Top of PageGun Policy News
Gun theft, robbery and diversion of firearms
Trial Sparks Debate Over Canada Confusing Gun Control Law
31 January 2012
National Post (Toronto)
WELLAND, Ont. — Canada's laws on the storage and handling of guns and ammunition are so complicated that a veteran judge needed to adjourn court to allow two experienced lawyers more time for legal arguments and a search of case law to help parse and dissect them.
It was a dud of an ending after two scheduled days of trial in the case of Ian Thomson, a 54-year-old Port Colborne man who fired three shots from a legally owned gun to scare off three masked men who were... (GunPolicy.org)
China,United States,Ghana,Nigeria
Nigerian Civilians Hold 2 Million Guns, Security Forces 600,000
30 January 2012
Nation (Nigeria)
Members of the dreaded insurgent group, Boko Haram, armed robbers and hired assassins have done great havoc with guns acquired illegally. Where are they coming from? OLUKAYODE THOMAS and JOKE KUJENYA examine the sources of illegal arms into the country.
The ruins are still visible on the police zonal headquatres in Kano. The offices of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) testify to the Boko Haram bombing and armed assaults of... (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)
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)
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)
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)
Most Crime Guns Stolen from Licensed Owners - Australian Police Chief
13 January 2012
Sydney Morning Herald
The police have launched an audacious effort to get thousands of illegal guns off Sydney's streets, urging people to be more courageous and simply pick up the phone to tell them where weapons are in order to save lives.
The acting NSW Police Commissioner, Nick Kaldas, launched Operation Spartan yesterday to combat a recent "spike" in gun crime amid fears that innocent people would be caught in the crossfire. He said most weapons were imported, but most of the illegal... (GunPolicy.org)
Sydney: Most Guns Seized by NSW Police 'Stolen from Legitimate Sources'
12 January 2012
ABC News (Australia) / 7.30 Report, Transcript
TRACY BOWDEN, PRESENTER: Drive by shootings are something we normally associate with Hollywood action movies but they've become a reality on the streets of Sydney.
Last night, a bullet fired from a passing car narrowly missed a two-month-old baby who was asleep in her cot. And on Monday night two houses were sprayed with bullets in separate attacks.
Although there have no deaths, police fear it could only be a matter of time before an innocent bystander is caught in... (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)
Queensland Gun Thefts Soar, Fuel Black Market in Illicit Weapons
1 January 2012
Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
Firearm thefts are soaring in Queensland, bolstering a booming black market for illicit weapons and fuelling a deadly wave of armed violence.
Gun shops, homes, cars and even a house used to grow marijuana have all had weapons including handguns stolen in the past year.
The thefts come as legal firearm ownership spikes in Queensland and as crime fighters haul underworld figures before coercive hearings into gun crimes.
Latest police figures show 551 guns were stolen... (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)
Ending the Flood of Illegal Guns in America - Wall Street Journal Opinion
23 December 2011
Wall Street Journal, Opinion
Historians have long debated who was the first person to call the U.S. Senate the "world's greatest deliberative body." Soon we may ask who was the last person to believe it. Our dysfunctional Congress has repeatedly failed to perform its duties under the Constitution to pass a budget, to advise and consent on presidential nominations, and, perhaps most tragically, to curb illegal handgun violence.
In New York, we've recently seen only too dramatically the consequences... (GunPolicy.org)
South Australia Police Admit They Cannot Eradicate Black Market of Illegal Guns
21 December 2011
Advertiser (Adelaide)
Police admit they cannot eradicate a black market that is peddling illegal guns to criminals.
Motorcycle gang members and convicted criminals barred from buying guns in South Australia have no difficulty obtaining illegal firearms - including fully automatic weapons.
These are often used in drive-by shootings, robberies and murders.
Police seized a Soviet-made SKS semi-automatic rifle, a sawn-off .22 calibre rifle and an illegal silencer in raids on 11 suburban... (GunPolicy.org)
Registration, Ballistics Tie Baltimore Police Glock to Murder of 2 Girls
17 December 2011
Baltimore Sun
The wanted poster portrays a .40-caliber Glock Model 22 semiautomatic pistol, serial number EKG463US, that resembles thousands of standard-issue guns owned by the Baltimore Police Department.
But this particular weapon found its way out of the hands of law enforcement and into the hands of a suspected killer — an above-board but nightmarish scenario for city police. Authorities say the gun was used three years ago to shoot two young girls on a dirt road outside a... (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)
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)
Rio de Janeiro Police Caught Selling Seized Firearms to Criminal Gangs
13 December 2011
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Police in Rio de Janeiro arrested 16 people, including 11 military police, accused of selling confiscated firearms to criminal groups.
According to news site R7, the group operated a gun trafficking ring that sold weapons to gangs based in Rio's third-largest favela, Jacarezinho.
