect of al-Qaida terrorists exploiting U.S. gun loopholes to purchase weapons for sinister purposes change historic attitudes about the right to bear arms in America?
A group of more than 600 urban mayors is clearly hoping recent remarks by Adam Gadahn, an American-born... (GunPolicy.org)
Tajikistan,Afghanistan,Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan Still Awash with Firearms, Guns Feature in Political Struggles
9 June 2011
Eurasianet.org (European Union - Asia) / Eagle-Tribune (Massachusetts)
One year after ethnic violence rocked southern Kyrgyzstan, leaving over 400 dead, gunshot wounds have been established as the main cause of death. Activists believe the country is still awash with firearms, and security experts say weapons are likely to keep featuring in domestic political struggles, especially as officials seek support from gun-toting associates or even arm themselves.
During the violent overthrow of Kurmanbek Bakiyev in April 2010, protestors seized... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Eurasianet.org (European Union - Asia) / Eagle-Tribune (Massachusetts)
US Al Qaeda New Message Revives the Debate over Gun Control Laws
8 June 2011
Al Arabiya News (UAE)
File it under "Fact is Stranger than Fiction." An American citizen working for Al Qaeda calls on Americans in the US to take advantage of their country's lax gun laws to better kill fellow Americans.
"What are you waiting for?" he asks in a video thought to have been produced somewhere in Pakistan.
The question came from Adam Yahiyeh Gadahn, who was born in Oregon, grew up in California, converted to Islam and became a spokesman for al Qaeda.
His message has the... (GunPolicy.org)
US Govt. Urged to Move on Legislation to Close the Gun Show Loophole
7 June 2011
Washington Post, Editorial
THERE MAY NEVER be a better spokesman for closing the gun show loophole than Adam Yahiye Gadahn.
A 32-year-old American and convert to Islam, Mr. Gadahn referred to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as "blessed raids" and called for additional "jihad against America." He has been on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list and faces criminal charges for treason and for providing material support to al-Qaeda. Mr. Gadahn is believed to have left his native Orange... (GunPolicy.org)
Al Qaeda Urges US Muslims to Take Advantage of the Easy Access to Firearms
4 June 2011
Fox News (USA)
Al Qaeda has released a video urging Muslims who live in the U.S. to take advantage of the easy access to firearms and buy guns to kill Americans.
In the two-hour video released Friday, Adam Gadahn, an American-born spokesman for the terror network, cited America as an example where Muslims in the West have tools at their disposal for a holy war against "the enemies of Islam."
"America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms," said Gadahn, who is known as... (GunPolicy.org)
New Al Qaeda Video Calls on US Muslims to Carry Out Terrorist Acts Using Guns
3 June 2011
ABC News (USA)
In a new video message released on the internet Friday, American-born al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn calls on Muslims living in America to carry out deadly one-man terrorist acts using fully automatic weapons purchased at gun shows, and to target major institutions and public figures.
"What are you waiting for?" asks Gadahn in English, and then adds that jihadis shouldn't worry about getting caught, since so many have been released. "Over these past few years, I've... (GunPolicy.org)
California Tough Gun Control Laws Cut Flow to Mexico
29 May 2011
San Francisco Chronicle
California's tough gun-control laws are targeted at armed criminals in general and mass-shooters in particular. But they appear to have had the unintended consequence of making California gun stores unattractive to purchasers buying weapons for the Mexican drug cartels.
A Hearst Newspapers survey of guns purchased in the United States and funneled to Mexican drug traffickers found that out of 1,600 guns identified by brand name and purchase point in court documents, a... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Weapons Lawfully Bought in US End Up in the Hands of Mexican Cartels
28 May 2011
Deseret News (Utah)
WASHINGTON — Convicted gun smuggler John Phillip Hernandez of Houston was likely not the kind of customer that Bushmaster Firearms International had in mind when he purchased 14 of the company's .223 caliber AR-15s at Houston area gun shops in 2006 and 2007.
Bushmaster describes the AR-15 rifle, a civilian version of the U.S. military's standard-issue M-16, as intended "for law enforcement, security and private consumer use." But the weapons that Hernandez and his... (GunPolicy.org)
The Future of Terrorism Belongs to Guns: 17 Deaths in US Caused by Guns
22 May 2011
New York Daily News, Opinion
When people think about terrorism, they tend to envision bombs, hostages and hijackings. But the future of terrorism increasingly belongs to the humble gun. From Frankfurt to Mumbai and beyond, terrorists are making the gun their primary weapon of choice.
