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Licensing gun owners to possess and carry firearms
Concerns Persist Over Irish Police Attitude to Gun Licence Applicants
2 February 2012
Irish Times (Dublin)
ANALYSIS - Following an intervention by Mr Justice John Hedigan, the Garda and three gun enthusiasts have come to an agreement. This will allow gun club members reapply for licences where they have been refused.
The basis on which the case was settled was the reasoning for the refusal of licences was flawed.
However, questions about the behaviour of the Garda posed by Mr Justice Hedigan remain to be answered. Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has asked the Garda... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico,El Salvador,Honduras,Venezuela,Brazil,Colombia
Colombia Capital Tries Trial Ban on Guns in Public
2 February 2012
New York Times / AP
BOGOTA, Colombia — Gustavo Petro was imprisoned as a rebel in the 1980s on a weapons conviction. As Bogota's new mayor, he wants to get firearms off the streets of this city where the conspicuous display of guns has long been the norm.
So he's trying an experimental ban on gun-wielding in public.
The only people authorized to carry weapons during the 90-day trial that began Wednesday are active and retired police and soldiers, bodyguards of diplomats, politicians,... (GunPolicy.org)
Colombia Guerrilla-Turned-Mayor Bans Guns from the Streets of Bogotá
31 January 2012
Guardian (UK)
As a member of the M-19 guerrilla group in the 1980s, Gustavo Petro, who was known as Comandante Aureliano, served 18 months in prison for illegally carrying a firearm. Now mayor of the Colombian capital, Bogotá, Petro is leading an experiment in banning guns from the streets of this city of eight million people, where firearms are part of the backdrop to everyday life.
Bodyguards on high-speed motorbikes whizz through traffic wielding machine guns, security guards at... (GunPolicy.org)
Legal Challenge on Irish Police's Refusal to Grant Licences Settled
31 January 2012
Irish Examiner (Dublin)
A legal challenge by shooting enthusiasts to the Garda refusal to grant them licences for restricted firearms has been settled.
The shooting enthusiasts had claimed their applications for restricted guns were being refused on a blanket basis by gardaí without adequate reasons.
The Garda authorities have denied claims of a fixed policy of refusing licences.
This morning at the High Court, when the matter was briefly mentioned before the court, Mr Justice John Hedigan... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Free Zones, Gun Owner Testing Proposed for New Law in Uganda
30 January 2012
Monitor (Kampala)
In its efforts to curb the abundance and abuse of small and light weapons, the government has launched a new policy on firearms and ammunition.
The policy calls for a new legal regime to oversee the acquisition, use and storage of firearms.
The policy was unveiled last week by the Uganda National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons, a department in the Ministry of Internal Affairs that was created in 2003 to handle cases of illicit small arms.
The policy... (GunPolicy.org)
Theft From Gun Owners Fuels Crime Gun Market in South Australia
30 January 2012
Advertiser (Adelaide)
The black market for guns is thriving in SA, fuelled by the theft of up to 200 guns each year.
Police figures show that a total of 1316 guns have been taken from homes, businesses and vehicles since 2004.
Experts warn the thefts are the likely source of illegal firearm sales.
Police say they recover a "substantial" number of guns annually but admit it can take many years to find them, with 64 of the firearms recovered last financial year reported stolen up to 15... (GunPolicy.org)
Assembling Illegal Guns with Imported Pieces, Growing Trend within Sydney's Underworld
29 January 2012
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
Criminals are assembling illegal weapons in backyard firearm factories after importing them piece-by-piece over the internet.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the parts are being sourced from legitimate gun dealers in the US and pieced together in NSW after arriving in the mail undetected.
Detective Superintendent Ken Finch, commander of the Firearms and Organised Crime Squad (FAOCS), said a number of unrelated individuals had already been arrested and charged over the... (GunPolicy.org)
New Philippine Law Allows 15+ Guns per Civilian, No Light Weapons
29 January 2012
Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a new firearms law that would amend the Martial Law-era firearms regulations and provide for a comprehensive regulation of firearms, light weapons, and ammunition in the country.
Congressmen unanimously approved House Bill (HB) No. 5484 a few months after lawmakers sought stronger and clearer laws against possession of light weapons and high-powered firearms such as the ones... (GunPolicy.org)
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)
Glock: The Rise of America's Favourite Handgun
27 January 2012
New York Times, Book review
You rarely pull a gun to start a conversation, but when I recently told an in-law that I was writing about Glock pistols, he improvised a research project. Reaching beneath his jacket, he quickly unholstered, unloaded and handed me his Glock 9 millimeter — this was in Kentucky, land of permissive concealed-carry laws. "I always carry this, and I always will," he said before giving me a primer that could have been used in a promotional video for both the pistol and... (GunPolicy.org)
Irish Police Accused of Sharing Phrases to Defeat Gun Applications
26 January 2012
Independent (Dublin)
Letters sent by senior gardai to shooting enthusiasts turning down their gun-licence applications shared the same spelling and factual mistakes.
An analysis of refusal letters by 23 garda chief superintendents responsible for issuing firearm licences has concluded that 17 displayed evidence that they were not "independently produced".
Garda guidelines for restricted firearm certificates state that "each case ought to be judged on its own merits, being mindful of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Rely Even More on Canadian Gun Registry Slated for Deletion
25 January 2012
Toronto Star (Ontario)
OTTAWA - A new report shows that Canadian police services are using the firearms registry more than ever, relying on it more than 14,000 times a day rather than viewing it as an obsolete and unreliable database as the Conservative government claims.
The RCMP quietly posted on Monday annual report on the controversial firearms program which shows in 2010, law enforcement agencies across the country logged in and queried the Canadian Firearms Registry Online an average... (GunPolicy.org)
Calls for Probe as Top Irish Cop Admits Altering Gun Licence Forms
24 January 2012
Independent (Dublin)
Pressure is mounting on the Government to launch an inquiry after one of the country's most senior gardai admitted altering application forms for firearms licences.
The alterations by Crumlin Chief Superintendent John Manley, described last week as "disturbing" by a High Court judge, took place after legal action was brought by almost 200 shooting enthusiasts who were refused firearms licences.