This is one of Rio's poorer areas, where crack cocaine use is widespread, and prison gang the Red Command (Comando Vermelho) is active.
Jacarezinho does not yet have a police pacification... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda Disarmament Nears End - Army Seized 30,000 Guns in 10 Years
13 December 2011
Monitor (Kampala)
NAKAPIRIPIRIT — The army has finally pulled out of the disarmament exercise in Karamoja after 10 years of rigorously pursuing Karimojong warriors to surrender illegal guns.
According to a UPDF report, illegal guns flooded the region in 1979 when Idi Amin's regime was overthrown and soldiers abandoned a major weapons armoury.
The warriors looted the weapons which they later used to carry out cattle rustling and other forms of robbery. The army said the disarmament... (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)
Police Officer, Gun Owner Dead in New Virginia Tech University Shooting
8 December 2011
Reuters
BLACKSBURG, Virginia - A gunman ambushed and killed a campus police officer and was later reported to have been found dead on Thursday at Virginia Tech University, the site of one of the worst shooting rampages in U.S. history.
Authorities declared the campus safe and lifted a lock-down after a nearly four-hour manhunt, seeming to lend credence to television news reports that a body found in a Virginia Tech parking lot was that of the shooter.
Police at a televised... (GunPolicy.org)
US Quietly Approves Massive Escalation in Number of Guns Sold to Mexico
6 December 2011
CBS News (USA)
Selling weapons to Mexico - where cartel violence is out of control - is controversial because so many guns fall into the wrong hands due to incompetence and corruption. The Mexican military recently reported nearly 9,000 police weapons "missing."
Yet the U.S. has approved the sale of more guns to Mexico in recent years than ever before through a program called "direct commercial sales." It's a program that some say is worse than the highly-criticized "Fast and... (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)
Burundi,Uganda,Rwanda,Congo (DRC),Africa
Africa: Six Years On - The UN's International Small Arms Tracing Instrument
5 December 2011
Institute for Security Studies (Tshwane/Pretoria), Report
The ability to trace small arms and light weapons (SALW) is an important step toward transparency and preventing the illicit use of firearms in conflict and crime. December 8th 2011 marks the 6th year since the adoption of the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) by the United Nations General Assembly.
In adopting the ITI, although not legally binding, the UN Member States acknowledged that the instrument would enable them to identify and trace, in a timely and... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Institute for Security Studies (Tshwane/Pretoria)
Austria,Spain,Belgium,Eastern Europe,France
In 2010, French Police Seized 79% More Guns Than in 2009 [Francais]
2 December 2011
Le Figaro (France)
[Translated Summary: French Police seized 3,355 firearms since January 2011, 2,710 in 2010 or 79% more than in 2009; out of 3.14 million firearms lawfully possessed, 30,000 are unlawfully possessed in 2010; a report from 2009 says that theft of firearms increased by 38.6%.]
La Direction centrale de la police judiciaire a recensé 2710 saisies d'armes à feu en 2010, soit une explosion de 79% par rapport à 2009.
Les saisies de pistolets, révolvers, fusils à pompes... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Bosses Arrested in Nigeria for Renting Guns, Ammunition to Robbers
1 December 2011
Vanguard (Lagos)
YOLA — Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three police officers, including an Assistant Superintendent, ASP, and two inspectors for allegedly renting arms and ammunition from the police armoury to robbers, as exclusively reported by Vanguard a fortnight ago.
They were alleged to have stolen different categories of arms and ammunition which they gave to robbers for certain amount of money for every operation they reportedly carried out.
At a... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Officers Dismissed Over Gun Diversion, Illegal Sale in Nigeria
30 November 2011
Daily Trust (Abuja)
YOLA — Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed that a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police and two Inspectors were arrested in connection with illegal sale and distribution of arms and ammunition to criminals in the state.
The retired armourer, ASP Abuna Mainasara, Inspector Daniel Eliphas and Inspector Abubakar Hali would soon be charged to court for gun running. Already the two serving inspectors have been dismissed from the force.
Speaking to newsmen... (GunPolicy.org)
Following Latest Shootings, France to Review Gun Control Law [Francais]
29 November 2011
AFP
[Translated Summary: Following recent shootings in which burglars and robbers used weapons of war against police officers, the French Senate will review a new gun-control bill to reinforce the fight against gun trafficking. Amendments to the Firearms Decree-Law of 1939 will include stricter maximum penalties: prison terms rising from seven years to ten years, and fines rising from 100,000 Euros to 500,000 Euros.]
