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Brazil: 4.3 Million Guns Sold in 5yrs, 40,000 Gun Deaths in 2009 [Portugues]
27 January 2012
Publica (Brazil)
[Translated summary: domestic manufacturers alone sold 4.3 million guns in Brazil over the past five years. Nearly 40,000 people died in 2009 in episodes involving firearms, including homicides, suicides and accidents, according to latest figures provided by the Ministry of Health. A study by Pablo Dreyfuss, who was a leading expert on the subject, showed that 90% of these deaths are the result of crimes and the risk of dying from injuries caused by firearms in Brazil... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Destroyed 138,000 Arms in 2011 [Espanol]
17 January 2012
Venezolana de Televisión (Caracas)
[Translated summary: The director of Venezuela National Police explained that the rate of destruction in 2011 is of 464 weapons per 100,000 people. An important result compared to 90 weapons per 100,000 people in Brazil.]
El director de la PNB explicó que esa cifra nos da una tasa de destrucción de 464 armas por cada 100.000 habitantes, sólo en el 2011 / Resaltó que este que este dato demuestra que en Venezuela "estamos demostrando con hechos que hay una voluntad... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela's 'Record' Homicide Rate Points to Wide Availability of Guns
17 January 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
With Venezuela's homicides climbing to dramatic rates, rising by a third in 2011, it seems more urgent than ever to reduce the huge number of firearms circulating among civilians.
According to Venezuela's main police agency, known by its acronym the CICPC, there were 18,850 murders in 2011, a 30 percent increase from the previous year.
Another count by watchdog group the Venezuelan Violence Observatory (OVV), which says it bases its numbers on police reports,... (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)
Venezuela Bans Gun Sales, Stops Issuing Permits to Carry Guns [Espanol]
21 December 2011
Agence France Presse
[Translated summary: Venezuela has banned for one year the sale of firearms to individuals and the issuance of permits to carry firearms as part of a plan to combat violence and insecurity in the country, said the Minister of Interior and Justice, Tarek El Aissami.]
CARACAS — Venezuela prohibirá por un año la venta de armas de fuego a particulares y la entrega de permisos para su porte como parte de un plan para combatir la violencia y la inseguridad en el país,... (GunPolicy.org)
FIFA Mulls Brazilian Plans for Gun Scrapping Drive at Soccer World Cup
14 December 2011
Guardian (UK)
RIO DE JANEIRO - Football's governing body, Fifa, is studying plans to hand out free or cut-price World Cup tickets to football fans who surrender guns to the Brazilian government.
Brazil's justice ministry submitted the plans for the 2014 event last month as part of a new disarmament drive in the South American country.
According to reports in the Brazilian media, the government's suggestions also include swapping official footballs and shirts signed by World Cup... (GunPolicy.org)
El Salvador Destroyed 3,817 Guns in 2011, 36,000 Since 2000 [Espanol]
13 December 2011
Info Defensa (El Salvador), Media release
[Translated summary: El Salvador Ministry of Defence destroyed 3,817 firearms in 2011. Amongst these, 2,782 handguns, 856 rifles and 179 hand-made artifacts. Since 2000, 36,000 firearms were destroyed in El Salvador.]
SAN SALVADOR – El Ministerio de la Defensa Nacional de El Salvador destruyó la semana pasada más de 3.000 armas irregulares que fueron decomisadas en diferentes acciones policiales durante el año 2011. Según informó Defensa, a través de un... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Govt Recorded More Than 38,000 Gun Deaths in 2010 [Espanol]
12 December 2011
La Nueva (Argentina)
[Translated summary: According to data released by Brazil Ministry of Health, 70.5% of the murders of 2010 involved firearms. If suicides, accidents and gun deaths from undetermined cause are taken into account, firearms were involved in the death of more than 38,000 people.]
El 70,5 % de los asesinatos que se registraron en Brasil en 2010, 35.233 personas, fueron muertos con armas de fuego, según datos difundidos hoy por el Ministerio de Salud.
Si se cuentan los... (GunPolicy.org)
Russia,Mozambique,Nigeria,India,Australia,East Africa,Eastern Europe,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
Global: Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Dumps Increasing - IRIN / SAS
5 December 2011
IRIN (UN News)
JOHANNESBURG - The rate of accidents at munitions storage sites has risen to unprecedented levels in 2011, despite a growing international commitment to assist countries in managing their weapons and ammunition stockpiles.
"During the first ten months of 2011, the average number of explosions has increased to more than three per month - the highest rate recorded in a calendar year," said the Small Arms Survey (SAS), a Geneva-based NGO monitoring small arms and armed... (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)
Alarming UN Report Highlights Proliferation of Weapons in Libya
27 November 2011
Tunisia Live (Tunis)
Since the Libyan Revolution an alarming number of loose weapons have saturated Libyan society, according to a recent report issued by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
Many weapons warehouses holding a wide variety of illicit firearms have been discovered all over Libya. The weapons include antipersonnel weapons, mines, bombs or heavy weapons such as the antiaircraft cannons which threaten the civil air navigation. The report also stated that Libya "has accumulated the... (GunPolicy.org)
Trinidad Cops Sold Guns, Ammo Earmarked for Destruction - Probe On
23 November 2011
Trinidad and Tobago Express
A criminal investigation has been launched into reports that guns and ammunition, earmarked for destruction, were sold by certain police officers to criminal elements in Tobago.
The investigation, which is being undertaken by members of the Professional Standards Unit of the Police Service—headed by ACP Raymond Craig—has identified several police officers from the Tobago Division as being involved in the illegal activities.
It was triggered just over a year ago... (GunPolicy.org)
Bihar, India Police to Melt 60,000 Illegal Guns, Convert to Farm Tools
18 November 2011
New Delhi Television (India)
MUZAFFARPUR - Blacksmith Sunil Thakur had never felt as important in his life as he did on Nov. 4, when the district police chief, an executive magistrate and a posse of junior officials visited his makeshift roadside furnace.
They handed him six country-made pistols, known as kattas, and asked him to transform them into farm and gardening tools. As a crowd assembled, the blacksmith heated the guns, and then hammered the red-hot metal for nearly an hour, shaping them... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,South America,Central America,Caribbean,Trinidad & Tobago
US Gives Marking Machine to Trinidad Police, 300 Guns Marked per Month
17 November 2011
Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday
The Police Service will use a new firearms laser marking machine to mark an average of 300 firearms per month over the course of next year.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made this statement at a brief ceremony to receive one of those machines at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain yesterday. The machine was donated to the police by the United States (US) government through the Organisation of American States.
