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Firearms, guns and small arms prohibited by law
3 Swedish Journalists Guilty of Weapons Crimes
18 May 2012
Local (Sweden)
The editor-in-chief of Swedish tabloid Expressen and two other journalists with the paper have been convicted of weapons crimes related to a report about how easy it is to buy guns in Malmö in southern Sweden.
Expressen's editor Thomas Mattson was convicted of instigating a weapons crime, while former news editor Andreas Johansson was found guilty of being an accessory to a weapons crime.
Journalist Diamant Salihu, who actually purchased the gun, was convicted of a... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil,Turkey,China,Pakistan,Central Asia,Russia,Afghanistan
Where Do 20 Million Illegal Guns Come From? Afghanistan, Says Pakistan
17 May 2012
Express Tribune (Pakistan)
KARACHI - There are an estimated 20 million illegal arms in circulation in Pakistan.
This includes serious firepower: law enforcement authorities are increasingly coming under attack from criminals and terrorists armed with heavy weapons such as grenades (including rocket-propelled ones), long-range sniper rifles and machine guns. The volatile situation in Lyari was a case in point, where despite the fact that police were equipped with tank-like armoured personnel... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Violence in South Africa, a National Public Health Priority - Analysis
17 May 2012
Institute for Security Studies (Tshwane/Pretoria)
ANALYSIS
South Africa faces numerous challenges in preventing and reducing the levels of violence and crime. The burden of mortality and morbidity arising from violence and injury affects the lives of millions of individuals annually and continues to undermine social harmony and socio-economic development.
This is, now more than ever, a national public health priority - one that needs to be monitored and controlled so as to limit the number of injuries and non-natural... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Institute for Security Studies (Tshwane/Pretoria)
Black Market Handguns Advertised Openly in Remote Regions of China
17 May 2012
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
Black market explosives and pistols are advertised openly in the remote, mountainous Yunnan county where a mysterious suicide bomber killed three people and injured 16 last week, the South China Morning Post can reveal.
Most advertisers claim they can arrange delivery by car within an hour in central Kunming , the provincial capital, with guns handed over outside supermarkets and post offices.
Some advertisers also said they had delivery networks in remote counties.... (GunPolicy.org)
Stricter Gun Control Strategy in Bahamas to Counter Rise in Gun Trafficking
14 May 2012
Eleutheran (Bahamas)
NASSAU -- The Government of The Bahamas will introduce a National Firearms
Control Strategy to counter the proliferation of illegal firearms within the country, Minister of
National Security Dr. the Hon. Bernard B.J. Nottage said Monday.
Dr. Nottage said violence associated with the use of those firearms will be reduced as a result of the Strategy. Dr. Nottage said the National Strategy, along with an improved gun registry, the marking and tracing of weapons, improved... (GunPolicy.org)
Is Bogota's Gun Ban Responsible for 31% Decline in Homicides?
11 May 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The city of Bogota has seen a significant reduction in homicides after passing a ban on carrying guns. If the two developments prove to be related, the ban could provide a model to other violence-plagued cities in the region.
On February 1, newly-elected Bogota mayor Gustavo Petro introduced a three-month ban on carrying guns in public, saying that to carry a weapon represented "not a defense mechanism, but a risk." On April 30, Petro declared that the ban had been a... (GunPolicy.org)
Armed Civilians in Public Places Highlight Gun Misuse in Indonesia
5 May 2012
Jakarta Post
The House of Representatives plans to summon National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo in the near future in the wake of a series of incidents involving armed civilians in public places, a lawmaker has said.
A member of House's Commission III overseeing legal, human rights and security affairs, Sarifuddin Sudding, said the meeting would be carried out soon after the currently ongoing recess period ends on May 13.
"We will demand National Police chief explain why there... (GunPolicy.org)
Washington Says 68,000 Guns Seized in Mexico Were Traced Back to US
26 April 2012
Seattle Times / AP
WASHINGTON — The government said Thursday that 68,000 guns recovered by Mexican authorities in the past five years have been traced back to the United States.
The flood of tens of thousands of weapons underscores complaints from Mexico that the U.S. is responsible for arming the drug cartels plaguing its southern neighbor. Six years of violence between warring cartels have killed more than 47,000 people in Mexico.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghanaian Police to Crackdown on Illegal Possession of Firearms
25 April 2012
Ghanaian Chronicle (Ghana)
The Head of Small Arms Division at the Police Headquarters in Accra, Chief Superintendent Aboagye Yeboah, has hinted The Chronicle that his outfit would soon embark on an exercise to randomly search all individuals suspected of owning small firearms in the country. The decision, according to him, is to control the proliferation of small arms in the country.
Aboagye Yeboah further told The Chronicle that in collaboration with the Small Arms Commission they (police) had... (GunPolicy.org)
Origin of Crime Guns in Australia: Plenty of Myths, Little Evidence
24 April 2012
ABC News (Australia), Audio
The recent spate of shootings in Sydney's western suburbs have been tagged as criminal-on-criminal violence. There have been more than 50 shootings so far this year and a 40 per cent increase in drive-bys over the last two years. Is there something more going on than just gang warfare? Fifteen hundred guns are stolen every year, falling into the wrong hands.
Transcript
Anita Barraud: Thanks, Mark, and welcome to the Law Report. The recent spate of shootings in... (GunPolicy.org)
Swedish Minister 'Ignorant' of UN Gun Export Embargo on China
23 April 2012
Local (Sweden)
Sweden's enterprise minster Annie Lööf has come in for heavy criticism following a blunder about Sweden's arms exports.