Another senior garda responsible for issuing gun licences has admitted, in... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadians Own Millions More Guns, Many Unregistered as Laws Relax
24 January 2012
Edmonton Journal (Alberta)
Canadians own more than half a million more firearms than they did in 2006, according to the 2010 annual report from the RCMP's Canadian Firearms Program.
But while federal firearms data show that the number of registered gun owners in Canada is dropping, the arsenal of each is getting bigger and bigger.
But many gun owners - and a Tory MP - say the government's estimates are off the mark and that there may be twice as many firearms, and firearms owners, in Canada as... (GunPolicy.org)
Opposition Demands Stricter Gun Control in Wake of Uganda Shootings
24 January 2012
Monitor (Kampala)
KAMPALA - Opposition Forum for Democratic Change party has asked government to strengthen laws governing the safe and proper use of firearms.
The comments came a day after Santos Komakech, a police bodyguard attached to the Kampala Capital City Authority physical planning director, Mr George Agaba, allegedly shot dead one person and injured several others in Luzira when an eviction exercise turned bloody on Sunday morning.
'We demand that police institutes rules on... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda Opposition Party Asks Govt to Strengthen Gun Laws after Shooting
24 January 2012
New Vision (Kampala)
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has asked government to explain the Sunday shooting incident at Port Bell, Luzira that left two people dead and one injured.
During the eviction exercise by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials, a guard to George Agaba, the authority's director of planning, went on a shooting spree when the exercise was met with resistance from the locals and shot dead two men and injured a woman in the arm.
Addressing journalists... (GunPolicy.org)
Call for 3-gun Ownership Limit as Firearm Licences Soar in NSW, Australia
23 January 2012
Sydney Morning Herald
The number of gun permits issued in NSW has almost doubled in the past five years, sparking calls for restrictions on how many guns people can acquire.
Figures from the NSW firearms registry show 111,792 permits to acquire a firearm were issued in 2009 and 2010. That was 29,427 more than for the previous two-year period. In 2005 and 2006, there were 65,997 permits issued.
The National Coalition for Gun Control, which obtained the latest figures under... (GunPolicy.org)
NYC Police Arrest, Jail More US Tourists Toting Illegal Hidden Handguns
22 January 2012
CNN
NEW YORK -- An online campaign in support of a former U.S. Marine -- arrested for attempting to security-check his pistol while visiting the Empire State Building -- is bringing new attention and a fair amount of scrutiny to one of the nation's toughest gun-control laws.
Ryan Jerome, 28, was charged with criminal possession of his .45-caliber Ruger while visiting the famous New York landmark during a September vacation with his girlfriend. Jerome has a license to carry... (GunPolicy.org)
Swedish Govt Suggests Stricter Penalties for Carrying Gun in Public Place
20 January 2012
Local (Sweden)
In a proposal to the Swedish Council on Legislation's (Lagrådet) the government has suggested implementing stricter penalties for carrying a weapon in a public place.
However, at present they are not willing to grant police the wire tapping capabilities for less serious crimes, powers which police have long sought.
"We have made every effort to signal the need for this and we hope that the government will continue to work on it. We really do need to have these... (GunPolicy.org)
Number of Licences to Carry Firearms Increased by 20% in Peru [Espanol]
20 January 2012
Diario Correo (Peru)
[Translated summary: According to data from the General Directorate for Control of Security Services, Control of Arms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civil Use (DICSCAMEC), the number of licences to carry firearms increased by 20% in 2011. According to the head of this Directorate, this increase could be due to the level of insecurity in Peru.]
Durante el 2011 en la sede de la Dirección General de Control de Servicios de Seguridad, Control de Armas, Munición y... (GunPolicy.org)
Availability of Guns Highlights Critical Need for Nigeria to Tighten Gun Control
19 January 2012
Daily Trust (Abuja), Opinion
The recent detection and confiscation of Nigeria-bound cache of arms by the Ghanaian Police Service in Accra brings into focus the danger of illegal firearms in Nigeria.
The lorry load of weapons destined for Nigeria highlights a critical need for the Nigerian authorities to be more vigilant in enforcement of gun control laws. While Boko Haram bombings, communal killings and economic problems are taking centre stage, the onslaught of murderous bank robberies, killing... (GunPolicy.org)
Florida Gun Owners Upset at Attempt to Stop Patients Carrying Firearms
19 January 2012
Globe & Mail (Toronto)
Florida-bound, Canadian snowbirds may feel a little safer – or not – knowing that if they wind up in hospital, the patient beside them might just have a Glock machine pistol tucked under his pillow.
Muggers beware.
It's the latest legislative shoot-out in the long-running saga over what the framers of America's Constitution meant by the "right of the people to keep and bear Arms".
In Florida, it's against the law to pack a pistol to school or take your rifle to... (GunPolicy.org)
Thailand's Lethal Fascination with Firearms [Espanol]
18 January 2012
ABC News (Spain) / EFE
[Translated summary: According to data from the United Nations, firearms are used in 80% of homicides committed in Thailand, a percentage that is almost hand in hand with nations such as South Africa, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, or the United States.]
BANGKOK - La fascinación de los tailandeses por las armas de fuego, de las que hay 15 por cada 100 habitantes, hace que Tailandia sea uno de los países con un mayor promedio de homicidios cometidos por gente propensa... (GunPolicy.org)
Children 'No Risk' with Shotguns, 7,071 Licences Issued to Under-18s in UK
18 January 2012
BBC News
Police revoked just two shotgun certificates given to children in the past decade, according to the Countryside Alliance.
The campaign group released the figures as MPs prepare to debate whether to introduce a minimum age of 14 for holding a shotgun certificate.
More than 7,000 under-18s received certificates between 2008 and 2010.
There is currently no minimum age for qualifying, but an anti-gun group said under-18s should not get certificates.
In a Freedom of... (GunPolicy.org)
Debate Over Minimum Age for Shotgun Licence in UK
18 January 2012
Yorkshire Post (UK)
Countryside campaigners have attacked moves to set a minimum age for shotgun licences, claiming research proves under-14s with certificates "pose no risk to the public".