PARIS — Le Sénat examinera le jeudi 8 décembre, une... (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)
French Robbers Use Military Assault Rifles Stealing Frozen Food [Francais]
28 November 2011
Le Figaro (France)
[Translated Summary: In less than 24 hours, two deadly shootings occured in Bouches-du-Rhône [France]. The rise of gun violence in France and of disproportionate responses: burglars used weapons of war against Police after robbing frozen food.]
Deux malfaiteurs ont été tués et un policier grièvement blessé lors de deux fusillades, à Vitrolles et Marseille.
En moins de 24 heures, les Bouches-du-Rhône ont été une nouvelle fois le théâtre deux sanglantes... (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)
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)
Central America,United States,Mexico,Guatemala
Guatemala and the Black Market for US Weapons
25 November 2011
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The trafficking of weapons over the U.S.-Mexico border is well-documented -- lesser known but also significant is the sale of U.S. weapons to Guatemalan government contractors, which are then siphoned off to criminal groups.
The Mexican government has focused much of its efforts to stop arms trafficking on the smuggling of weapons over the U.S. border. This strategy ignores other sources of weapons, and other entry points. Central America, for example, represents a... (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)
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)
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)
El Salvador Government Seizes an Average of 12 Guns per Day in 2011
18 November 2011
InSight Crime (Bogota)
El Salvador's government has seized an average of 12 weapons per day so far in 2011, according to officials.
According to a report in La Prensa, Deputy Director of Public Safety Hugo Ramirez Mejia said that between January 1 and November 15 this year, the Firearms and Explosives Division (DAE) of the country's police force seized a total of 3,915 firearms.
Ramirez Mejia said this was a similar figure to those seized in the same period last year.
Since January 2010,... (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)
Guatemala,United States,Mexico,Central America
Arms Trafficking, Business of Death: Guns in Central America [Espanol]
16 November 2011
Contralinea (Mexico)
[Translated Summary: Contralinea magazine details the routes by which guns are trafficked into Mexico, including the flow of arms from the US directly to Guatemala, and then over Mexico's southern border. English translation at: http://bit.ly/uBnEGu]
En la última década, México pasó del lugar vigesimosegundo al quinto en tráfico de armas en el ámbito mundial. Se calcula que cada día ingresan al país unas 2 mil para abastecer a los cárteles de la droga, la... (GunPolicy.org)
North Africa,China,Ukraine,Chad,Mali,Niger,France,Europe,United States,Libya
Hundreds of Thousands of Libyan Assault Rifles Looking for New Owners?
15 November 2011
Time (USA)
More than three weeks after Libya's rebels killed Muammar Gaddafi, arms experts say the task of finding and securing the mountain of weaponry abandoned by Gaddafi's forces in their final rout has been complicated by a lack of international funding and coordination, as well as conflicting priorities among Western and African governments about which weapons pose the biggest threat.
While U.S. and European officials have sounded the alarm about the threat posted to... (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)
Guatemala,El Salvador,Mexico,United States,Honduras,South America,Central America,Caribbean
Latin American Leaders Demand International Action on Arms Trafficking
11 November 2011
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The 2011 Ibero-American Summit, held in Asuncion, Paraguay in October, was criticized for its failures, but leaders used the platform to call attention to the global arms trade and demand international cooperation on more effective measures to fight weapons trafficking and organized crime.
At the close of the summit, the member countries issued a separate and special declaration (available in pdf format here) defining public security as a precondition for economic and... (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)
Peace Building NGO Calls on Ghana Police to Address Crime Structural Causes
3 November 2011
Ghana News Agency
The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), a peace building NGO, has called on the Ghana Police Service to devote more time and energy at addressing the structural causes of crime to ensure that the country becomes peaceful through reduction in crime.
It says the current efforts by the Police by way of dawn swoops in an attempt to weed out criminals from their hideouts were though commendable, such swoops were equally security threats having the high potential... (GunPolicy.org)
Handgun Found in Patient's Fake Leg Puts Sydney Hospital in Lockdown
1 November 2011
Sydney Morning Herald
St Vincent's Hospital was placed in lockdown yesterday afternoon after the alleged discovery of a pistol hidden in a patient's prosthetic leg.
Police yesterday charged a 66-year-old man who had been admitted to the hospital in Sydney's east for a second leg amputation brought on by a medical condition.
A doctor reported seeing the gun in the patient's room on level nine of the hospital about 3.50pm yesterday, police said.
No one was threatened with the weapon, but... (GunPolicy.org)
Rising Rate of Gun Theft in Australia Begs Tougher Controls on Storage
31 October 2011
Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
A report by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has found 1,570 firearms were stolen in 620 incidents in 2008-09.
The National Firearm Theft Monitoring Report said only three per cent of these guns were used to commit an offence, or were stolen by someone charged with a serious criminal offence.
The most commonly stolen firearms were rifles, followed by shotguns.