Nowhere is this threat more troubling than here in the United States. In the decade since the Sept. 11 attacks, 17 Americans have been killed by reasonably clear-cut cases of homegrown Islamist terrorism. Every one of... (GunPolicy.org)
Buffalo Held Its Latest Gun Buyback: Police Collected More Than 600 Firearms
15 May 2011
Buffalo News (New York)
Buffalo held its fourth gun buyback Saturday, and police collected more than 600 firearms at seven churches throughout the city.
The no-questions-asked program yielded more than 200 nonworking guns, 170 rifles, 219 handguns and even a 12-gauge "street sweeper" assault rifle.
A curious aspect of the program was that more than half the weapons were turned in at just one of the seven locations— St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in South Buffalo, considered among the... (GunPolicy.org)
As Syrian Violence is Escalating, Guns Black Market Flourishes in Lebanon
14 May 2011
al Jazeera
As the Syrian uprisings escalate in violence, Lebanon's black market in arms is flourishing, with prices of light and medium weapons driven higher by Lebanese and Syrian demand.
"Prices have tripled in less than two months," says Wael, a local arms dealer, whose name has been changed to protect his identity.
According to local dealers, Syrians have been crossing the borders into neighbouring Lebanon to purchase weapons since late January, when the country erupted with... (GunPolicy.org)
California Gun Buyback Programme Offers Gift Certificates
6 May 2011
San Francisco Chronicle / AP
LOS ANGELES, California - The city of Los Angeles has a plan to get weapons off the streets: Turn in a handgun or shotgun, get a $100 gift certificate; surrendering an assault weapon earns a $200 certificate.
Police Chief Charlie Beck on Friday detailed the city's third gun buyback plan. Last year, more than 2,500 weapons were turned in and more than 1,700 weapons were exchanged in 2009.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, police officers will be stationed at five... (GunPolicy.org)
Attorney General Grilled on US Assault Rifle Sales to Mexican Drug Cartels
3 May 2011
Daily Caller (Washington DC)
Rep. Darrell Issa, the California Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, was able to question Attorney General Eric Holder for the first time over the Project Gunrunner and Operation Fast and Furious scandal during a Tuesday morning hearing of the House Judiciary Committee. The scandal involves a sting operation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in which American guns – including AK-47 assault rifles and military-grade,... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Gun Dealer Boasts He can't Keep Up with Demand in Lebanon
22 April 2011
Sydney Morning Herald
The Beiruti arms dealer Abu Jihad is more than an hour late to our pre-arranged meeting.
"I'm very sorry for the delay," says the balding father of four when he finally appears. "On the way here I made an unexpected sale. Two M16s."
Wearing green camouflage pants and a black parka, Abu Jihad sits down and reaches for the Smith & Wesson revolver strapped to his ankle. "I normally carry three weapons," he says, emptying the revolver of its bullets and spinning the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Policing Agency Ignored Mexico Gun Running Warnings - Senator
15 April 2011
Reuters
U.S. federal agents encouraged an Arizona gun dealer to sell weapons to suspected traffickers for the Mexican drug cartels, even after the dealer warned they would end up in the hands of "bad guys," according to correspondence released by a U.S. senator.
Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, released excerpts from an e-mail from an unidentified Arizona gun dealer to a supervisory agent of a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives operation targeting... (GunPolicy.org)
Sailor Charged with Murder Fired Assault Rifle in British Nuclear Submarine
11 April 2011
Associated Press
LONDON, United Kingdom - A Royal Navy sailor appeared in court Monday, charged with murdering an officer and shooting at three other crewmen in a gun spree aboard a British nuclear-powered submarine.
Able Seaman Ryan Donovan, 22, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address during the brief hearing at Southampton Magistrates' Court in southern England.
Prosecutor Nick Hawkins said Donovan was accused of "the deliberate discharge of a SA80 rifle six times, aimed at... (GunPolicy.org)
Surge of Firearm Violence Puts Oregon City, State Gun Laws in Crosshairs
31 March 2011
Portland Tribune (Oregon)
The day after four people were wounded in a suspected Northeast Portland gang-related shooting, gun-control advocates rallied at City Hall.