Persad-Bissessar said on July 27, Government entered... (GunPolicy.org)
Algeria,France,Mauritania,Mali,Israel,Egypt,United States,West Africa,Niger,North Africa,Libya
Smuggled Libyan Arms Threaten to Destabilise Swath of African Continent
12 November 2011
Wall Street Journal
Weapons smuggled from Libya after the collapse of Moammar Gadhafi's government are flowing through the surrounding region, the president of the west African nation of Niger said Friday, a development that threatens to destabilize a swath of the continent already struggling against ethnic unrest and a regional branch of al Qaeda.
"Arms were stolen in Libya and are being disseminated all over the region," President Mahamadou Issoufou told reporters following a meeting... (GunPolicy.org)
3,000 Weapons Bought in Gun Buyback 'Disappear' from Honduran Police
10 November 2011
InSight Crime (Bogota)
El Heraldo newspaper is questioning the Honduran authorities about the disappearance of thousands of guns from government warehouses, amid fears they may have ended up on the black market.
El Heraldo is investigating the whereabouts of approximately 3,000 guns collected during President Maduro's administration, between the years 2002 and 2006. Maduro implemented a temporary gun buyback program, in which weapons could be surrendered to police in exchange for 1,000... (GunPolicy.org)
Major Campaign of Small Arms Destruction in Argentina [Espanol]
9 November 2011
Missiones Online (Argentina)
[Translated summary: The National Arms Registry (RENAR), under Argentina's Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, held the destruction of 16,354 firearms. Around 17,000 other arms, voluntarily surrendered or from various warehouses, will also be destroyed.]
El próximo sábado se destruirán 9.804 armas que fueron entregadas de manera anónima y voluntaria (Ley 26.261) en las bocas del Renar y en los puestos Móviles Municipales de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, en el... (GunPolicy.org)
From Arms to Farms - Indian State Plans to Melt Guns Into Garden Tools
9 November 2011
BBC News
PATNA, Bihar - Police in the northern Indian state of Bihar have come up with an original way to deal with the surfeit of seized illegal firearms that are stored in police station storehouses, or malkhanas.
They have decided to melt the weapons down into farming and gardening tools.
"The weapons stashed in police station malkhanas are of no use once the legal process of the case is over. They stink like dead bodies," says Abhyanand, the Bihar police chief who has... (GunPolicy.org)
Virgin Islands Police Purge, Destroy Guns Stored at Police Stations
8 November 2011
Virgin Islands Daily News
If you've had a firearm placed for safekeeping with the Virgin Islands Police Department for more than a year, it's time to check in.
The Police Department issued a statement Monday saying that its Firearms Bureaus in both districts are reviewing the guns left with them for safekeeping by registered gun owners.
Under V.I. Code, firearms left in the Police Department's care that have remained unclaimed by the owner for at least 12 months can be considered abandoned,... (GunPolicy.org)
Rwanda Defence Force to Destroy Over 40 Tons of Old Ammunition
3 November 2011
New Times (Rwanda)
Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) has announced that it will, Friday, start a three-day exercise to destroy old ammunition.
According to the RDF and army Spokesperson, Col Joseph Nzabamwita, over 40 tonnes of ammunition will be destroyed at Gabiro School of Infantry in the Eastern Province.
"The ammunition to be destroyed include unexploded ordinances like grenades, bombs, bullets and others," Col. Nzabamwita said.
The RDF says it has notified residents around the facility... (GunPolicy.org)
570,000 Firearms Removed from Brazil Streets since 2004 [Espanol]
1 November 2011
Univision (USA) / AFP
[Translated summary: The Brasilian government has recovered 570,000 firearms since 2004. This year, 28,000 firearms were removed from circulation; between 1997 and 2008: 1,8 million firearms were destroyed; at least 8 million guns are still in the hands of civilians, security forces and criminals; firearms are involved in 20,000 to 30,000 murders each year.]
El gobierno brasileño retiró 570.000 armas de fuego de circulación durante las campañas públicas de... (GunPolicy.org)
Churches Support Brazil Gun Buyback, Destroy 27,000 Firearms [Francais]
28 October 2011
La Croix (France)
[Translated summary: The Sou da Paz Institute, a Brazilian non-governmental organisation that campaigns actively for the prevention of violence sought the help of churches and religious communities to support and justify its campaign of voluntary surrender of firearms and ammunition.]
L'institut Sou da Paz, une organisation non-gouvernementale brésilienne qui milite activement pour la prévention de la violence a demandé le concours des Églises et des communautés... (GunPolicy.org)
North Africa,East Africa,Rwanda
Rwanda Government Steps Up War Against Illegal Small Arms
28 October 2011
New Times (Rwanda)
In a bid to implement the international declarations and protocols that call upon states to adopt measures to fight against the proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), Rwanda on Wednesday officially launched its National Action Plan (NAP).
The five-year plan will see national focal points formed, mass mobilisation and campaigns conducted and cross-border cooperation reinforced to effectively control and prevent illegal arms trade in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Bahamas Police Seized and Marked 361 Illegal Guns So Far
24 October 2011
Nassau Guardian (Bahamas)
National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest said last week that 361 illegal guns have been marked and taken off the streets with the police force's new firearms marking machine. This figure does not include the 18 guns turned in so far under the 30-day gun amnesty, set to expire on November 3.
In 2010 police confiscated 261 weapons.
In his contribution to the debate on the package of anti-crime bills last week Wednesday, Turnquest said that "firearms marking is... (GunPolicy.org)
Sudan,Congo (DRC),Djibouti,Central Africa,East Africa,Rwanda
Rwanda to Lead Campaign Against Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons
20 October 2011
New Times (Rwanda)
Rwanda was, on Tuesday, elected to spearhead a regional campaign against illicit small arms and light weapons.
The country was picked by delegates attending a ministerial council meeting of the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), a grouping of 15 eastern and central African countries, dedicated to eradicating the proliferation of illegal arms across their borders.
The meeting was held in the Horn of African nation of Djibouti.
Rwanda was elected on the basis of... (GunPolicy.org)
London, Ontario Gun Violence Fear: Toronto's Guns Land Here
19 October 2011
London Free Press (Ontario)
Many come from the U.S. - ripped off, smuggled across the border and often secreted here with the illegal drug trade.
But London also pays for crime in the Big Smoke - Toronto, with many of the illegal guns seized here by police originating in the mega-city as well. As recently as four years ago, four of every 10 guns seized by a special London squad could be traced back to the Toronto area.