Nearly a quarter of people (24 per cent) who reported a stolen firearm had not stored it... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda,East Africa,South Africa,Kenya
Security Threat in Kenya Triggers Debate on Whether to Give Guards Guns
27 October 2011
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
At the Majlis Resort on Manda Island, the night watchman carries only a radio and a torch. As dusk falls on the island, a team of local police officers armed with rifles arrives and settles down on the beachfront.
Less than a month ago, Somali pirates kidnapped French woman Marieu Dedieu from this very spot. Now police are here to guard a handful of tourists still remaining in Lamu, because they are the only ones who can do it.
"The government wrote a letter to... (GunPolicy.org)
Marking Allows Swazi Police to Track Guns from Dealer to Owner
27 October 2011
Observer (Mbabane)
Police will now be able to track guns from supplier to the owner after they were presented with a marking machining.
They were further trained on the usage of the gadget used to mark guns during a three-day SARPCCO training workshop on the firearms marking machine held at Sibane Hotel.
The police service will not be the only ones to benefit but soldiers and correctional services officers as well.
Registrar of Firearms in the country Assistant Superintendent Marble... (GunPolicy.org)
Jamaica Firearms Act Conflicts with Constitution, Says Rev's Lawyer
27 October 2011
Jamaica Gleaner
Despite this, attorney-at-law Leslie Campbell said Miller is still considering whether to appeal his conviction last month for negligence resulting in the loss or theft of his licensed firearm.
"There are serious constitutional issues arising from the case which we have to consider appealing," Campbell told The Gleaner yesterday.
"It's an option that is still open to us. We have to get the notes from the trial and we have 14 days in which to file an appeal."
Miller,... (GunPolicy.org)
Harper Government Pledged to Alter Canada's Laws Governing Self Defence
25 October 2011
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
The Harper government has pledged to alter Canada's laws governing self defence, with an eye to giving citizens increased latitude to protect themselves and their property.
In recent years, Canadians who have used violence - and especially firearms - have often faced criminal charges for their actions.
When Ian Thomson awoke one night in August 2010 to find three men throwing firebombs at his rural home in southwest Ontario, he got out his revolver and fired a few... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Women Less Involved in Gun Crimes [Espanol]
24 October 2011
El Universal (Caracas)
[Translated summary: A more detailed review of Venezuela National Survey of Victimisation and Perception of Public Safety 2009 allows to affirm that women are consistently less involved in episodes involving firearms, either as victims or as perpetrators. The age group mainly victimised by firearms, for all crimes, is between 45 and 54 years.]
Una revisión más detallada de la Encuesta Nacional de Victimización y Percepción de Seguridad Ciudadana 2009 permite... (GunPolicy.org)
Los Angeles Police "Embarrassed" After Gun Cache Stolen
17 October 2011
Reuters
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles police officials searched on Monday for a stolen cache of submachine guns and semi-automatic handguns that disappeared from a SWAT training facility, and said they were embarrassed by the loss.
More than 30 Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns and M1911 pistols that had been stored at the training facility were stolen, Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Karen Rayner said.
The weapons had been altered to fire blanks, and it would be... (GunPolicy.org)
Thieves Steal Steel Safe, 9 Long Guns as Australian Owner Sleeps
14 October 2011
Australian Associated Press
A 46-year-old man and his wife were awoken by a loud noise at their home on Milne Street, Shortland, about 4.30am (AEDT) on Friday.
They told police they saw two men men run from the house and get into a grey or green-coloured Toyota Landcruiser.
The couple discovered their safe, with nine long-barrelled firearms and an amount of ammunition inside, had been stolen.
Detectives are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or any suspicious activity in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Cayman to Establish a Firearms Authority to Decide Who Gets a Licence
13 October 2011
Cayman News Service
The country's legislators had another rare moment of harmony on Wednesday when they all voted to support a private member's motion to establish a firearms authority to decide who gets a gun licence.
Currently, it is the commissioner of police alone who makes the decision to grant or deny a firearms license to an applicant on Grand Cayman but legislatures have voted to amend legislation which will see the country's top cop share the decision with at least three local... (GunPolicy.org)
Small Arms and High Powered Rifles Stolen from Belize Defence Force
13 October 2011
Guardian (Belize)
The Ministry of Defense called a press conference at Price Barracks on Wednesday evening to inform the media that there was a security breach at the Price Barracks compound and a number of small arms and high powered rifles were stolen.
Allen Whylie, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Defense, said it is a devastating breach and the Ministry will leave no stones unturned to get to the bottom of the heist. The discovery was made at about 10:20 a.m. on Wednesday,... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Police Gun Control Described as a 'Nightmare', Say MPs
13 October 2011
Cape Argus (Cape Town)
Political Bureau
NATIONAL police commissioner General Bheki Cele and his top cops were slammed by Parliament's police oversight committee yesterday over the state of the service, with the chair of the committee describing its firearms control as a "nightmare".