The Countryside Alliance said their figures, which show that in the past 10 years only two people under the age of 14 have had shotgun certificates withdrawn by the police, prove "conclusively" that the young take the responsibility of handling shotguns seriously and efforts to stop them entering the... (GunPolicy.org)
New York Police Working on Gun-scan Technology to Detect Concealed Guns
17 January 2012
New York Times, Blog
For years, detectives trying to distinguish gun-carrying New Yorkers from others have had to rely on observations, street smarts and luck. A man with a gun on his hip might grab the front of his sport coat to keep it from flapping open and revealing the pistol. Someone getting out of a cab might hold tight to his side, to keep a weapon secure.
But science is now promising to assist such human efforts.
In a speech on Tuesday morning to the New York City Police... (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)
Shooters on 'Gun Buying Spree,' Own on Average 4 Guns Each in Australia's Largest State
16 January 2012
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
NSW is gun mad - and proud of it - with shooters stockpiling almost 100,000 new registered firearms in the past five years.
The number of gun licences, meanwhile, has only increased by about a fifth, or 18,852 over the same period, showing some are stocking up with numerous weapons.
There are now 763,359 registered firearms across the state, including 27,956 handguns, compared with 190,844 licences - taking the ratio to four guns for every licensed owner. In some... (GunPolicy.org)
Public Demands Gun Ban, Kurdistan Govt Stops Gun Sales, Possession
14 January 2012
AK News (Kurdistan)
KIRKUK - It is two days since the sale of guns were banned in Chamchamal. The city's gun shops have been closed and violators will be penalized.
Chamchamal deputy mayor, Tareq Rashid, told AKnews that all the licenses to sell guns will be annulled. No one will be allowed to deal with guns openly or concealed.
In June Kurdistan Region Interior Ministry ordered that only people in a few "special" posts or on certain occasions will be re-licensed to carry arms. But in... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Gun Criminal Freed, Victoria to Close 'Bizarre' Firearm Loophole
11 January 2012
Herald Sun (Melbourne)
The closure of a bizarre loophole in gun laws will make it easier to prevent criminals from carrying firearms.
A legislative amendment, expected to pass when Parliament resumes, will prevent any exploitation of laws that ban "prohibited persons" from having firearms.
In a 2010 case that prompted a review of the Firearms Act, a member of a Melbourne crime family beat firearms charges after a judge accepted he could not have known whether a revolver was registered.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Poland,Nigeria,China,United Kingdom
UK Arms Dealer Arranged to Sell 80,000 Chinese Guns to Nigeria - Court
10 January 2012
BBC News
A British-based arms dealer helped organise the shipment of thousands of guns from China to Nigeria without the necessary licence, a court has heard.
Gary Hyde partly arranged and organised the shipment in 2007 of 80,000 rifles and pistols and 32 million rounds of ammunition.
Southwark Crown Court heard he did not receive permission from the relevant government department.
Mr Hyde, from Derwent near York, denies the charges.
The court was told the shipment involved... (GunPolicy.org)
Former Marine Gets 10yrs for Smuggling US Guns to English Crime Gangs
10 January 2012
News & Observer (North Carolina)
GREENVILLE -- A former U.S. Marine has been sentenced to 10 years in prison today for illegally trafficking dozens of handguns to the United Kingdom.
Steven Neal Greenoe, 37, a former Raleigh resident, pleaded guilty in federal court to the charges, which allege that the joint U.S. and U.K. citizen took nine trips from North Carolina – where he grew up – purchased handguns, and concealed a total of 63 pistols in his luggage before returning to England, where he... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Seize 35 Firearms, Bust Fake Gun Licence Racket in South India
10 January 2012
Deccan Chronicle (India)
HYDERABAD - The city Task Force sleuths busted a fake gun licence racket and seized 35 illegal fire arms from security guards working in various agencies. About 11 security guards and the owner of Protection Management Services were arrested on charges of forging gun licenses and using them to procure weapons.
The police commissioner, Mr A.K. Khan, said, "Security agencies are aware of what they are doing. We checked their licences with the issuing authorities and... (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)
Guns Outnumber People in Rural Australian Towns: Anti-gun Lobby 'Horrified'
9 January 2012
Herald Sun (Melbourne)
Guns outnumber people in 24 Victorian towns a special investigation has revealed and the figures have horrified the anti-gun lobby.
The East Gippsland hamlet of Swifts Creek has the highest ratio: 774 registered firearms shared by just 278 residents.
French Island in Western Port Bay and Harrow, in the Wimmera, rounded out the top three gun hot spots.
National Coalition for Gun Control chairwoman Sam Lee said more guns led to more crime.
Annual figures show an... (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)
Conditions to Be Met when Applying for Firearm Licence in Kenya
6 January 2012
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
When applying for a firearms certificate, one is required to have a valid certificate of good conduct and a photocopy of their Kenyan Identity Card.
Aliens will have to produce passports, work permits and any other supporting documents.
The originals of the above documents are submitted to the local police boss, who will complete a questionnaire and make his recommendations and thereafter forward to his OCPD.
A safe inspection report, which is filled after the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Tantra in Etah, India: Anyone Worth His Salt Keeps Firearms
6 January 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
From being the birthplace of 12th century poet Amir Khusro to a district where the high crime rate makes virtually anyone worth his salt keep firearms, the descent of Etah into disrepute makes it a symbol of much that's wrong with UP's wild west. Its residents know this ground reality all too well.
That is why the question - what is Etah famous for? - gets seven out of 10 people here to reply 'crime', albeit after a little prodding.
One does not have to go far to see... (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)
In Cote d'Ivoire, Firearms Are Everywhere and in the Hands of All [Francais]
4 January 2012
West Africa Democracy Radio
[Translated summary: In almost every city of Cote d'Ivoire, youth, former militia members, or simple civilians possess firearms without a permit to carry firearms. Even though many amnesties were launched to tackle the traffic of illicit firearms, the problem persists.]