But the truth is, illegal weapons scooped off London streets - 441 so far... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Deactivated 2,017 Seized Firearms in 2011 [Espanol]
18 October 2011
Prensa Latina (Havana)
[Translated summary: Venezuelan authorities have rendered unfit for use 2,017 seized firearms this year, as part of the National Disarmament Programme promoted by the Government.]
CARACAS - Autoridades venezolanas inutilizaron hoy dos mil 17 armas de fuego confiscadas en este año en el nororiental estado de Anzoátegui, como parte del plan nacional de desarme impulsado por el Gobierno.
El viceministro de Interior, Néstor Reverol, encabezó el acto, el cual comenzó... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany Provides Eur 750,000 for Destruction of Small Arms in Libya
17 October 2011
African Press Organization (APO)
BERLIN, Germany -- The German Government is providing EUR 750,000 for the securing and destruction of small arms – including man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS) – up to the end of this year.
The money will be used to enable specialist Libyan and international teams to locate, secure and destroy small arms and ammunition arsenals.
In Foreign Minister Westerwelle's view, supporting the securing and destruction of old weapons is an important task for the... (GunPolicy.org)
2,577 Firearms Seized, 1,650 Firearms Destroyed in Trinidad & Tobago
15 October 2011
Newsday (Trinidad & Tobago)
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday donned special protective gear as she manned a large saw and destroyed a gun — one of 1,650 weapons comprising illegal firearms and obsolete firearms from the Defence Force — which were destroyed over the past week.
The PM accompanied a team of security officials including National Security Minister John Sandy and Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs at a ceremonial firearms destruction event at the Police Academy in... (GunPolicy.org)
Caribbean,South America,Central America,Trinidad & Tobago
Increase in Trinidad Gun Crimes the Result of Drug-Trafficking, Gangs
11 October 2011
Guardian (Trinidad and Tobago)
National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy says an increase in gun-related crimes is the result of drug-trafficking and gang violence over the past ten years in T&T. He said because of the country's geographical location T&T faced the direct effects of the illicit drug-trafficking and illegal firearms trades.
"We know full well that firearms remain a major threat to this country. These firearms fuel drug-trafficking and gang violence and other criminal activity."... (GunPolicy.org)
Arming Yourself for Self-defence, the Trend in Costa Rica [Espanol]
25 September 2011
Veracruzanos (Costa Rica)
[Translated summary: The trend in Costa Rica seems to be to own firearms for self-defence. According to a recent survey, 60.3% of respondents answered 'yes' to the question 'Do you support the death penalty?'].
La mayoría de participantes en una encuesta telefónica llevada a cabo el pasado miércoles por un canal de la televisión local, en uno de sus espacios informativos, expresó su apoyo a la ejecución de los delincuentes, un castigo abolido hace más de un... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Warn Public Against Illegal Possession of Firearms in Rwanda
23 September 2011
New Times (Rwanda)
Kigali — Rwanda National Police (RNP) has warned people who illegally possess firearms, to voluntarily surrender them to the concerned authorities before stiff measures are taken.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Police Spokesperson, Supt. Theos Badege, noted that despite the positive results registered in surrendering firearms in the recent past, some people still possess illegal guns.
The warning follows a series of armed robberies in several parts of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela,South America,Colombia,Mexico
Venezuela Tries to Stem Violence and Easy Availability of Guns
22 September 2011
InSightCrime.org (Latin America and Caribbean)
Venezuela is altering its gun policy in an effort to stem the alarming level of street violence, but the entrenched nature of gun possession in the country will prove difficult to remedy in the short term.
On June 6, Venezuelan Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami announced the establishment of a commission which is charged with tightening the regulation of arms in the country. Since its creation, the body has enacted a number of reforms, including banning the possession... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Body Seeks to Clear the Air on Trinidad's Destruction of Illegal Guns
21 September 2011
Caricom News Network (Jamaica)
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The President of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Anand Ramesar said Wednesday that Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar may have spoken out of turn when she said that a United Nations team would be arriving here next month to help destroy illegal guns in the country.
Persad Bissessar told reporters following her return from the United Nations on Tuesday that whilst in New York she met with the UN authorities who work at... (GunPolicy.org)
East Africa,Somalia,Sudan,Uganda,Ethiopia,Kenya
Hundreds Die in Gun Violence, Cattle Rustling in East African Drought
20 September 2011
Think Africa Press, Opinion
TURKANA, Kenya - On a recent trip to Turkana in northern Kenya, somewhere between Maralal and Baragoi we stopped by a dry riverbed. A group of 12 men came into view through the desert scrub. As they drew closer their weapons were clearly visible, a mix of AK47s, ex-government issue G3s and a few older rifles. Our nervousness was unwarranted and the group barely slowed as they passed, merely raising their hands in greeting before continuing on towards some distant... (GunPolicy.org)
UN Team Plans Visit to Destroy Illegal Guns in Trinidad & Tobago
20 September 2011
Trinidad and Tobago Express
A United Nations (UN) team will be coming next month to help destroy some of the illegal guns in this country, says Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
She was speaking yesterday morning at Piarco International Airport upon her return from New York where she attended the UN's 66th General Assembly.
Questioned on the small arms treaty and drug trafficking, the Prime Minister said whilst on her one-day trip to New York she met with the UN authorities who work at... (GunPolicy.org)
Côte d'Ivoire,Liberia,West Africa,Sierra Leone
Amnesty for Firearms in Sierra Leone Is Not Only for Elections
19 September 2011
Awareness Times (Sierra Leone), Editorial
Sierra Leone has slowly crawled away from the 'Blood Diamond' stigma of yester years. The recent government announcement to grant amnesty to owners of firearms is indicative of the giant leap Sierra Leone has taken today to become a major player in world politics.
The Awareness Times newspaper is unhesitatingly giving immense credit to the leadership genius of President Ernest Koroma and other internal and external stakeholders for their efforts to stabilise Mama... (GunPolicy.org)
Computerisation of Firearm Licences in Pakistan: a Right Initiative
18 September 2011
Associated Press of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD - Proliferation of small arms are known to have played a pivotal role in fueling insurgency, terrorism as well as formation of urban gangs and at the same time undermined development initiatives or other moves to bring about peace in the country.Successive regimes kept adopting numerous measures to stop the relentless spread of firearms in society and also launched campaigns in their tenures, but all this went in vain.Today as the already fragile law and... (GunPolicy.org)
Half a Million Guns Destroyed This Year in Brazil Gun Buyback [Francais]
17 September 2011
Le Figaro (France)
[Translated summary: The Brazilian Minister of Justice launched the second phase of national disarmament, urging civilians to surrender their guns. The first phase aimed to collect 22,000 firearms.]