In the past five years, 11 935 SAPS firearms have been lost or stolen.
As the police top brass were being grilled, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in a written parliamentary reply that one-third (91 191) of... (GunPolicy.org)
One-Third of All South African Police Firearms Remain Unmarked
12 October 2011
Democratic Alliance (Cape Town), Media release
In reply to a parliamentary question the Minister of Police has revealed that one-third or 91 191 SAPS firearms still need to be marked to clearly identify them as SAPS weapons. This means that it is impossible to track where many of the lost and stolen firearms end up. It certainly explains the low recovery rate of 7% when it comes to missing weapons.
In the last five years, 11 935 SAPS firearms have been lost or stolen I shall be writing to the Independent Complaints... (GunPolicy.org)
Criminal Says He Has No Trouble Obtaining a Handgun in Australia
11 October 2011
Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
A hardened Gold Coast criminal has told The Courier-Mail he could obtain a "very nice" handgun for about $2000 in two hours "through bikie connections".
The man, who has a criminal history involving outlaw motorcycle clubs, said the weapon would be "top of the range, like a Glock 9mm" and was likely to have come from a cache of guns stolen during a break-in and then stored for later use or sale. "It could be easily procured for a job," he said.
A spate of shootings on... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe,North America,St Lucia,Barbados,Antigua & Barbuda,Trinidad & Tobago,St Kitts & Nevis,Jamaica,Bahamas,Caribbean
Caribbean Nations Demand Global Gun Trade Treaty to Curb Armed Crime
11 October 2011
Caribbean 360 (Barbados)
NEW YORK, United States - Battling the scourge of rising crime and violence and some of the world's highest murders rates, Caribbean nations are appealing to the United Nation for help.
They are urging the world body to help them stem the unrelenting flow of guns and ammunition to the region.
From the Bahamas, Jamaica and St. Kitts-Nevis, countries with some of the world's highest homicide rates, Trinidad and Tobago, which already has a state of emergency in place... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada Gun Safety Double Standard - Lorne Gunter on Lost Police Guns
5 October 2011
National Post (Toronto), Opinion
Since Bill C-68 became the law of the land more than 15 years ago, one of the most common charges police have laid against gun owners has been for unsafe storage. The reason for this is that the federal firearms law is very unclear about what constitutes safe and unsafe storage.
Is it enough to have one's firearms locked away in a gun safe or must they also have trigger locks installed? How secure must the safe's lock be: strong enough to keep a thief out for two... (GunPolicy.org)
428 Police Guns Lost or Stolen in Canada, Says Pro-gun Group
30 September 2011
Vancouver Sun (British Columbia)
A group opposing Canada's firearms registry says it has discovered that 428 guns have gone missing from police forces or other public agencies.
And Canada's National Firearms Association, which obtained the figure through an access-to-information request, said it suggests police are part of the problem of guns falling into the hands of gangsters and other criminals.
"It seems to me there is a little bit of a double standard here," NFA president Sheldon Clare of Prince... (GunPolicy.org)
As Civil War Winds Down, Libya Is Awash in Small Arms
26 September 2011
National (Abu Dhabi), Editorial
Somewhere amid the detritus of Col Muammar Qaddafi's unlamented regime, US officials say, are as many as 20,000 shoulder-launched rockets, each capable of shooting down an airliner or helicopter. The notion of such weapons in the hands of Al Qaeda or its allies is a nightmare for everyone.
For the people of Libya, however, those rockets are just part of a much wider problem: as the civil war winds down, after the collapse of Qaddafi's regime, the country is awash in... (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)
Rise in Honduras Gun Purchases Explained by Rising Insecurity [Espanol]
21 September 2011
Prensa Latina (Havana)
[Translated summary: According to the General Directorate for Armaments of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), 3,175 firearms were registered so far in Honduras in 2011. This is more than last year, when 3,505 firearms were registered in all of 2010.]
TEGUCIGALPA - Un auge en la venta de armas de fuego se percibe en Honduras, supuestamente motivado por la ola de inseguridad que vive el país, según registros divulgados hoy por fuentes oficiales.
De acuerdo con la... (GunPolicy.org)
Black Market for Guns Flourishes in Australia Due to Improper Storage
17 September 2011
West Australian (Perth)
Hundreds of firearms have been stolen from registered gun owners and police have seized more than 100 high-powered rifles and handguns from organised crime figures in the past 18 months.
And a black market for guns appears to be flourishing because firearm owners are not properly securing their weapons.