Dans la quasi-totalité des villes de Côte d'Ivoire de nombreux jeunes, ex-miliciens, combattants rebelles des ex-Forces nouvelles (FAFN), ou de simples civils détiennent des armes à feu sans... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Enthusiast Kills 3 Women, Self, Thrusts UK Gun Laws Back Into News
3 January 2012
Independent (UK)
A taxi driver who murdered his partner, her sister and her sister's daughter before shooting himself in a New Year's Day killing spree at the family home held licences for six weapons and had been known to police for three years after he threatened to harm himself.
His 19-year-old stepdaughter leapt to safety from an upstairs window after the man, named as Michael Atherton, opened fire in the crowded semi-detached house shortly before midnight. Police confirmed they... (GunPolicy.org)
Muslim Region of Mindanao, Philippines: Governor to Purge Illegal Firearms
2 January 2012
Philippine Star
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – After declaring war on illegal loggers, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officer-in-charge Mujiv Hataman vowed to address the proliferation of firearms in his region, home to warlords and clans that maintain arsenals as symbol to perpetuate power.
Hataman, who is an ethnic Yakan from Basilan, said he will initiate measures to account loose firearms cautiously due to the strong centuries-old tradition of Southern Moro... (GunPolicy.org)
Bogota New Mayor Vows to Ban the Carrying of Guns on the Streets
2 January 2012
CNN
A former leftist guerrilla has started his term as the mayor of Colombia's capital with a pledge to ban carrying weapons on the city's streets.
"More important than prohibiting people from drinking or dancing at night, or stores from opening, is prohibiting the instruments that allow people to kill other people. And of these instruments, in first place are firearms, which the law allows based on norms that I do not share, because we told Colombia in '89 that we put... (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)
Senegal Government Suspends Licences to Carry Guns for Four Months
1 January 2012
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
DAKAR — Senegal's interior ministry has announced the suspension of all licences it awarded civilians that guaranteed them to legally carry arms ahead of polls in February.
A statement by the ministry on Friday night said the suspension takes immediate effect and will stay put for four months. The move is in the "best interest of civilians and will further intended to protect and guarantee peace and security in the country," the statement said.
It did not provide... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Lobby Group Raises $200 Million a Year, Aims to Unseat Obama
29 December 2011
Bloomberg (USA)
A toaster that burns the National Rifle Association's logo onto bread fetched $650 at an auction last month, just one reflection of the money-making power in the gun group's brand.
The NRA, which began as a grassroots organization dedicated to teaching marksmanship, enters the 2012 election season as a lobbying, merchandising and marketing machine that brings in more than $200 million a year and intends to help unseat the incumbent president. From 2004 to 2010, the... (GunPolicy.org)
Ranger Kills 2 Women, Self with Government Gun in Guam Domestic Dispute
29 December 2011
Pacific Daily News (Guam)
A relative of two slain women is questioning if the government of Guam should harden the psychological scrutiny of armed law enforcement in the wake of a double murder-suicide.
John Mamaligsa said yesterday that he is pushing local lawmakers to create a law establishing government-wide psychological evaluation standards for anyone who carries a gun in the name of GovGuam.
The standards should require all law enforcement to be reviewed by a psychologist periodically to... (GunPolicy.org)
In North Carolina, 2,400 Hidden Handgun Permit Holders Had Convictions
26 December 2011
New York Times
Alan Simons was enjoying a Sunday morning bicycle ride with his family in Asheville, N.C., two years ago when a man in a sport utility vehicle suddenly pulled alongside him and started berating him for riding on the highway.
Mr. Simons, his 4-year-old son strapped in behind him, slowed to a halt. The driver, Charles Diez, an Asheville firefighter, stopped as well. When Mr. Simons walked over, he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun.
"Go ahead, I'll shoot... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Owners in Ireland Lose Hundreds of Firearms to Thieves Every Year
23 December 2011
Herald (Dublin)
More than 1,400 guns have been stolen here in the past five years.
Figures just released by Justice Minister Alan Shatter show that 1,451 firearms were recorded as stolen on the garda PULSE computer system in the years 2007 to December 12, 2011.
He said the figures for the individual years were 205 in 2011; 249 in 2010; 350 in 2009; 298 in 2008 and 349 in 2007.
The number of licensed firearms in Ireland is more than 233,000, with most of them being 12-gauge shotguns... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Possession a Status Symbol in India, Firearms a Common Dowry Item
22 December 2011
Star Online ((Malaysia)
Possessing firearms is a status symbol in India's northern rural belt and it isn't unusual to find guns as part of a bride's dowry.
For a country that witnesses a whopping 10 million marriages a year, India boasts a cachet of interesting nuptial traditions as well.
While the big cities are synonymous with the Big Fat Indian Wedding – occasions which showcase opulence, financial clout and the social pecking order of well-to-do families – swathes of the northern... (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)
Over 40,000 Gun Owners with Expired Licences in Central Visayas, Philippines
21 December 2011
Philippine Information Agency, Media release
CEBU CITY -- The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 warned gun owners that failure to renew their gun license will be tantamount to illegal possession of loose firearm.
Over 40,000 gun holders in Central Visayas have expired licenses this year.
PRO-7 Deputy Regional Director for Operations S/Supt. Louie Oppus asked gun holders to renew their firearms as the police us strengthening their close monitoring on loose firearms.
Records of the Firearms Explosives Security... (GunPolicy.org)
Racing to Lowest Standard, US States Slacken Controls on Hidden Handguns
20 December 2011
USA Today
JACKSON, Miss. – A Mississippi resident who receives a concealed carry permit and takes an eight-hour course can now carry a gun on college campuses, in bars and in courthouses.
As of this summer, Wyoming residents need no permits for concealed weapons. And in Indiana, private businesses must allow employees to keep firearms in their vehicles on company property.
Those and other recent changes on the state level represent a growing shift toward loosening state gun... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than 6 Million Firearms Illegally Circulating in Mexico [Espanol]
20 December 2011
El Occidental (Guadalajara)
[Translated summary: More than six million firearms are illegally circulating in Mexico. Rep. Salvador Caro suggests a three months period to register these, then punish illegal carrying of a firearm with five years in prison and no right to bail.]