Le ministre brésilien de la Justice vient de lancer la deuxième phase d'une campagne incitant les citoyens à se séparer de leurs armes à feu.
Les Brésiliens peuvent l'effectuer de manière anonyme et toucher, selon le type d'arme, entre 100 et 300 reals (de 40 à... (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)
Guns Smuggled Into Australia, Most Crime Guns Stolen from Legal Owners - Police
14 September 2011
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
The nation's ports have become a major frontline in the war against gun crime as criminals attempt to import arsenals large enough to start a small war.
Gun-runners were caught trying to bring in thousands of firearms including machineguns, military-style assault rifles, shotguns and pistols over the past five years.
But, despite the seizures by Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, many more weapons may end up on the streets as just 3.6 per cent of... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda to Reinforce Control of Small Arms Owned by Civilians
6 September 2011
New Vision (Kampala)
Uganda is in the process of reviewing the national action plan on the control of small arms and light weapons.
The plan will provide for the issuance of certificates of competence to holders of private arms.
Under the plan, the country will establish a firearms registry and establish the number and gender of persons with arms besides those under the custody of the security personnel.
The five-year plan covering 2011-2015 will restrict issuance of certificates of... (GunPolicy.org)
Montenegro,Bosnia & Herzegovina,European Union,Serbia,Eastern Europe,Southern Europe,Croatia,Kosovo,Albania
Balkan Countries Work To Round Up Privately Held Guns, Ammunition
5 September 2011
Southeast European Times (Pristina)
The statistics about gun ownership regionwide are surprising and the results can be deadly. In Albania alone, for example, analyst Jonuz Kola estimated this summer that 6% to 9% of the population has a weapon in the home. Scores of accidental shootings occur, including that of a 9-year-old in Shkodra, who died at the hands of his 11-year-old brother on July 18th.
Xhavit Shala, an expert within the Albanian Interior Ministry notes that in 1997, a considerable amount of... (GunPolicy.org)
Ukraine,North Africa,Niger,Algeria,Mali,France,United Kingdom,United States,Libya
Libya Warned Smugglers Are Looting Gaddafi's Guns
2 September 2011
Guardian (UK)
Libya must urgently secure weapons hoarded by the Gaddafi regime amid growing fears that smugglers are exploiting the chaos there to loot hundreds of portable missiles and other small arms, western officials have warned.
The US and Nato are pressing the National Transitional Council to make the issue a priority because of concerns that the trade has already begun, with reports that some African mercenaries who fought for Colonel Muammar Gaddafi are returning home laden... (GunPolicy.org)
117,145 Firearms Have Been Destroyed in Venezuela in 2011 [Espanol]
1 September 2011
Radio Nacional de Venezuela
[Translated summary: Venezuela is the first Latin American country with special measures for the destruction of firearms seized by public safety agencies. So far in 2011, 117,145 firearms have been destroyed as part of the policies implemented by the national government to ensure peace of the Venezuelan population.]
Venezuela es el primer país de Latinoamérica con medidas especiales para la destrucción de armas de fuego incautadas por los organismos de seguridad... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Used in 68% of Murders, 30% of Suicides in Argentina [Espanol]
31 August 2011
Los Andes (Argentina)
[Translated summary: Guns were used in 68% of a total of 40,318 homicides and 30.5% of 37,170 suicides in Argentina between 1997 and 2009, according to Asociación para Políticas Públicas (APP). Most of the victims were between 15 and 29 years old.]
Sólo en los últimos cuatro meses murieron 16 chicos por disparos. Alientan los programas de desarme.
"A las armas las carga el diablo" reza un viejo proverbio, casi tan viejo como la pólvora. Es que las consecuencias... (GunPolicy.org)
Since 2008, 4,029 Firearms Collected in Bengo, Angola [Francais]
23 August 2011
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
[Translated summary: The National Police collected twelve firearms in the framework of Angola Disarmament Campaign. Since 2008, 4,029 firearms have been collected.]
CAXITO, Angola - Le commandement provincial de la Police nationale a recueilli douze armes à feu, la fin de la semaine dernière, dans la province de Bengo, au nord de Luanda, dans le cadre de la campagne de désarmément en cours dans le pays.
Un communiqué parvenu mardi, à l'Angop, souligne que le... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Will Design a Destruction Protocol for Seized Arms [Espanol]
18 August 2011
Prensa Latina (Cuba)
[Translated summary: The Public Ministry of Venezuela will design a protocol to destroy seized firearms, following a review of ballistics experts. Recently, the Vice-minister of Judicial Security and Interior Policy announced the coming destruction of 40,200 firearms seized this year.]
CARACAS - El ministerio Público de Venezuela diseñará un protocolo para destruir armas de fuego incautadas, al término de la revisión de expertos en balística, informó hoy el... (GunPolicy.org)
Colombia,United States,Mexico,Central America,Iraq,El Salvador,Guatemala,Honduras
Honduras Standing As the Epicenter of Central America's Arms Trade
13 August 2011
Honduras Weekly / InSight Crime
A recent report released by the National Commissioner for Human Rights (Conadeh), in Honduras indicates that there are more than 850,000 weapons in circulation in the country. Only 258,000 weapons, however, are officially registered. It is therefore hardly surprising, in a country with hundreds of thousands of illegal weapons, that as many as 80 percent of homicides are firearm related.
Traditionally, Hondurans have taken a rather liberal approach to gun ownership,... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuelans Begin Public Debate on Gun Control and Disarmament Law
12 August 2011
Venezuela Analysis
MERIDA – On Thursday Venezuelans held the first of numerous public debates on the proposed Law of Firearms Control and Disarmament drafted by the country's National Assembly. A legal initiative proposed by the Presidential Commission for Disarmament, the draft law is to be discussed by organized communities nationwide before being modified and passed next year.
"The idea is that this law be the result of a transparent, ample, and profound discussion by Venezuelan... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigeria Gun Amnesty Programme 2 Years Later: A 'Huge Success'
4 August 2011
Daily Champion (Lagos)
When former President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua approved the implementation of the Niger Delta Amnesty programme two years ago, he, most likely, would not have imagined that it would become the huge success that it presently has become.