A police operation this month in which the storage of licensed firearms was checked at 370 properties resulted in 74 gun owners being charged and 189 guns being... (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)
Trinidad: 'For Such a Small Country, a Large Number of Illegal Guns'
12 September 2011
Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday
Nine more guns including a high-powered AK 47 assault rifle, have been recovered by the police within the past three days in various exercises in North, Central and West Trinidad from Friday to yesterday. This brings to 88 the number of guns seized since the start of the State of Emergency (SOE) on August 22.
A nitrogen cannister believed to be used in the manufacturing of silencers for firearms was also recovered and seized. A silencer is a component of a firearm used... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Police Fuel Illegal Trade: 11,935 Guns Missing Over 5 Years
11 September 2011
Democratic Alliance (Cape Town), Media release
Once again it has been revealed to the Democratic Alliance (DA) that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been fueling the illegal arms trade. In a reply to a parliamentary question asked by the DA to the Minister of Police, he admits that in 2010/11 a total of 1 335 SAPS firearms were 'lost or stolen'. 101 of these were rifles, 46 were shotguns and the rest were handguns. Only 167 of the firearms have been recovered.
A copy of the DA question and the Ministers... (GunPolicy.org)
The Fact that Guns Are Banned in Fiji, a Factor Contributing to Peace
8 September 2011
Fiji Times
Keep Fiji gun-free, stated High Court judge Justice Sithambarampillai Thurairaja as he presided over a matter involving possession of firearms yesterday.
The firearm belonging to Sahid Hassan, from whom the gun was stolen, was told the court would seek clarification from the Ministry of Defence on the gun before deciding whether to release it or not.
Justice Thurairaja said he had been in Fiji for almost 18 months and the fact that guns were not allowed was a factor... (GunPolicy.org)
Costa Rica: Thieves After Guns of Security Guards to Commit Crimes
2 September 2011
Inside Costa Rica
Private security guards in Costa Rica are the new target of thieves looking to steal their guns to commit robberies. Carrying a firearm does not exempt a person from becoming a victim.
Statistics that this year there have already been one too many cases of a death of a person victim of having their firearm stolen.
One such case occurred in Tibás (north side of San José) a few months agon when a Tránsito (traffic) official was shot dead during the robbery of his... (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)
Well Over 16,000 Firearms 'Lost' by US Gun Manufacturers Since 2009
2 September 2011
CNN
WASHINGTON -- Thousands of firearms have gone missing from manufacturers' inventories since 2009 "without a record of being legally sold," according to a report released Thursday by a gun control advocacy group.
The report by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence put the number of missing weapons at 16,485.
"It is shocking that gun makers are so oblivious to public safety that they lose track of thousands of guns every year," Henigan, acting president of the Brady... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Seize 600 Guns from Licensed Dealer in Victorian 'Drug Turf War'
30 August 2011
Star (West Melbourne)
Notorious warring crime groups in the North-West have been "lawful customers" of a St Albans gun dealership, where police seized 600 firearms last week.
On Monday 22 August, officers confiscated hundreds of guns from the Leslie St business.
The 79-year-old owner is expected to face charges of firearms offences, false accounting and using false documents.
The operation was launched three weeks after a tip-off and a police audit, which discovered bookkeeping... (GunPolicy.org)
Egypt,Libya,Israel,North Africa,West Asia
Libya Threatens to Provide Arsenal of Guns for Region's Militants, Terrorists
28 August 2011
Jerusalem Post (Israel) / Media Line
The collapse of strongman Muamar Gaddafi's government and the ensuing chaos in Libya could prove to be boon to the militant groups in Africa and the Middle East by opening up arsenals of weaponry ranging from small arms to chemicals, experts are warning.
Rebels have seized much of the country including most of the capital Tripoli, but as of late Thursday they were still battling Gaddafi loyalists and struggling to establish law and order in a country wracked by six... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Club Member Sues Over Firearm Licence Refusal in Cayman Islands
16 August 2011
Cayman News Service (Cayman Islands)
A local sports shooter and gun club member, who also represented Cayman at the NSSA skeet world championships in the 1990s, is taking the refusal of his firearms licence by the commissioner of police to the court, claiming David Baines has acted unlawfully. Dennie Warren JR, who is better known these days for shooting photographs, has been a licensed firearm holder since 1993 but his regular renewal was refused last year. Warren says the RCIPS boss has introduced new... (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)
Arms Smuggling Rife in Somalia Despite UN Embargo, Claims Report
11 August 2011
Africa Review
Arms are still being smuggled into Somalia despite a United Nations embargo, a report released by an international security think tank yesterday indicates.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) arms continue to be illegally brought in from Yemen into Somalia as imports which end up with Somali opposition and criminal groups.