Más de seis millones de armas de fuego circulan por México de manera ilegal, sin licencia, y es por ello que el diputado federal Salvador Caro propone se dé un plazo de tres meses para registrar una parte de éstas, para... (GunPolicy.org)
Investigation: US Illegal Gun Buyers Have an Easy Time Online - Time
16 December 2011
Time (USA)
Easy firearm sales over the Internet, through classified sites like Craigslist, may be to blame for a significant amount of the nation's gun crime, thanks to a loophole in federal firearm regulations that some private arms sellers are taking advantage of, according to a new investigation released Wednesday.
In a probe of illegal online firearm sales conducted by the City of New York, undercover investigators found that 62% of private gun sellers they interacted with... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Firearm Market in Belgium Has a Variety of Sources [Francais]
16 December 2011
La Libre (Brussels)
[Translated summary: The type of weapon used by the Liège mass shooter Nordine Amrani represents a marginal part of arms trafficking. The market for illicit long guns is relatively small as they are not easily concealable. There are two main sources: weapons from Eastern Europe and weapons manufactured in Belgium, like the FAL, apparently used by Amrani.]
Le type d'armes utilisées par Amrani n'est qu'un volet marginal du trafic d'armes.
Comment Nordine Amrani a-t-il... (GunPolicy.org)
Belgian Killer Amassed Illegal Guns, Used Light Automatic Army Rifle
15 December 2011
CNN
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- A man who killed five people and himself in a gun and grenade attack in Belgium feared going back to prison and losing the life he had built, his lawyer said Thursday.
The attack on a crowded market square in Liege Tuesday by Nourdine Amrani, which also left at least 130 people wounded, shocked the nation.
His defense lawyer in Liege, Jean-Francois Dister, told CNN Amrani had called him late Monday and early Tuesday after the police called him in... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Gun Sales Run Rampant on US Internet, Arm 'Craigslist Killers'
14 December 2011
Huffington Post (USA)
A New York City undercover investigation heralded as the first of its kind has found a "vast and largely unregulated market for illegal guns" on the Internet, and the worst offender is a website that has gotten mixed up with the law before: Craigslist.
In the report released Wednesday, entitled, "Point, Click, Fire: An Investigation of Illegal Online Gun Sales," investigators found that sellers on Craigslist agreed 82 percent of the time to sell guns to a purchaser who... (GunPolicy.org)
Switzerland,Finland,Germany,United Kingdom,Netherlands,Norway,Europe
Gun Attacks in Europe and Their Effect on Gun Control Laws
14 December 2011
BBC News
As more details emerge of the shooting spree and grenade attack in Belgium in which five people died, the BBC News website takes a look at other recent incidents in Europe - and the effect they have had on each country's laws.
Norway
Seventy-seven people were killed in twin attacks on 22 July 2011 in Norway. Anders Behring Breivik has admitted that he planted a car bomb that exploded close to government offices in the capital Oslo, killing eight people. He then drove... (GunPolicy.org)
Concern over Continuing Gun Smuggling between Indonesia, Philippines
14 December 2011
GMA TV News (Manila)
Indonesia's foreign minister, in Manila for an official visit, has expressed concern over the continuing smuggling of firearms between Indonesia and the Philippines, fearing that some of these weapons may end in the hands of terrorists.
"Illicit transfer of firearms is certainly one issue that we're keen to address," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters, adding that the problem was among the many issues that he raised with Philippine Foreign Affairs... (GunPolicy.org)
NYC Mayor Cites 'Rampant' Illegal Internet Gun Sales, Targets CraigsList
14 December 2011
Reuters
NEW YORK - Almost two thirds of a sample of private online gun sellers in the United States were willing to sell a firearm to someone who could not pass a background check, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Wednesday.
Bloomberg, who is leading a national campaign against illegal guns, said a national investigation into online gun sales by private investigators hired by New York City uncovered a "vast and largely unregulated market for illegal guns."
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Police 'Bury Gun Culture,' Seizing Fake Licences from Hyderabad Criminals
14 December 2011
Times of India
Senior police officers say they are only acting on directives issued by higher authorities and are thus busy plugging loopholes to make laws pertaining to possession of firearms watertight. "We have no problems with players possessing firearms. But there have been many instances when nefarious individuals have posed as shooters to obtain licenses and it is only natural that the rules are being tightened to stop this racket," says city police commissioner AK Khan, who is... (GunPolicy.org)
Quebec Sues Ottawa to Save Long Gun Registry Records from Trash
13 December 2011
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
QUEBEC – Quebec wants to create its own long-gun registry, using data already collected for the federal registry, and is prepared to go to court to stop Ottawa destroying gun ownership records.
Public Security Minister Robert Dutil announced Tuesday that Quebec would take legal action to recover the data once Ottawa's Bill C-19, abolishing the federal long-gun registry, becomes law.
Dutil said C-19 was "a step backwards" and called the destruction "unjust and... (GunPolicy.org)
Spurt in Use of Illegal Guns Reported in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh, India
12 December 2011
Times of India
VISAKHAPATNAM - Illegal weapons are finding their way into the city. The firing incident that took place at railway station on Friday evening raised serious questions about the use of guns by criminal gangs. Police sources blamed criminals from other states for the use of illegal fire arms. A person, believed to be a CISF constable was arrested by police on Saturday, in related to Friday's firing incident. They suspect that he and his colleagues were involved in three... (GunPolicy.org)
US Handgun Production, Imports Double in 4 Years: Women Lead Trend?
11 December 2011
Sydney Morning Herald, Bloomberg (USA)
NEW YORK -- Robin Natanel picks up a compact black pistol, barrel pointed down range. Gripping the gun with both hands, left foot forward, she raises the semi-automatic and methodically squeezes off five shots. The first one creases the left edge of a red bull's-eye on a target 7.5 metres away. The four others paint a 7.5-centimetre pattern around the first. If the target were a person's head or heart, he would probably be dead.