Speakers at the March 21 event included Mayor Sam Adams, religious leaders and relatives of people killed by guns. They spoke passionately about the emotional and societal toll of shootings, including suicides.
"It is too easy for people to get guns. We're not safe as citizens," said Teressa Railford, whose nephew, Andre Payton,... (GunPolicy.org)
The Truth About Switzerland - Gun Laws Americans Would Call 'Tyrannical'
28 March 2011
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (USA), Web page
In Switzerland — a nation in which a "well regulated Militia" still plays a leading role in national defense — guns are a hot issue. A February referendum on new gun policy proposals quickly turned into a national debate on Switzerland's gun culture and citizen/soldier tradition. The resulting dialogue in this landlocked nation of mountains and lakes has been fascinating and shed light on some long-perpetuated myths about Switzerland's gun laws.
Responding to... (GunPolicy.org)
US City Officials Used Police Car to Buy, Smuggle 200 Guns Into Mexico
27 March 2011
National Public Radio (USA)
Earlier this month, federal agents busted a suspected gunrunning ring that allegedly includes the mayor, police chief and a city councilman of Columbus, N.M. The government alleges the officials used the power and privileges of office to buy weapons destined for a Mexican drug cartel.
Up until now, the most notorious crime in the history of Columbus was the infamous raid by Pancho Villa on the U.S. garrison here in 1916. That was before March 10 of this year.
Federal... (GunPolicy.org)
The American Gun Lobby's Solution to Gun Violence: Pack More Heat
24 March 2011
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Column
Utah is America's first lucky locale to have an official state gun: A week ago, the Browning M1911 automatic pistol joined cuthroat trout, Spanish sweet onions and the Dutch oven among symbols of the Beehive State.
Utah beat out Arizona, where legislators want to honor Wild West traditions by making the Colt single-action Army revolver official firearm of the Grand Canyon State.
The gun lobby gives no quarter. If you felt the Jan. 8 mass shooting in Tucson, which... (GunPolicy.org)
Enraged at 50¢ Taco Bell Price Hike, Customer Fires Assault Rifle at Police
21 March 2011
Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Police say a San Antonio Taco Bell customer enraged that the seven burritos he ordered had gone up in price fired an air gun at an employee and later fired an assault rifle at officers before barricading himself into a hotel room.
San Antonio police Sgt. Chris Benavides says officers used tear gas Sunday night to force the man from the hotel room after a three-hour standoff. The man is charged with three counts of attempted capital murder.... (GunPolicy.org)
2,405 More Americans Have Been Shot Dead Since Tucson Mass Shooting
13 March 2011
Newsweek (USA)
On a snowy Wednesday evening in February, the main attraction on the marquee at the Lyric Theatre in Blacksburg, Va., was True Grit, the Coen Brothers' bloody homage to the shoot-'em-up Westerns of Hollywood's Golden Age. But the movie playing inside had a very different message to send.
Four years ago, on April 16, 2007, Colin Goddard was one of 49 people shot by Seung-Hui Cho in Virginia Tech's Norris Hall, a mere 1,000 yards from the Lyric Theatre — and one of... (GunPolicy.org)
Texas Mayor, Police Chief Helped Smuggle 200 Guns to Mexico, Say Feds
10 March 2011
Reuters
EL PASO, Texas - The mayor and police chief of a small town on the U.S.-Mexico border were among 11 suspects indicted for allegedly trafficking around 200 guns to Mexico, authorities said on Thursday.
The U.S. Attorney's office in New Mexico said the mayor of Columbus, Eddie Espinoza, the town's police chief Angelo Vega, and village trustee Blas Gutierrez were among those arrested on an 84-count indictment.
"Gutierrez, Espinoza and Vega were duty sworn to protect and... (GunPolicy.org)
Texas Professors Scared of Armed Students, Scared of Arming Students
6 March 2011
Los Angeles Times
AUSTIN, Texas - Konrad Sliwowski stood in the shadow of the University of Texas clock tower surrounded by the lunchtime clamor: the student election volunteers in handmade "Vote Big John" T-shirts, the Lego Club, and activists against human trafficking stationed near fliers advertising a screening of "Airplane!"