At the time he made the historic move, the Niger Delta region was, literally, a war zone. Militant youths, armed with sophisticated weapons controlled different parts of the states of the region, killing, maiming or kidnapping people,... (GunPolicy.org)
Destruction of 250 Seized Handguns in France [Francais]
26 July 2011
Le Parisien (France) / AFP
[Translated summary: The French Minister of Justice attended in Bordeaux the destruction of 250 handguns seized in the framework of the National Plan for a better management of sealed containers launched in 2010.]
Le ministre de la Justice, Michel Mercier, a assisté mardi près de Bordeaux à la destruction par explosifs de quelque 250 armes de poing saisies lors de procédures judiciaires, dans le cadre d'un plan national lancé en 2010 pour une meilleure gestion des... (GunPolicy.org)
Would Belgian Gun Law Prevent a Norway-style Shooting? [Francais]
26 July 2011
RTBF (Belgium)
[Translated summary: Lawfully acquire a weapon of war in order to commit a massacre as in Norway raises questions. Would the new Belgian legislation on firearms have prevented such tragedy for us?]
Se procurer une arme de guerre en toute légalité pour commettre un massacre comme en Norvège, pose question. La nouvelle législation belge sur les armes aurait-elle permis d'éviter un tel drame chez nous ?
Les conditions de base
La majorité des clients des armureries... (GunPolicy.org)
Sierra Leone Launched 5-yr Plan to Regulate Sale and Use of Small Arms
25 July 2011
News24 (Cape Town) / AFP
Freetown - Sierra Leone has launched a five-year plan to regulate the sale and use of small arms, which still abound a decade after the end of a civil war, causing insecurity, an official said on Monday.
"The proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons account for 90% of the economic uncertainty" in the country, the head of Sierra Leone's Small Arms Commission (SAC), retired Brigadier Leslie Lymon, said.
He told AFP that a five year national action plan... (GunPolicy.org)
Small Arms Eradication Targeted for Action in Sierra Leone
21 July 2011
Cocorioko.net (Sierre Leone)
A Five Year National Action Plan on Small Arms was today presented at a State House ceremony attended by President Ernest Bai Koroma, Vice President Sam Sumana, Ministers and Development Partners . The Plan covering the period 2011-2015 is the Working Document of the Small Arms Commission which provides a framework detailing interventions, strategies and activities to be undertaken in regulating the manufacture, sale and use of Small Arms and Light weapons (SALW) in... (GunPolicy.org)
France,Qatar,United Kingdom,Libya,Russia,Italy
Small Arms Seized by Italy Gone Missing, Libya Likely Destination
20 July 2011
Scotsman (Edinburgh)
A shipment of weapons seized by the Italian navy following a tip-off from British secret agents has gone missing - most likely ending up in the hands of Libya's rebels.
The haul, which was described by one military expert as "enough to start and win a small war", included 400 anti-tank missiles and 50 launchers for them; 30,000 AK47s; 5,000 Katusha rockets; 11,000 anti-tank rockets and 32 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
All of the Russian-made weapons were... (GunPolicy.org)
Costa Rica,Panama,El Salvador,Nicaragua,Colombia,Central America,United States,Mexico,Honduras,Guatemala
Most Guns Seized in Guatemala 'Come From Honduras' [Espanol]
19 July 2011
La Prensa (Honduras), Editorial
[Translated summary: Most guns seized in Guatemala come from Honduras, claims Public Ministry. Assault rifles, hand grenades, semi-automatic weapons, large caliber rifles as unconventional Barrett .50 caliber and AK-47, were part of the weaponry confiscated from the Zetas (dug cartel) operating in Central America.]
Fusiles de asalto, armas automáticas y granadas buscan los criminales mexicanos en países centroamericanos para continuar la guerra que libran con la... (GunPolicy.org)
650,000 Illegal Guns Circulating in Honduras [Espanol]
17 July 2011
El Heraldo (Honduras), Editorial
[Translated summary: Honduras seems to be turning into a battlefield. Some 800,000 weapons are between being registered and not registered; 650,000 are circulating illegaly in the country; 19,640 gun deaths between 2005 and 2010. In its latest study, the National Commission for Human Rights urged the Legislative Power to reform the Firearms Act.]
En Honduras hay unas 800,000 armas entre registradas y no registradas.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Honduras entera pareciera... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Drug Lord Gives Up Gun Cache in Hope of Reduced Sentence
9 July 2011
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
The Tony Soprano of Australia's cocaine trade has organised for a large cache of weapons to be handed in to police, a court has been told.
Alen Moradian - dubbed Tony Soprano by his wife - should be given a 45 per cent discount on his jail term because of the weapons handover and his plea of guilty, his barrister Phillip Boulten, SC, said.
"It is highly unlikely there has been a handover of guns like this since prime minister (John Howard) offered a gun amnesty to all... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,United States,Ireland
List of Northern Ireland's Decommissioned Guns Will Be Kept Secret
4 July 2011
Guardian (UK)
The inventory of every gun, bullet, rocket launcher, grenade and explosive put beyond use by the IRA and loyalist paramilitaries will not be made public, the body that oversaw the disarmament process in Northern Ireland has said.
In the final report of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, it said files on the weapons and explosives decommissioned by the paramilitary organisations will instead be held by the US state department in... (GunPolicy.org)
Angola's 'Coercive' Disarmament Drive Destroys 9,450 Weapons [Francais]
28 June 2011
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
[Translated summary: In the coercive phase of the disarmament of the civilian population, 13 citizens were judged and sentenced to a prison term of three to 12 months for unlawful possession of firearms. During the last eight months, 9,450 weapons and 42,245 ammunition were destroyed.]
HUAMBO, Angola – Treize citoyens d'ãges compris entre 17 et 42 ans ont été jugés et condamnés, ces derniers huit mois, par le tribunal provincial de Huambo, de trois à 12 mois... (GunPolicy.org)
Ukraine will Destroy Ammunition and Weapons worth EUR 30 Million
25 June 2011
Interfax.com (Ukraine)
State-run companies that are part of the Ukroboronprom Concern will destroy ammunition and weapons worth EUR 30 million under the Partnership for Peace program.
The ammunition will be scrapped in the execution of an agreement between Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA).
The government's resolution No 533-r ordering the signing of this agreement dated May 16 was posted on the Ukrainian parliament's Web site on... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuelan Parliament Finally Decides on Strong Gun Control [Francais]
22 June 2011
Libération (France)
[Translated summary: After prolonged debate, Venezuela has agreed on a gun control bill. Firearms are said to be involved in 90% of the country's crimes, and the bill proposes gun amnesties and buybacks to reduce the 9 to 15 million illegal firearms in circulation, and to restore confidence in the Venezuelan Police.]