Natanel is a Buddhist, a self-avowed... (GunPolicy.org)
Soaring Gun Ownership 'Getting Out of Control' in Australia's Largest State
11 December 2011
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
Soaring gun ownership in NSW is expected to soon exceed levels prior to the federal government's 1996 buy-back program.
Figures obtained by The Sunday Telegraph show there are 188,885 people on the NSW Police Firearms Register, just short of the estimated 200,000 licence holders pre- the Port Arthur massacre, which triggered changes to gun laws.
NSW Greens described the increase as "alarming" and gun control groups warned that more and more firearms would end up on... (GunPolicy.org)
Jamaica Mandates that All 25,000 Licensed Firearms Must Be Re-marked
9 December 2011
Jamaica Observer
The Government has mandated that all licensed firearms be provided with traceable security marks as it modernises the country's anti-gang legislation as part of the fight against crime.
Following a decision taken by the Cabinet, all holders of licensed firearms will have to present them to the licensing authority to be marked when being licensed by special machines to be acquired under an agreement with the Organisation of American States.
"This is important for us to... (GunPolicy.org)
New Zealand Gun Dealer Offers Machine Guns, Anti-aircraft Gun for Sale
9 December 2011
New Zealand Herald / APNZ
A Christchurch arms dealer is trading high-calibre weapons more associated with freedom fighters in Libya than librarians in Linwood.
David Tipple of Gun City is selling for a bargain price of $1499 anti-aircraft cannons designed to shoot jet-fighters out of the sky.
Also available are German machineguns from the Battle of Stalingrad, MP5 9mm sub-machineguns starting from $14,999, as well as "very rare" 9mm UZI machineguns - down from $12,000 - Russian AK47s, .303... (GunPolicy.org)
After Shootings, French Senate passes Tighter Gun Control Bill [Francais]
8 December 2011
Le Monde (France) / AFP
[Translated summary: The French Senate has unanimously adopted, this Thursday, a bill that would simplify and tighten gun control. Arms will be listed in 4 categories: banned, subject to authorisation, subject to notification and others (free transfer); individuals charged with gun trafficking will face a prison term of seven years and a 100,000 Euros fine and if the crime is committed by organised crime, a prison term of ten years and a 500,000 Euros fine.]
Le Sénat... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Control Off the Table as US Congress Feels Heat from Influential NRA
8 December 2011
Guardian (UK)
Mexico's drug cartels have for years armed themselves courtesy of America's love for guns.
Many Americans, wedded to their right to own guns under the second amendment of the US constitution, are viscerally opposed to stronger laws to curb weapons trafficking, out of fear that it may prove to be the thin end of a wedge that they say will result in the government confiscating all firearms.
Some are wedded to their guns out of fear of crime. Others see them as a... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Oppose Gun Lobby Push to Slacken Law, Reduce Gun Limits in Japan
7 December 2011
Japan Today
TOKYO — Farmers in rural areas have been reporting increasing damage to their crops by wild boar, deer and other animals. To make firearms more accessible, a bill that would loosen the currently tight restrictions on hunting rifles has been proposed in the Diet. But, the Sankei Shimbun (Dec 4) reports, the police remain adamantly opposed to changes in the law.
According to data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in 2009, crop damage from... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Gun Laws, Scrapping of Long Gun Registry Explained, Debated
6 December 2011
CBC News (Canada)
The contentious long-gun registry is on the cusp of being abolished, meaning rifles and shotguns like those sold at Stephen Milton's King City, Ont., shop will disappear from government records.
But while police say that would make it harder for them to do their jobs, Milton says it would be a good move.
"We don't have a gun problem. We have a criminal problem, we have a gang problem, we have problems with people who have no regard for the law whatsoever," he said.... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Firearms Act Reduced Violence Against Women, Why Change?
6 December 2011
The Witness (South Africa)
CAPE TOWN — The proposed amendments to the Firearms Control Act should be opposed at all costs, because in its current state the law has succeeded in reducing violence against women and children.
So says Dr Naeemah Abrahams, a researcher with the Medical Research Council. She pointed out the dangers of the proposed amendments during a discussion of the 16 Days Campaign of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children yesterday.
This year's campaign will... (GunPolicy.org)
Western Sydney Weathers a 20% Spike in Drive-by Property Shootings
6 December 2011
Sydney Morning Herald / AAP
Sydney's west has experienced a 20 per cent spike in drive-by shootings, the latest NSW crime statistics show.
The number of shootings at premises in western Sydney increased from 73 last year to 88 this year, the director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) Don Weatherburn said on Tuesday.
He said while gun crime was stable across the state, it had spiked in western Sydney.
"Over the last 12 months we've seen a 20 per cent increase in the number... (GunPolicy.org)
Want an Illegal Gun? Go to a Gun Show, Says Tennessee Gun Show Promoter
5 December 2011
Tennessean (Nashville)
Let there be no doubt: Bob Pope is a gun-packing Republican. The sixth-generation Tennessean is a Newt Gingrich-supporting Second Amendment advocate who ran gun shows for 25 years.
But he said his buddies in the Tennessee Firearms Association are irritated by his one-man campaign to close the so-called "gun show loophole," which he claims allows murderers and thieves to buy stolen guns.
"If I was going to buy an illegal gun, I'd go to a gun show and buy it," said... (GunPolicy.org)
About 240,000 Guns Untraceable in Switzerland [Francais]
5 December 2011
Le Dauphiné Libéré (France)
[Translated Summary: 240,000 of the two million guns in circulation in Switzerland are untraceable, says the Ministry of Defence. The National regulations would be a cause: in terms of Defence, Switzerland has a people's army - reservists are allowed to store their weapons at home, to carry them unloaded, and private gun sales are permitted.]
La Suisse évoque bien plus l'image de paix et de concorde civile que celle des armes à feu. Pourtant, le pays est l'un de... (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)
Civilians Have Easy Access to Illegal Guns in Kurdistan Black Market
3 December 2011
Kurdish Globe (Kurdistan)
Some see their firearms as further protection
Twenty years after the Kurdish uprising, civilians still keep guns in their homes.
Firearms remain widely accepted by people in a region where possession of unlicensed firearms is considered illegal.