"I don't like guns in any kind of situation," the 22-year-old senior said recently while passing out fliers for a lecture on Rwanda. "School is already an... (GunPolicy.org)
Fear of Obama Sends Hidden Handgun Permit Numbers Soaring in Ohio
3 March 2011
Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
Ohio has pumped out a record number of permits to carry concealed weapons since Barack Obama became president, according to a report released yesterday by Attorney General Mike DeWine.
"There's the perception out there that gun control might be inevitable under the Obama administration," said Jeff Garvas, president of Ohioans for Concealed Carry.
"So when there's a potential to lose your right to own a gun or it might be harder to get a permit, that might drive more... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Rifle Used to Kill US Agent in Mexico Traced to Texas Gun Buyer
28 February 2011
Associated Press
DALLAS - Three people suspected of smuggling guns to Mexico were arrested in a Dallas suburb on Monday after federal investigators traced the gun used in the killing of a U.S. agent in Mexico to one of them, officials said.
Agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested the suspected gun smugglers in morning raids in the southern Dallas suburb of Lancaster, Texas, ATF spokesman Tom Crowley said. Crowley referred questions on other... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns-on-Campus Campaigners Ignore Downside: Youth + Firearms = Risk
22 February 2011
Los Angeles Times, Editorial
When a 19-year-old sophomore named Colton Tooley opened fire with an assault rifle last fall near the UT Tower at the University of Texas, it seemed to some like a horrible rerun: In 1966, the tower was the site of what was then the worst campus shooting in U.S. history, when a sniper firing from the top of the structure killed 14 people. In some states, this kind of history might lead to government action to protect students from gun violence. But not in... (GunPolicy.org)
The US Campus Gun Debate: A Timeline of School and College Shootings
21 February 2011
Telegraph (UK)
Guns are banned at schools, universities and colleges in 38 American states. In 11 others, schools are allowed to decide whether or not to ban firearms from the premises. At present only Utah demands that they allow qualified gun owners to carry weapons on site.
This is a timeline of recent shootings at American colleges dating back to the Virginia Tech massacre in April 2007, when Seung-Hui Cho, a student, killed 32 people and injured another 15, in the country's... (GunPolicy.org)
US Congress Votes to Prevent Reporting of Multiple Assault-weapon Sales
20 February 2011
Washington Post
The House voted overwhelmingly Friday to block the Obama administration from implementing a controversial proposal meant to give federal authorities a new tool to catch gunrunners to Mexico.
The proposed rule was strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association, which praised the House for taking the action.
The measure passed with bipartisan support, 277 to 149, which added it to a massive spending bill that would keep the federal government running through... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Gun Dealers Face US Charges Involving Tens of Thousands of AK47s
20 February 2011
Guardian (UK)
His lawyers contend he is a model citizen. And as a successful businessman, Gary Hyde certainly exudes an aura of respectability. For years the 41-year-old father of two was a volunteer police officer in his home town of York, until a serious injury forced him to retire. "He is an upstanding and respected member of that community," his lawyers argued last week.
But now another picture of Hyde is emerging. A man who had turned his enthusiasm for guns and military... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Rifles Fly off Shelves as Arizona Gun Dealers Arm Mexican Gangs
20 February 2011
Tucson Citizen (Arizona)
A man approaches the counter at a Glendale gun store and asks for five AK-47 rifles.
Three days later, he returns and buys seven pistols. Two weeks later, he buys 20 more AK-47s.
Over the next several months, federal agents say, the same man, Uriel Patino of Phoenix, will return to Lone Wolf Trading Co. 18 times, buying a total of 42 handguns and 190 semiautomatic rifles.
Patino tells store clerks that all 232 guns are for his personal use.
But federal authorities... (GunPolicy.org)
Long Island Gun Shop Owners Accused of Selling Illegal Assault Weapons
18 February 2011
Long Island Herald (New York)
Five Nassau County gun shop owners –– including an East Meadow resident who owns a shop in Merrick and a Bellmore resident who owns shops in New Hyde Park and Seaford –– have been arrested and charged with illegally selling assault weapons, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced on Thursday.