L'enjeu est tel qu'il a fait taire les différences politiques. L'Assemblée nationale vénézuélienne, théâtre en février d'une violente bagarre... (GunPolicy.org)
Preventing Diversion of Firearms and Ammunition in Congo DRC [Francais]
15 June 2011
La Prospérité (Congo DRC)
[Translated summary: A panel of experts met this week in Kinshasa to discuss the stockpiling and destruction of firearms and ammunition in DRC. The objective was to define the geographic priorities and emergencies on matters related to securing and managing stockpiling of National Defence firearms and ammunition. As mentioned by the National Commission, this is one step towards the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit... (GunPolicy.org)
Amnesty Offered, No Prosecution for Illegal Guns in Cote d'Ivoire [Francais]
15 June 2011
Agence Ivoirienne de Presse (Côte d'Ivoire)
[Translated summary: Following the post-electoral crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, authorities called the owners of illegal firearms to surrender them without delay. They ensured that there will be no prosecution against those who do.]
BOUAFLE - Le préfet de la région de la Marahoué et du département de Bouaflé, Alliali Kouadio a appelé dimanche les détenteurs illicites d'armes à feu à les déposer sans délai, auprès des chefs de village, des religieux ou à la... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,North Africa,Russia,European Union,East Asia,Indonesia,China
The Arms Trade Treaty, Several Hurdles Must be Overcome Before 2012
8 June 2011
United Nations News & Commentary
In a three-day meeting organized by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) the European Union, and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, representatives of nearly 30 East Asian and Pacific countries are gathering with regional and international organizations to discuss the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
This is the latest in a series of regional meetings UNIDIR is conducting to develop concrete recommendations on the future Treaty and to assist States with... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia's Tough Gun Laws Don't Prevent Criminals from Getting Guns
6 June 2011
Courier-Mail (Brisbane), Opinion
IT WAS in Austin, Texas, that I once visited a gun fair displaying sufficient weaponry to stage a medium-sized war and all for sale to those citizens claiming their constitutional right to bear arms.
The fair epitomised the US gun culture and laws, laws frequently lampooned by commentators for their laxity, the all-too-frequent random, multiple shootings hailed as proof that liberal gun ownership endangers the lives it is designed to protect.
Perhaps, but in... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Buyback Aims to Collect, Destroy Another Million Guns in Brazil
7 May 2011
Associated Press
The government began a gun buyback campaign on Friday that officials hope will take more than one million guns off the streets by the end of the year.
The campaign started one month after a gunman shot and killed 12 children in a Rio de Janeiro school before killing himself. In similar campaigns in 2003 and 2009, 1.1 million firearms were turned in.
The Justice Ministry says on its Web site that gun owners can turn in their guns and ammunition with no questions... (GunPolicy.org)
Slow Erosion of Australian Gun Laws Presages Another Tragedy
28 April 2011
Sydney Morning Herald, Opinion
Fifteen years ago today, the largest gun massacre by a civilian - anywhere in the world - occurred in Tasmania. The weapons used by the Port Arthur murderer were designed for killing large numbers of people, and they delivered: 35 people lay dead and 18 wounded.
As a result of the tragedy, those weapons were banned from civilian ownership and more than 640,000 were bought back and destroyed. The rules applying to firearms in general were tightened, making it harder to... (GunPolicy.org)
St. Kitts and Nevis Signs Firearms Marking and Tracing Agreement
17 April 2011
Office of The Prime Minister of St. Kitts & Nevis
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has another tool to deal with the trafficking of illegal guns into the twin-island Federation.
The Federation's Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Washington D.C., Her Excellency Jacinth Henry-Martin on Friday signed a firearms marking agreement.
Within the framework of the Committee of the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Office of The Prime Minister of St. Kitts & Nevis
Victims' Groups Slam South Australia Police Handgun Exports to America
16 April 2011
Advertiser (Adelaide)
An SA Police deal to sell its second-hand guns to the American public has outraged victims' groups.
It flies in the face of Australia's laws aimed at preventing gun-related violence, victims' groups say.
The deal, struck in April 2008, means 2405 Smith & Wesson .357 revolvers were traded in after police changed to the new Smith & Wesson M&P40 semi-automatic pistols, retailing for $US569 ($540).
The guns were traded-in to maker Smith & Wesson, which then on-sells the... (GunPolicy.org)
Thousands of Used Australian Police Guns Headed for US Streets – Again
14 April 2011
Australian (Sydney)
Almost 10,000 Australian police-issue handguns will flood the American secondary arms market after two state police departments opted to trade in their old weapons rather than have them destroyed.
The Australian has learned that Victoria and South Australia struck deals with weapons manufacturer Smith & Wesson to export their surplus weapons to the US to reduce the cost of upgrading to semi-automatic pistols.
While NSW and the Australian Federal Police destroyed their... (GunPolicy.org)
Romanian Truck Driver Hands Pistol to 'Incredulous' Irish Prison Guards
6 April 2011
Irish Times (Dublin)
A Romanian man who was armed with a pistol as he made a delivery to St Patrick's Institution has escaped a prison term after a judge accepted he genuinely believed he was allowed possess it.
Sandor Hideg (33) was delivering a skip to the detention centre and handed the gun to guards because he thought he had to check it in before entering. The court heard the guards were "perplexed" and in the confusion, Hideg was handed back the gun.
Hideg of Liffey Avenue, Liffey... (GunPolicy.org)
Popular Gun Amnesty, Buyback Destroyed 100,000 Firearms in Argentina
10 March 2011
Press TV (Iran)
Argentina's gun buy-back program is to be extended and amended to maintain its popularity in preventing violent crime and controlling the underground gun market.
"The plan is being implemented in collaboration with the general public and representatives of provinces and religious groups. In the first stage of the plan, in 2007, we destroyed more than 100,000 registered guns," says Andres Meiszner, the director of the Arms Registry Office.
The plan is so popular that... (GunPolicy.org)
Mali: Former Tuareg Rebels Threaten to Take up Arms
9 February 2011
El Watan
Mali: Les anciens rebelles touareg menacent de reprendre les armes
Les anciens rebelles touareg du Nord-Mali, à leur tête Brahim Ag Bahanga, menacent Bamako de reprendre les armes dans les prochaines semaines l Ils exigent une prise en charge rapide des engagements pris en novembre 2010 et mettent en garde contre la dégradation de la situation dans les régions de Gao, Kidal et Tombouctou.