A weapon that was once essential for their survival--especially in the 90s--still has not lost its appeal among civilians. Politicians gift guns as a tradition.
The gun market located outside of Erbil city is part of some 20... (GunPolicy.org)
19,000 Handguns, 3 Million Rounds of Ammo Seized at Pakistani Airport
3 December 2011
International News (Karachi)
PESHAWAR - Two more consignments of arms were seized at the Peshawar Airport during the last couple of days while the Interior Ministry and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Home and Tribal Affairs have launched separate inquiries into the import of tens of thousands foreign-made weapons allegedly through illegal means.
Sources said the officials involved have started approaching different quarters to save their skin following the appearance of reports about the scam in... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Law Relaxed, Gun Sales, Imports Double in New Caledonia [Francais]
2 December 2011
Les Nouvelles Calédonies (Nouméa)
[Translated Summary: After New Caledonia's gun sale regulations were relaxed, high demand and availability resulted in a significant rise in gun sales: 2,500 sales in 2011 versus 1,800 sales in 2010.]
Le phénomène était attendu : depuis le mois de mars et la simplification de la réglementation sur la vente des armes, le nombre de fusils disponibles sur le marché a explosé. Cette année, le niveau des importations d'armes à feu a même doublé.
Acheter une... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Nuts Need Fear, Conspiracies, Obama to Hate, Flourish, Raise Money
1 December 2011
New York Times, Opinion
PHOENIX — When it became clear in the early fall of 2008 that Barack Obama, son of a Kansan and a Kenyan, would be the 44th President of the United States, many citizens rushed to their gun shops, stocked up on ammo and camo, and tried to fortify their nests with all manner of lethal weapons.
Though he had said nothing about gun control in the campaign, Obama, to a certain kind of person, appeared to be a grave threat to the Second Amendment. He was urban —... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Possession, Licensing Control Study in Netherlands Never Published
1 December 2011
Radio Netherlands
A study into gun ownership in the Netherlands showing inadequate supervision of gun permits was submitted to the justice ministry in August 2010, almost nine months before the Alphen aan den Rijn mall shooting in which seven people were killed.
The study showed that gun permits were being routinely issued and pointed to inadequate police supervision of gun owners. Police officers reportedly lack the expertise to properly evaluate gun permit applications and most police... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Government Rejects Long-gun Registry Amendments [Francais]
30 November 2011
Le Devoir (Quebec)
[Translated Summary: "A poisoned Christmas gift." Opposition attempts have failed and Bill C-19 will be sent back to the House of Commons: the long gun register will be abolished, as will its data, and no one will be able to revive it. This was the decision made by the Commons Public Safety Committee, made up of a conservative majority.]
OTTAWA — Malgré les critiques de plusieurs témoins, et notamment du gouvernement du Québec, la proposition des conservateurs... (GunPolicy.org)
About 116,000 Guns Registered, 20,000 Untraceable in Geneva [Francais]
30 November 2011
Tribune de Genève
[Translated Summary: Following a recent shooting in Switzerland, Bernard Bersier, Chief of the Firearms Service, analyses the situation in Geneva. Last year, 115,684 firearms were registered in Geneva, one firearm per four inhabitants. Behind this official number hides a grey market that constitutes the real danger, explains Mr Bersier.]
Suite à la mort par balle d'un homme aux Cygnes, Bernard Bersier, chef du Service des armes, analyse la situation genevoise.
A... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines: Gun Ban Imposed in Zamboanga, Basilan
29 November 2011
Business World (Philippines)
ZAMBOANGA CITY - A gun ban has been imposed in Zamboanga City and Basilan province to stem the series of attacks, a Cabinet official said yesterday, with the recent blast tagged to the bandits.
While details on how the restriction will be enforced were not raised during a media briefing, Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said mobile and standard checkpoints will be deployed in the two areas.
"Sinabihan na po yung mga kasama natin sa PNP at AFP na wala munang... (GunPolicy.org)
Cambodia,Thailand,India,Myanmar,Bangladesh
Menace of Illicit Small Arms Industry, Trade, Violence in India - Opinion
28 November 2011
Express Buzz (India), Opinion
According to a recent study, India witnessed 4,100 gunshot murders in 2008. These murders would work out to 12.2 per cent of the over 33,700 murders reported during the year. Overall, there were over 6,200 deaths due to gunshots; about 66 per cent of them were murders, 26.3 per cent were accidental deaths and 7.7 per cent were suicides. It was also reported that most of the victims of firearm murders in India were killed using unlicensed firearms.
Studies conducted... (GunPolicy.org)
South Sudan Government in Fresh Battle to Disarm Civilians
27 November 2011
Radio Netherlands / ANP / AFP
One of Africa's longest-running wars left this land in ruins and battling a bitter legacy that threatens prospects for peace -- a stockpile of weapons spurring cattle raids and banditry.
After seceding from the north in July, South Sudan begun a clean-up to rid civilians of arms taken up during the brutal two-decade civil war with the Khartoum army in the north.
But despite the efforts, many continue to live in fear of rampant livestock theft committed by men who... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Hunt Gun Thieves in West Australia: Hundreds Stolen in 18 Months
26 November 2011
West Australian (Perth)
Police are hunting for a thief who stole five firearms from Hamilton Hill recently.
A police spokeswoman said a shotgun, two lever action rifles, a handgun and one air-rifle was stolen from a poorly secured cabinet on Winterfold Street.
The deadly weapons were left in an unoccupied house, which was under construction, in an unlocked garage.
Police were called to the residence about 7am but it is unknown when exactly the weapons were stolen.
Gun owners are required... (GunPolicy.org)
Iraq,Afghanistan,United States
Conspiracists Chatter as Secretive US Company Buys Up Gun, Ammo Makers
26 November 2011
New York Times
SCARBOROUGH, Me. - Lined up in a gun rack beneath mounted deer heads is a Bushmaster Carbon 15, a matte-black semiautomatic rifle that looks as if it belongs to a SWAT team. On another rack rests a Teflon-coated Prairie Panther from DPMS Firearms, a supplier to the United States Border Patrol and security agencies in Iraq. On a third is a Remington 750 Woodsmaster, a popular hunting rifle.