The arrests came after a 10-month undercover investigation by the District Attorney's Office and the New York State Police, which resulted in the arrest of... (GunPolicy.org)
States at Centre of America's Debate Over Hidden Handguns in Churches
16 February 2011
Deseret News (Utah)
A little more than a month after the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson, Ariz., that left 6 people dead, gun control has again become a hot-button issue — although not in a form many might have expected.
According to Bloomberg, following the shooting, one-day sales of handguns in Arizona jumped 60 percent to 263 on Jan. 10 compared with 164 on that same Monday in 2009. States like Ohio, California, Illinois and New York also had large jumps in sales, and nationwide sales... (GunPolicy.org)
Judge: UK Gun Dealer Must Stay in New York to Await Gun Running Trial
15 February 2011
Washington Post
ROCHESTER, New York - A British arms dealer was denied permission Tuesday to return home while awaiting trial in western New York on charges of scheming to import banned Chinese assault rifle parts.
U.S. District Judge Charles Siragusa ordered Gary Hyde of York, England, to remain in the Rochester area in a case involving a trio of gun dealers that could shed light on the illicit global arms trade.
The 41-year-old Hyde pleaded not guilty to the charges last week,... (GunPolicy.org)
Peaceful, Neutral Switzerland Cherishes Its Armed Tradition, Votes Pro-gun
13 February 2011
Canadian Press
GENEVA — Neutral Switzerland is among the best-armed nations in the world, with more guns per capita than almost any other country except the U.S., Finland and Yemen.
At least 2.3 million weapons lie stashed in basements, cupboards and lofts in this country of less than 8 million people, according to the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey.
On Sunday, Swiss voters made sure it stays that way, rejecting a proposal to tighten the peaceful Alpine nation's relaxed firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
Switzerland Rejects Tighter Gun Control, Keeps Army Guns in 1 in 4 Homes
13 February 2011
BBC News
Swiss voters have rejected proposed tighter controls on gun ownership, final results show.
Twenty of the 26 cantons and 56.3% of voters rejected the plan, meaning the current system allowing army-issue weapons to be kept at home will remain.
Supporters of the tighter curbs wanted to have weapons kept in armouries and were demanding stricter checks on gun owners.
Opponents said the move would have undermined trust in the army.
For the proposal to succeed, it required... (GunPolicy.org)
Cherished Tradition of Swiss Army Guns at Home Now Faces Referendum
12 February 2011
Wall Street Journal
ZURICH — Switzerland is in the midst of an emotional debate over a proposal to limit weapons in a country that cherishes its right to bear arms, echoing the U.S. reflection on the issue in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Arizona last month.
Gun ownership has long enjoyed strong support in Switzerland, both for national defense and cultural reasons, and the country has one of the highest arms rates in the world.
That is because of a longstanding tradition for the... (GunPolicy.org)
Virgin Island Man Kept AK-47 'For Protection' Against Disturbed Brother
10 February 2011
BVI Beacon (British Virgin Islands)
A government employee who walked down Sugar Mill Road on Saturday wielding an AK-47 assault rifle was sentenced this week to spend 16 months in prison and pay a $500 fine. Kelvin Smith, a 41-year-old messenger with the Passport Office, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court on Monday to charges of unlawful possession of explosives and carrying a prohibited weapon, a count that carries a maximum 10-year prison term.
Mr. Smith will serve an additional six months in prison... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,United Kingdom,Portugal,China,United States,Europe
Gun Runner Turns on Licensed Dealers in UK/US/Europe Trafficking Case
10 February 2011
Associated Press
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - A sudden plea agreement in a federal prosecution of a trio of international weapons dealers has heightened momentum in a case that could shed light on the illicit global arms trade, including irregularities in U.S.-backed shipments of assault rifles to Iraq.
Gun dealer Karl Kleber, a German national who had been living in Portugal, pleaded guilty Wednesday in a U.S. district courtroom, admitting to violating federal arms laws in a scheme to import... (GunPolicy.org)
Threatening, Aggressive German Gun Collector Found with 362 Weapons
9 February 2011
Agence France Presse
German police were stunned on Wednesday to find an arsenal of 362 weapons at the house of an 83-year-old man, including rifles and machine guns as well as armour-piercing bullets.
Authorities raided the man's house in Beckingen in western Germany after he had "become increasingly threatening and aggressive to people around him," police said in a statement.