"Arms purchases by opposition groups have reportedly been facilitated by financing from Eritrea, private... (GunPolicy.org)
Trafficking of Guns in Cameroon Prisons a Common Practice [Francais]
9 August 2011
Le Nouvel Observateur (France), Blog
[Translated summary: Trafficking of bladed weapons and firearms is a common thing in Cameroonian prisons. Sometimes carried out with the help of guards. All means are good, even with the help of a priest hiding a handgun in a bible.]
Des armes blanches et des armes à feu circulent dans les prisons camerounaises, notamment à la prison de New Bell à Douala. Parfois avec la complicité des gardiens. Les détenus s'en servent pour organiser évasions ou vols. Condamné... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghana's Border Agents Urged To Be Vigilant To Stem Gun Smuggling
9 August 2011
Ghana News Agency
ELMINA - The National Commission on Small Arms (NCSA) had urged security personnel at Ghana's borders to be vigilant and help stem the proliferation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons into the country.
Mr Jones Applerh, Acting Executive Secretary of the NCSA, who made the call, described as worrying the fact that some 66 percent of illicit arms that found their way into Ghana were trafficked along its borders and urged the Commission and its partners... (GunPolicy.org)
Canberra Black Market Fed by Theft of Legal Guns, But Scope is Unknown
8 August 2011
Canberra Times (Australia)
The theft of legal guns is feeding Canberra's black market for firearms as authorities struggle to comprehend the scope of the illegal weapons trade in the territory.
ACT Policing has told The Canberra Times that a black market for guns exists in Canberra, but says its size is unknown.
Estimates put the number of illegal guns in Australia at between 400,000 and 700,000, compared to 2,675,785 licensed firearms.
Experts believe most black market guns have been stolen,... (GunPolicy.org)
Guatemala,El Salvador,Central America,Mexico,United States
US Gun Lobby, Congress Hamper, Slow Work of Feds' Gun Tracing Centre
5 August 2011
Houston Chronicle (Texas)
MARTINSBURG, West Virginia — No signs mark the outside of the hidden 1960s-vintage government facility in the bucolic countryside of West Virginia's panhandle.
Even the parking lot is obscured by black tarps lining a cyclone fence.
But just inside the warehouse-like brick building is the National Tracing Center, the epicenter of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' effort to combat and control illegal gun use.
When police need to trace a... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico,Canada,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,United States
US Gun Lobby, Arms Makers Raise Alarm Over UN Global Gun Trade Process
5 August 2011
Fox News (USA)
A controversial U.N. proposed treaty aimed at regulating guns worldwide has been shrouded by confusion and misinformation.
Known informally as the 'Small Arms Treaty,' its detractors have charged the proposed agreement with secretly trying to take guns out of the hands of Americans and circumventing the 2nd Amendment.
While that is unlikely, a working draft proposal obtained by FoxNews.com contains language that some gun advocates say could have a real impact on... (GunPolicy.org)
Jamaica Debate on Relaxing Laws Governing Licensed Gun Possession
5 August 2011
Jamaica Observer, Editorial
There is merit in the arguments advanced by both sides in the current debate on relaxing the rules governing the ownership of licensed firearms, at the behest of Mr Errol Strong's Firearms Licensing Authority.
Those opposed make a strong case that ownership of a gun carries with it a great degree of responsibility and that licensed firearm holders are often the target of criminal gunmen eager to increase their armoury.
One teacher with whom the Observer spoke last... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa,Brazil,Argentina,Australia,Mexico,United States,Canada,Africa,Sweden,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas
Canada Gun Lobby Influence on Foreign Policy: Arms Trade Treaty
3 August 2011
Embassy Magazine (Canada), Opinion
Canada has never been a strong supporter of international efforts to negotiate an effective Arms Trade Treaty. But in mid-July, it reversed its previous low-key but constructive role at the United Nations ATT preparatory meetings to become a potential treaty spoiler. All indications point to this change of heart arising from the domestic gun lobby's influence on Canadian foreign policy.
After years of preparation, member states of the United Nations will devote a month... (GunPolicy.org)
Namibian Police Clamp Down on Gun Theft From Their Own Armouries
28 July 2011
Namibian (Windhoek)
The value of firearms stolen from Police custody last year dropped for the first time since 2006 and stood at N$29 000, the lowest in five years.
Samuel Gôagoseb, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Safety and Security, yesterday told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts that the amount decreased drastically after various measures were implemented by the Police.
More than N$33 000 worth of firearms were stolen in 2006, increasing to N$47 888 the... (GunPolicy.org)
Brothers Guilty of Namibia Farm Massacre Where 8 Had Died, Son Walks Free
28 July 2011
Namibian (Windhoek)
After close to six and a half years of being accused of having masterminded the murder of his parents and six other people at their farm south of Rehoboth, 'Shorty' Erasmus is a free man again.
Windhoek resident Justus Christiaan ('Shorty') Erasmus was found not guilty on all charges - including eight counts of murder - in the High Court in Windhoek yesterday.