Mais depuis plusieurs mois, l'association locale récupère, en échange de... (GunPolicy.org)
Mali Destroys Hundreds of Weapons
8 February 2011
Agence France Presse
Kidal - Hundreds of weapons collected from people and former Tuareg rebels were burned in northern Mali on Tuesday in a bid to do away with small arms which still abound after an insurgency in the 1990's.
Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure, who lit the fire, said the destruction allowed "a new step towards peace" in the west African country.
"We will make every effort to ensure that the operation against the proliferation of small arms continues," he said,... (GunPolicy.org)
Massachusetts Gun Buyback Nets Nearly 200 Firearms for Destruction
19 December 2010
Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts) / AP
WORCESTER — Officials say almost 200 firearms were collected during Worcester's annual "Goods for Guns" program, including a 9mm submachine gun and an AK-47.
Organizers say 69 handguns were turned in during the recent two-day event, along with 65 semi-automatic weapons and 59 rifles.
People receive Walmart gift certificates in return.
The program's intent is to keep guns from falling into the wrong hands and being used in violent acts. Donated guns usually are... (GunPolicy.org)
Miami Gun Buyback Collects Handguns, AK-47, Tall Stories, Skepticism
19 December 2010
Miami Herald
Saturday's gun buyback program at an Opa-locka church was billed as a no-questions-asked affair: Hand over a gun, the police give you $50, and you walk away. But the genial gray-haired man who brought in a Russian-made assault rifle didn't mind chatting about it with a reporter.
"I brought it back from Vietnam when my tour of duty was over," he said. "It's just been sitting around the house for all these years. When I pass on, what my kids gonna do with it? I'll use... (GunPolicy.org)
Churches, Police Collect, Destroy 354 Firearms in Harlem Gun Buyback
19 December 2010
New York Post
A substantial cache of guns -- including three Tec-9s and an AK-47-style assault rifle -- will no longer pose a threat on city streets after hundreds were turned in today at two Harlem churches as part of the NYPD's Cash for Guns Program.
Inspired by a no questions asked policy and $200 bank cards in-exchange for the weapons, people lined-up at Harlem's St. Mark the Evangelist and Memorial Baptist c hurc hes to give up their guns.
Among the 354 weapons collected were... (GunPolicy.org)
San Bernardino 'Guns for Groceries' Swap Collects, Destroys 211 Firearms
18 December 2010
San Bernardino Sun (California)
San Bernardino police collected 211 firearms at its first-ever Guns for Groceries gun buyback program Saturday at Arrowhead Credit Union Park.
The program was so successful, it ended early when police ran out of grocery coupons.
Among the weapons collected were a fully automatic Uzi, an AK-47 rifle and a Russian SKS rifle. Police said thousands of dollars worth of gift cards were handed out. No names of gun owners were collected.
"We have 211 weapons that will never,... (GunPolicy.org)
Detroit Gun Buyback Nets 329 Firearms, 11 Assault Rifles for Destruction
17 December 2010
Detroit News
DETROIT — Police received more than 300 guns this week during a buyback program that has officials planning another one for next year.
Officials didn't have a date for 2011 but were happy with the 329 guns obtained through the program Thursday, Detroit Police Sgt. Eren Stephens said.
Eleven of the guns were assault weapons and one was high-powered, Stephens said.
People who brought in the guns walked off with a total of $16,400, Stephens said. Prices ranged from... (GunPolicy.org)
Buyback Consigns 200 Guns to Scrap Merchant, Not Back on US Streets
10 December 2010
Times Leader (Pennsylvania)
WILKES-BARRE – When a gun owner dies, family members are often left with weapons they don't know what to do with.
Left to collect dust in closets and garages, guns are sometimes stolen and may become instruments of crimes, Luzerne County Detective Dan Beky said.
The Luzerne County District Attorney's Office made sure about 200 such unwanted guns would never present such a danger Thursday, shredding weapons it collected in a gun buyback late last year at metal... (GunPolicy.org)
Arizona Town Latest to Weigh Recirculating Crime Guns to US Streets
7 December 2010
Associated Press
KINGMAN, Arizona - The Kingman City Council is expected to vote soon whether to adopt an ordinance allowing the city to continue its policy of destroying confiscated guns and other weapons rather than selling them.
The ordinance as written would call for the destruction of any "deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or explosive" used or possessed during the commission of a crime, regardless of whether the suspected criminal was convicted of the crime or not.
However,... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Gun Runners Charged, Machine Guns, Assault Weapons Seized
6 December 2010
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
Police have smashed a major arms-dealing ring based in NSW. In an exclusive insight, The Daily Telegraph takes you inside the operation
The three gun runners didn't care who was buying their lethal weapons or what they were going to do with them. All they wanted was the cash.
In cafes, backs of cars, even in the car park of a Wollongong hotel in daylight, Aristos Dionys, Michael Zarakas and Andrew Kafizas traded thousands of dollars for machineguns and assault weapons... (GunPolicy.org)
20 Handguns Stolen from Dead Australian Gun Dealer's Storage Locker
6 December 2010
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
In the past year police have seized 3,200 firearms. And while shootings are in decline - 96 in 2008, 86 last year and 42 in the first half of this year - figures from the Australian Institute of Criminology show theft of guns is increasing.
In 2007-08 1712 firearms were reported stolen by owners in 708 incidents, an increase of 186 from the previous year. Most of these thefts netted one or two firearms, primarily from private homes.
Dr Samantha Bricknell from the... (GunPolicy.org)
Loaded Handgun Found in Passenger's Bag on Tahiti-Auckland Flight
28 November 2010
New Zealand Herald
An international traveller packed a loaded handgun in his luggage and got it into Auckland Airport.
The Bauer .25-calibre gun was found after he had collected his luggage and put it through a Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry x-ray machine as he prepared to leave the airport.
The passenger, Baptiste Julien Jeune, 69, had arrived on a flight from Tahiti, and had been cleared by New Zealand Customs officers.
The MAF officer who discovered it while x-raying the bag... (GunPolicy.org)
South Carolina Woman Leaves .45 Handgun at Grave to 'Cleanse Soul'
26 November 2010
Associated Press
SPARTANBURG, South Carolina - Some people lay flowers or notes at gravesites. A woman in South Carolina left a handgun.
Police in the northwestern county of Spartanburg say a 28-year-old woman who hadn't been feeling well consulted a spiritual adviser, who told her she needed to return something that was given to her to cleanse her soul.