"The raid team was pretty astonished," it added.
They discovered 35 rifles, 77 handguns, a G3 assault rifle and... (GunPolicy.org)
White House Delays Prevention of US-Mexico Assault Weapon Smuggling
9 February 2011
Associated Press
The White House says tracking the bulk sale of high-powered rifles from border states gunshops which legally sell thousands of assault weapons that end up in Mexico each year is not an emergency, and has rejected a request from the U.S. agency that monitors weapons sales to do so without public review.
Instead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' proposed requirement that firearms dealers near the Mexican border to report multiple purchases of... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Gun Culture, Assault Weapons at Home Under Fire in Referendum
9 February 2011
Associated Press
BUEREN AN DER AARE, Switzerland — The neutral Swiss do love their guns and their frequent, citizen-inspired referendums. Those two deeply cherished rights collide this weekend as Swiss voters decide whether to impose far-reaching restrictions on firearms.
The nationwide vote Sunday pits critics of Switzerland's high rate of firearms suicides against those who fear tighter rules may hurt the country's beloved village shooting clubs or cripple its citizen... (GunPolicy.org)
Texas, 7 Other US States Consider Encouraging More Guns on Campus
4 February 2011
National Public Radio (USA)
Is the answer to mass shootings on college campuses to arm students and staff? Eight states are considering legislation that would allow people to carry a concealed handgun into the lecture hall, the library or the dorm. Ground zero for the debate is Texas, where a proposed law would remove "premises of higher education" as gun-free zones.
"Right now, so-called gun-free zones, I think, ought to be renamed Victims Zones," says state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, a San Antonio... (GunPolicy.org)
Romanian Assault Rifles Modified in US, Flood South to Mexican Drug War
3 February 2011
Center for Public Integrity (Washington DC)
Camron Scott Galloway, 21, walked into X Caliber Guns in Phoenix, Ariz., on Jan. 30, 2008, and filled out forms for the purchase of six AK-47 rifles.
Reliable and powerful, and a bargain at about $500 each, the Romanian-made gun, a semiautomatic version of the iconic Kalashnikov assault weapon, had become popular with the drug cartels in Mexico.
Galloway, who eventually pleaded guilty to a forgery charge and became a cooperating prosecution witness in a broader case,... (GunPolicy.org)
Hundreds of State-owned Assault Weapons, Pistols 'Missing' in Comoros
31 January 2011
IRIN (UN News)
MUTSAMUDU - Hundreds of weapons used in a revolt on Anjouan, one of three islands in the Comoros archipelago, remain unaccounted for, causing the government to change its strategy for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.
Some of the more than 300 small arms - from pistols to assault rifles - issued by the state to Anjouan's Forces De Gendarmerie d'Anjouan (FGA), part of the national army, were turned against the Comorian national government by Mohamed Bacar... (GunPolicy.org)
Agent Killed with Assault Rifle Let Loose in US-Mexico Gun Running Sting?
31 January 2011
Associated Press
PHOENIX - A U.S. senator is examining a claim that two guns sold in purchases sanctioned by federal firearms agents were later used in a December shootout that left a Border Patrol agent dead near the Arizona-Mexico border.
Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa said in a letter provided Monday to The Associated Press he had received information that appears to partially corroborate the claim received by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about the... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed British Gun Dealers Charged in UK-US 'AK-47 Conspiracy'
30 January 2011
Guardian (UK)
The shadowy world of Britain's arms dealers has been thrust into the spotlight after the directors of two companies based in York and Kent were charged with conspiring to illegally export to the US hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition for AK-47 assault rifles in breach of an American embargo.
Court documents filed in the US claim that British businessman Gary Hyde and his associate Karl Kleber fraudulently imported more than 5,000 Chinese-produced AK-47 drum... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun-toting Activist's 'Misguided' Approach Hurts Cause, Say Advocates
30 January 2011
Tennessean (Nashville)
As Leonard Embody walked down Belle Meade Boulevard in January 2010, black powder revolver in his hand, a concerned passer-by called police.
"White male, he looks like a doctor; I mean, he's just a normal-looking guy," the caller told Belle Meade police. "And I'm all for the right to bear arms, but that seems a little odd."
He had already drawn attention a month earlier by walking around Radnor Lake State Natural area with an AK-47-like pistol he was carrying.