The variety of rifles and shotguns on sale here at Cabela's, the national... (GunPolicy.org)
Hidden Handguns: US Lawmakers Vote for Lowest Common Gun Safety Rules
26 November 2011
Economist
One question that worries many visitors to defensivecarry.com, a website devoted to the delights and pitfalls of life with a hidden gun, is whether their "concealed-carry" permits will be valid outside the state in which they are issued. Can they take their guns on holiday with them? Can they pack them in their checked bags for a flight? What if their plane is diverted to a spot like New York, which makes it exceedingly difficult to carry a gun? And if they cannot bring... (GunPolicy.org)
Fearing Armed Violence, Egyptians Steal 80,000 Guns from Police Stations
25 November 2011
IRIN (UN News)
CAIRO - It took Ahmed Fawzi, a College of Islamic Studies graduate, only a few hours after seeing a man robbed and killed by a group of criminals to buy a gun.
"I just did not want to be killed like this innocent man," Fawzi, 26, told IRIN. "My father died years ago and I am responsible for defending my family in the absence of all types of security."
Egyptians are discovering the need to defend themselves, in the wake of the uncertainty and insecurity following the... (GunPolicy.org)
Despite Police Protests, Blind American Man Legally Holds 12+ Handguns
25 November 2011
New York Times
ROCKAWAY, N.J. — Judging by what the authorities say about him, Steven Hopler has really been testing the limits of the Second Amendment.
Mr. Hopler, 49, who lives on a winding road here, is once again fighting for his right to keep and bear arms despite having been totally blind for most of his adult life. He has repeatedly persuaded judges to let him keep his collection of more than a dozen handguns, but doing so has been more complicated since 2008, when he was... (GunPolicy.org)
El Salvador Police Count 128,000 Gun Registrations Lapsed, Now Illegal
25 November 2011
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Over 128,000 firearms without a government permit are currently circulating in El Salvador, according to the national police.
The police said that a total of 220,493 firearms have been officially registered in El Salvador since 1994. However, permits for more than half of these weapons have now expired. "This means that citizens have now lost the right to carry them legally," Augusto Cotto said.
Under the rules set by the Ministry of Defense, an authorization permit... (GunPolicy.org)
Texas Border Town a Hotspot for US-Mexico Ammunition Smugglers
22 November 2011
KVUE.com (Texas)
EAGLE PASS, Texas – The small border town Eagle Pass has become a big corridor for ammunition smugglers who supply violent drug cartels.
In November, there was a large spike in smuggling activity.
"Just this month alone there have been three separate seizures totaling 700 magazines for AK-47 rifles," said Randy Clark, Patrol Agent in Charge for the U.S. Border Patrol station in Eagle Pass.
On Nov. 3, Border Patrol agents seized three black duffle bags near the Rio... (GunPolicy.org)
Federal Watchdog Criticises Plan to Destroy Canadian Gun Registry Data
22 November 2011
CTV News (Winnipeg) / Canadian Press
OTTAWA — The federal information watchdog says a government move to destroy gun-registry records sets a bad precedent.
Suzanne Legault told a Commons committee Tuesday that a federal bill to scrap the long-gun registry -- and delete millions of records -- violates the letter and spirit of the Library and Archives of Canada Act.
"It does raise major concerns in terms of transparency and accountability in general," Legault said.
"As information commissioner, I have... (GunPolicy.org)
South America,Guatemala,El Salvador,Central America,United States,Mexico
Black Market Gun Runners Develop New Central American Routes - Report
21 November 2011
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Because the recent spike in drug-related violence in Mexico has coincided with the 2004 expiration of the U.S. assault weapons ban, and because a significant portion of the weapons used in Mexican crimes have been traced to U.S. vendors, Mexican officials often accuse liberal U.S. gun laws of being a major obstacle to a safer Mexico. Indeed, President Felipe Calderon made precisely this point during a speech to U.S. Congress in 2010.
U.S. officials have not denied that... (GunPolicy.org)
Thousands of Students March in Support of Gun Control in Venezuela
19 November 2011
Latin American Herald Tribune (Venezuela) / EFE
CARACAS – Several thousand students marched Friday in the Venezuelan capital in support of government and legislative gun-control proposals to disarm the civilian population.
Under the slogan "A safe society in favor of peace," Caracas primary schools and high schools joined the activities of the recently founded Experimental University of Security, or Unes, which trains agents for the Bolivarian National Police, another recent creation.
Unes rector Soraya El Achkar... (GunPolicy.org)
Changes to Cayman Firearm Law Would Allow Warrant-less Gun Searches
18 November 2011
CayCompass.com (Cayman Islands)
Changes proposed for the Cayman Islands Firearms Law would allow for warrant-less searches of homes and individuals where police officers have "reasonable cause" to suspect someone possesses an illegal firearm.
Such a provision currently exists in instances where police suspect illegal drugs are being kept in a home, car or are being held by the individual. However, lawmakers have resisted in past years attempts to provide police with the same powers in regard to... (GunPolicy.org)
Cayman Police Require Storage Inspection for Gun Licence Approval
18 November 2011
CayCompass.com (Cayman Islands)
A man whose firearm licence was not renewed this year lost his appeal this week to the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal.
Technically, Dennie Warren Jr. was applying for an extension of time so he could seek judicial review of the Commissioner of Police's decision not to renew his firearm user's licence for a Winchester shotgun. Court president Sir John Chadwick told him that judicial review is a procedure for cases in which there was no alternative remedy, but the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Licensing, Processing Regulations to Be Revised in Turks and Caicos
17 November 2011
FP Turks and Caicos
Police are in the process of "completely revising and enhancing" laws controlling the ownership of firearms and other weapons in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
"The process will be also designed to regulate certain types of firearms and weapons, to help develop an appropriate legislation that prevents the misuse of firearms and to enhance public safety," police said in a statement.
Police Assistant Superintendent Darron Williams has been named Chief Firearms Officer.... (GunPolicy.org)