So the woman left a .45-caliber handgun in a box at a man's grave at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens. She told police the man had... (GunPolicy.org)
New Central Africa Gun Control Convention Sparks Regional Optimism
22 November 2010
IRIN (UN News)
BRAZZAVILLE - Officials and analysts expressed optimism that a convention signed in Brazzaville, the Congolese capital, on 19 November would succeed in stemming the flow of small arms in central Africa, as long as it is backed by robust implementation measures.
"For the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo] which has suffered the disastrous consequences of the circulation of small arms, a legal instrument such as the Kinshasa Convention is something extremely crucial,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Manitoba Gun Amnesty Collects, Destroys Another 297 Firearms
22 November 2010
CBC News (Canada)
Nearly 300 guns were turned over to police in Manitoba during a provincewide police firearms amnesty in October.
Those weapons will now be destroyed, ensuring they are never stolen or used in a crime, Attorney General Andrew Swan stated in a press release.
"I'd like to thank everyone who voluntarily came forward to turn in an unwanted or unused firearm. In the wrong hands, even a single weapon has the potential to wreak havoc and cause tragedies," he said.
October... (GunPolicy.org)
1,500 Locally Made Guns Destroyed in Latest Ghana Disarmament Push
2 October 2010
Ghana News Agency
The Ghana National Commission on Small Arms on Friday destroyed 1,500 pieces of locally produced fire arms seized from people who possessed them illegally in various parts of the country.
The seizure was as a result of a six-week joint exercise organised by the commission and the security agencies as part of efforts to rid the country of illicit firearms and ammunition.
This brings to 3,387 the number of illicit small arms destroyed by the commission in the country... (GunPolicy.org)
Good Results from Alabama Gun Court: Seizures Up, Gun Crime Down
21 September 2010
Birmingham News (Alabama), Editorial
There are many pieces to the puzzle of driving down crime in a large city.
Aggressive policing is a must, and Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper is making sure his department is focused there. It helps, as well, that police officers work within neighborhoods to build relationships so residents are more comfortable talking with police officers before and after a crime is committed. It's also important that special task forces go after particular crimes or zero in on... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Club Loses Enthusiasts, Weapons Because of Canadian Gun Registry
2 September 2010
Winnipeg Free Press (Manitoba)
Long gun registry hurting membership at Winnipeg Trap and Skeet Club
Winnipeg Trap and Skeet Club president David Mosscrop says the long gun registry has had a negative impact on recreational shooting.
The president of the Oak Bluff-based Winnipeg Trap and Skeet Club says the country's long gun registry has had a devastating impact on the club's membership.
Club president David Mosscrop said that the number of recreational gun enthusiasts who use the club has... (GunPolicy.org)
Lying About Pistol at US-Canada Border Cost Texas Man His Gun, $1,500
27 August 2010
Telegraph-Journal (New Brunswick)
ST. STEPHEN - In St. Stephen provincial court, a judge fined a Texas resident $1,500 for attempting to bring a loaded gun into Canada.
Charles Heston Scholl, a 61-year-old airline pilot, pleaded guilty to failing to declare a Glock pistol at the St. Stephen border crossing Aug. 13.
Scholl and his wife presented themselves at the entry point to Canada, on their way to the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton, N.S., at 2:45 p.m., federal Crown prosecutor Peter Thorn said in... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Destroy Another 1500 Confiscated Small Arms in Tanzania
9 August 2010
Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
The Police Force in Mwanza Region has destroyed 1500 illegal small arms confiscated during raids on criminals.
The destruction of the arms over the weekend was sponsored by the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA) in collaboration with the Japanese government.
Speaking during the destruction, the RECSA executive secretary, Dr Francis Sang, said the destruction demonstrates the seriousness with which Tanzania takes the implementation of the Nairobi... (GunPolicy.org)
Public Gun Bonfire Destroys Another 4,000 Illegal Weapons in Tanzania
7 August 2010
Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
The Police Force is finalising plans to destroy 4,000 illegal firearms confiscated throughout the country.
The Mwanza Regional Police Commander, Mr Simon Sirro, said the illegal weapons were confiscated in Mara, Shinyanga, Tabora, Rukwa, Mbeya, Ruvuma and Mwanza while other weapons were from the Tabora wildlife department.
He told journalists yesterday that the exercise would be conducted at Nyamagana grounds in Mwanza.
"The exercise would be conducted in public in... (GunPolicy.org)
No Gun Crime Problem, Say New South Wales Police After Three Shootings
2 August 2010
Sydney Morning Herald
The NSW Police have sought to allay fears about an increase in gun violence in Sydney, after three people were shot, one fatally, over the weekend.
"Any incident involving a firearm in a public place is worrying to me because I know it worries the community," Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens told a press conference today.
"We do not want members of the public injured and we're going to stop it."
Yesterday, a man in his late 20s was killed by at least two shots while... (GunPolicy.org)
LA County Sheriffs to Destroy 8,300 Guns, Weapons Seized from Criminals
26 July 2010
Los Angeles Times, Blog
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will destroy 8,300 confiscated weapons Tuesday at a steel mill in Rancho Cucamonga.
The annual effort is known as Project Isaiah. The stash of weapons taken from criminals will be dumped from a series of tractor-trailers into the smelter at the Tamco Steel Mill, said Deputy Bill Brauberger, who described the event as a celebration for the Sheriff's Department.
"It's pretty exciting and very visual," said Brauberger, who... (GunPolicy.org)
Latest Australian Amnesty Yields 'Frightening' Range of Illegal Weapons
22 June 2010
Australian Associated Press
Shotguns, swords, stun guns and studded bommy knockers are among thousands of "absolutely frightening" illegal weapons that will be destroyed by police in NSW.
At a weapons disposal facility in Sydney on Tuesday, police displayed a range of illegal weapons seized or surrendered in NSW during a three-week period.
Along with firearms of various shapes and sizes, there were swords, stun guns, pen knives, axes, studded bommy knockers - or giant spiked clubs - and multiple... (GunPolicy.org)
Angola Announces Seizure, Destruction of 74,495 Firearms In Past 2 Years
17 June 2010
ReliefWeb / Government of Angola, Media release
NEW YORK – The Angolan permanent representative to the United Nations, Ismael Gaspar Martins, Thursday in New York announced that a total of 74,495 firearms were seized in Angola the last two years, as a result of a Government action to fight the proliferation and trafficking of war material.
Ismael Martins was speaking at the UN 4th Biennial Session on small arms, accompanied by the deputy commander general of the National Police and coordinator of the National... (GunPolicy.org)