Embody... (GunPolicy.org)
Lawmakers in Firearm Frenzy: Utahns Oppose Open Gun Carry on Campus
29 January 2011
Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
There can be little doubt a week into the 2011 Legislature that lawmakers like their guns. Love them, really.
Lawmakers opened the session praising Utah weapons pioneer John M. Browning, celebrating a day honoring the state's founding father of firearms and then moving to designate Browning's M1911 as Utah's official gun.
And a House committee approved a bill that would require hotel owners to allow patrons to keep guns in their rooms.
"I think the reason you see so... (GunPolicy.org)
If Americans Want Sensible Gun Control Laws, We'll Have to Speak Up
29 January 2011
Des Moines Register (Iowa), Opinion
The renewed Republican hold on the Iowa governor's office and the Iowa House carries a radical agenda, possibly moving Iowa further right and obviously seeking to repeal all vestiges of any progressive agenda.
Gun rights enthusiasts are hoping to move the radical agenda their way. This includes the National Rifle Association (NRA), which sends a lobbyist to the Iowa Legislature when the association feels the opportunity for change its way has come along. An NRA... (GunPolicy.org)
Arms Trade Treaty to Control Guns, Rein in Trigger Happy Rogue Regimes
29 January 2011
Inter Press Service News Agency
PARIS - A half a century after U.S. president Dwight Eisenhower named and denounced the military-industrial complex's ever-increasing influence on world affairs, the arms trade thrives more than ever, with African states frequently being the destination.
Although figures are hard to come by, the development advocacy group Oxfam estimates that, every year, sub-Saharan African governments spend around 18 billion dollars on weapons and defence, roughly the same amount as... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Alberta Gun Owner in Fantasy World, Faces Jail for Illegal Arsenal
27 January 2011
Calgary Herald (Alberta)
CALGARY - John Sattler told police after they seized a cache of restricted and prohibited weapons from his northwest Calgary home nearly two years ago that he was the "master of war."
He also referred to himself as "the biggest hit man in the world and the smartest," and said he owned about 10 rocket launchers and "was thinking about shooting down the police helicopter because he thought it would be funny."
Facing 75 criminal charges on Thursday, Sattler, 48, pleaded... (GunPolicy.org)
Why Gun Control Always Misfires in America: Electoral Imbalance to Blame
24 January 2011
Guardian (UK), Opinion
For all the national outrage over the Tucson massacre, and renewed appeals by well-meaning politicians like Michael Bloomberg, everyone knows that sentiment will not translate into commonsense gun control laws.
As after the Columbine massacre in 1999, national polls show a majority of Americans favouring stricter gun control laws, yet as with so many other issues, majority support does not necessarily lead to congressional action. How can there be such an ongoing... (GunPolicy.org)
Virginia Data Show Drop in Criminal Firepower During US Assault Gun Ban
23 January 2011
Washington Post
The number of guns with high-capacity magazines seized by Virginia police dropped during a decade-long federal prohibition on assault weapons, but the rate has rebounded sharply since the ban was lifted in late 2004, according to a Washington Post analysis.
More than 15,000 guns equipped with high-capacity magazines - defined under the lapsed federal law as holding 11 or more bullets - have been seized by Virginia police in a wide range of investigations since 1993,... (GunPolicy.org)
America's Gun Lobbies: Listen to The Inmates Who Run the Asylum
21 January 2011
Globe & Mail (Toronto)
Why is the United States so much more violent than Canada? Canadians receive, even welcome, violence-based American mass culture pumped out 24/7 by the mammoth entertainment industry. Yet our society remains dramatically less violent than theirs. Take guns.
The United States has by far the highest gun homicide rate in the industrialized world. In a study of 23 of these nations, the American rate was nearly 20 times higher than the others. Some 100,000 shootings take... (GunPolicy.org)
More Madness in Gun-happy Florida: Jail Doctors for Asking About Guns
20 January 2011
St Petersburg Times (Florida), Column
Out in Tucson the blood on the sidewalks in barely dry. Yet one would think the Florida Legislature is vying to become the candlelight memorial capital of the country.
We've already established to the rest of the nation that Florida leads the way when it comes to the vast numbers of crazies strolling the streets. And that's just Tallahassee.