The man whose claims led to Erasmus's arrest in mid-March 2005, Rehoboth resident Sylvester Beukes (26), and... (GunPolicy.org)
Largest Settlement Against Gun Maker, Says US Gun Control Group
26 July 2011
Reuters
WASHINGTON - A firearms maker has agreed to pay $600,000 to the family of a shooting victim in what a gun control group said on Tuesday was a record settlement in such a case.
A company employee with a history of assault and drug addiction stole the gun later used to kill a man, according to the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, whose Legal Action Project in 2002 brought suit against Kahr Arms over the incident.
The settlement on behalf of the deceased Danny... (GunPolicy.org)
Indianapolis Gun Store Loses 500 Firearms - Manager Charged
22 July 2011
WISH-TV News (Indianapolis)
INDIANAPOLIS - A truck load of stolen guns landed an Indianapolis man behind bars Thursday.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police say 51-year-old Gary Williams was stealing the firearms from a local gun store over a four year period.
The 500 stolen weapons, valued around $2 million, were recovered along with 30,000 rounds of ammunition and $100,000 in cash Thursday when the IMPD Violent Crimes Unit served a search warrant in the 9400 block of Jill Court.
Police declined... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Who 'Unwittingly' Stole Gun Sentenced to 5-yr Prison in Scotland
21 July 2011
BBC News
Guy Whitelaw, 28, from Forres, told police he discovered the handgun in a cash box he took from the house.
Whitelaw admitted having the gun and was given minimum jail term for illegal possession of a firearm.
He told the court the victim, a 63-year-old woman who said the gun had belonged to her late husband, should be prosecuted for not having a permit.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard Whitelaw broke into the house in March and took jewellery, money and the cash box... (GunPolicy.org)
Stolen Gun Used in Dissident Republican Shooting in Northern Ireland
20 July 2011
BBC News
A gun stolen during a raid on a west Belfast home was later used in a dissident republican punishment shooting, the High Court has been told.
The loaded semi-automatic pistol was then found in the bedroom of another house in the city, prosecutors said.
Police have charged a 23-year-old man with an arms offence after DNA from the weapon was matched to their database.
Sean Megaw, of Glasvey Drive, Dunmurry, is accused of possessing a firearm and ammunition in... (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)
Ivory Coast Small Arms Smuggled into Ghana
18 July 2011
VibeGhana.com (Ghana)
The West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP)- Ghana says its intelligence gathering reports indicate weapons that were used during the Cote d'Ivoire political crisis have been smuggled into Ghana.
The organization says it fears that such weapons, which have been illegally acquired, could be used during the 2012 general elections to cause mayhem in Ghana.
It is against this backdrop, that the West Africa Network for Peace building has appealed to the security... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Central America,South America,Jamaica,Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands Police Raises Concern on Gun Crime and Smuggling
18 July 2011
Cayman Compass
More than a dozen North Siders attended the final community meeting on Tuesday, 12 July, hosted by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service on Grand Cayman before the panel left for the Sister Islands.
One of the most well-attended meetings in the series so far, the audience included North Side MLA Ezzard Miller and former MLA Edna Moyle.
Several issues touched on at previous district meetings - such as truancy and youth development - were discussed, but gun crime,... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama Adm. Took Significant Step for Gun Control at Mexican Border
17 July 2011
Los Angeles Times, Editorial
The Obama administration took a concrete step toward curbing the flow of semiautomatic weapons to Mexico last week when it adopted a new regulation mandating the reporting of multiple sales of long guns to federal authorities.
Under the regulation, some 8,500 licensed gun shops in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas will be required to inform the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a customer buys more than one semiautomatic that is .22... (GunPolicy.org)
US-Mexico Gun Tracking Program Comes Under Congressional Fire
16 July 2011
Christian Science Monitor
ATLANTA - Busting a major gunrunning ring on the New Mexico frontier – and netting a mayor, a police chief and a town councilor in the process – would normally be a huge feather in the cap of embattled federal agencies under pressure to stop cross-border arms smuggling and corruption.
But instead, the resolution of the so-called Columbus 11 case in the historic border village of Columbus, N.M., has taken on a muted tone, primarily because of its potentially... (GunPolicy.org)
New US Rule on Border Gun Sales is Drawing Both Praise and Criticism
12 July 2011
Fox News (USA)
The Justice Department's new policy on requiring all gun shops in four Southwest border states to report frequent buyers of semi-automatic weapons is drawing both praise and criticism.
Dennis Henigan, acting president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, is pleased with the new requirement.
"This new reporting rule will give law enforcement new capacity to interdict these deadly guns before they can be used against Mexican police and citizens."
But the... (GunPolicy.org)