And to ensure the state's penchant for turning incredibly insane ideas into laws, this year's Legislature, a wholly owned... (GunPolicy.org)
America's Leaders Should Tone Down Rhetoric, Examine Our Gun Laws
19 January 2011
Oklahoma Daily, Column
The current political landscape is deeply disturbing. Politicians preach violence and toxic rhetoric; a trigger-happy populace seems eager to follow.
Unfortunately, it took an assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., the murders of six blameless people including a Federal Judge and a 9-year-old, and a dozen more injuries for this country to reopen a dialogue on decorum in public discourse and gun control laws.
As more evidence comes to light on the... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Vote Pre-poll Leans Toward Banning Military Guns in the Home
19 January 2011
Miller-McCune (California)
While the assassination attempt on Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona revived a predictable and unchanging round of gun control debate in the U.S., a referendum in Switzerland — Europe's best-armed nation — is showing a shift of opinion away from private gun ownership.
Every third household in Switzerland has a firearm, normally government-issued, because every male citizen under about 50 is also a reserve soldier. Instead of a standing professional army, the government... (GunPolicy.org)
Congresswoman Releases Text of Her Proposed US Gun Control Bill
17 January 2011
New American (USA)
Following the tragic Tucson, Arizona shooting, lawmakers quickly reacted by announcing their intent to strengthen gun control laws. On Sunday, Representative Carolyn McCarthy released the draft of the bill that she is planning to introduce to Congress next week, one that would outlaw high-capacity magazines.
Politico reports, "Representative Carolyn McCarthy's (D-N.Y.) bill also goes further than the assault weapon ban that would expire in 2004, outlawing the sale or... (GunPolicy.org)
NRA, 'Rabid' Followers Must Not Dictate Who Can Be Obama's Gun Cop
16 January 2011
Sacramento Bee (California), Editorial
The slaughter in Tucson has reawakened the national debate about gun laws. It's long past time for that.
The deranged 22-year old who allegedly killed six and wounded 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was easily able to purchase a semiautomatic pistol and a high-capacity magazine that allowed him to fire off 30 bullets without reloading.
A law that banned that type of military-style assault weapon expired in 2004 and has not been renewed. The powerful... (GunPolicy.org)
Arizona is Heavily Armed State Where Even a TV Station is Called KGUN
16 January 2011
Miami Herald
TUCSON, Arizona -- At the Frontier Gun Shop toward the east side of this city, Jim Sharrah figures he can outfit you with a quality handgun or rifle, ammunition and pretty much whatever else you need in 15 to 20 minutes.
As long as you're a resident of Arizona and at least 21 without an adjudicated history of violence or mental issues, that's about how long the entire process takes, including the background check. You can walk out with the weapon loaded and tucked... (GunPolicy.org)
Wingnuts and Gun Nuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Tries to Hijack America
14 January 2011
CNN, Opinion
In the wake of the Tucson tragedy, even calls for civility are being politicized.
Common-sense criticisms of the rise we've seen in violent campaign rhetoric and imagery and threats are themselves attacked.
This ironically ignores the work of the wounded congresswoman for whom we are all praying. Gabrielle Giffords is a centrist Democrat representing a primarily Republican district, committed to reaching across the aisle in a spirit of civility and finding... (GunPolicy.org)
America's 'Fiercest Gun Control Advocate in Congress' Touts Magazine Ban
13 January 2011
Politico (Washington DC)
The fiercest gun-control advocate in Congress released the text of a bill she plans to introduce next week that would outlaw high-capacity magazines like the one a gunman used to shoot 20 people in a matter of seconds in Arizona this weekend.
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's (D-N.Y.) bill also goes further than the assault weapon ban that expired in 2004, outlawing the sale or transfer of clips that hold more than ten rounds, even those obtained before the law takes effect,... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany Bans Heckler & Koch Gun Sales to Mexico in Human Rights Row
13 January 2011
Canadian Business / AP
BERLIN - Germany's government has banned weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH from any new arms deliveries to Mexico amid concerns they are ending in parts of the country where Berlin has forbidden weapons exports over human rights issues, according to a letter obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
The letter from the Economy Ministry to the arms manufacturer, dated Jan. 4, says the company's applications for exports of "weapons and other defense goods" to... (GunPolicy.org)