In an interview broadcast on Saturday on Sveriges Radio (SR), Lööf didn't rule out exporting arms to China – despite an arms embargo having been imposed on the country since 1989.
"If we don't export weapons to China, as far as pesticides or other equipment for instance, what consequences would that have," said Lööf on the air.
When asked... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghanaian Police Urged to Educate Public: There's No Need to Carry Guns
23 April 2012
Joy Online (Ghana)
A Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Cape Coast, Mr Takyi Akonnor, has charged security institutions in the country to 'step up their game' to convince the citizenry of their safety. Doing so, he said, will assure people that there is no need for them to acquire small arms to protect themselves.
Mr Akonnor was speaking in an interview with Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on Joy FM's Super Morning Show Monday. He was commenting on reports suggesting... (GunPolicy.org)
Increase in Number of Illegal Arms Circulating in Ghana
23 April 2012
Joy Online (Ghana)
One hundred and twenty-five thousand illicit guns are in circulation in the country without any form of data or record indicating where and who owns them, according to a baseline study in 2004.
According to the report, about 400,000 small arms are in circulation in the country. A little over half of the number 220,000 is in civilian hands. Only 95,000, representing 43.2 per cent, are registered, leaving a significant 56.8 per cent or 125,000 unaccounted for.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
South African Police Battle Over Removal of Firearms from Unfit Officers
23 April 2012
Times (South Africa)
The SA Police Service is locked in a battle with a union over the removal of firearms from more than 27000 officers found unfit to carry them and the placing of seasoned policemen as security guards.
The SA Policing Union made a successful urgent application late last week for an interdict prohibiting Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and acting national police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi from disarming policemen in all nine provinces who have been declared unfit to handle... (GunPolicy.org)
Amnesty Recovers More Than 100 Unlawfully Held Guns in Angola
22 April 2012
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
CAXITO — At least 119 firearms of assorted calibres unlawfully in the hands of civilians in northern Bengo province were freely surrendered to the National Police from January 1 to April 22 this year, Angop learned.
The information was released by the Provincial Command of the National Police director for Public Order, Marcos Domingos.
According to the officer, 4,294 firearms have so far been surrendered in Bengo province since the nationwide operation started in... (GunPolicy.org)
Mass Shootings Not Tightening US Gun Control Laws Anymore - Expert
22 April 2012
Agence France Presse
CHICAGO — The statistics are staggering, the stories heartbreaking, yet there is little chance that any amount of bloodshed will lead to stiffer gun controls in the United States in the foreseeable future.
"It's not something that any politician thinks is winnable," said Kristin Goss, a politics professor at Duke University and author of "Disarmed: The Missing Movement for Gun Control in America."
Five years after the worst school shooting in US history left 32... (GunPolicy.org)
East African Community Passes Bill to Reduce Small Arms Trafficking
21 April 2012
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
A trade bill passed by the East African Community (EAC) Parliament to reduce the proliferation of small arms, narcotic drugs and other illegal goods could result in an improved economic climate for the region.
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) last Thursday passed the East African Community Customs Management (Amendment) Bill, 2012, a modification of the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004.
The Bill anchors into law the need for regulatory... (GunPolicy.org)
West Africa,Ghana,Mali,Liberia
African Media Tasked to Assist Security Agencies Fight Arms Trafficking
20 April 2012
Ghana News Agency
Mr Jones Applerh, Executive Secretary, Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission, (SALW), on Friday appealed to the media to help security agencies control small arms proliferation in the country, especially before, during and after the December polls.
He urged the media to use the power of mass communication to expose the dangers of illicit proliferation of small arms into Ghana and other West African States.
Mr Applerh was addressing a three-day capacity building... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Police Fear Criminals Stockpiling Stolen Guns for Gang Warfare
20 April 2012
Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
Police fear criminals are stockpiling hundreds of firearms stolen in Queensland each year and plan to use them in violent confrontations and possible gang warfare.
The LNP Government yesterday announced a crackdown on illegal firearms after The Courier-Mail revealed gun theft had soared in Queensland, with hundreds stolen in the past year.
In the wake of two recent fatal shootings in Brisbane, Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said police feared the weapons would be... (GunPolicy.org)
Easy Access to Guns for Minors in Castellón Province, Spain [Espanol]
20 April 2012
El Periódico Mediterráneo (Spain)
[Translated Summary: More than 400 minors have the permission from the province of Castellón to use arms. The accident involving King Felipe's grandson Juan Froilán, in which he accidentally shot himself in the foot with a hunting rifle, has brought the use of firearms by minors back into the spotlight.]
Más de 400 menores tienen permiso de Castellón para usar armas. El accidente del nieto del rey Felipe Juan Froilán, que se disparó accidentalmente en un pie con... (GunPolicy.org)
Senegal,Tunisia,Latvia,France,Romania,Mali,Guinea,Ghana,Europe,Africa,Côte d'Ivoire,Belarus
Belarus FM Denies Reports of Illegal Arms Transfers to Côte d'Ivoire
20 April 2012
Telegraf (Belarus)
Spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Andrei Savinykh denied reports of arms shipments to Côte d'Ivoire in violation of the UN sanctions. "It's not even an accusation; it's a clumsy attempt of individual journalists to muddy the waters, as the proverb says," he said.
"The Belarusian side has been always cooperating openly with experts from the UN Security Council Committee on Côte d'Ivoire, whose reports these pseudo-journalists referred to. If they really... (GunPolicy.org)
Proposal to Allow the Right to Carry Hidden Handguns in Mexico [Espanol]
19 April 2012
Milenio (Mexico)
[Translated Summary: University Professor and lawyer Ernesto Villanueva suggests allowing the free carrying of firearms in Mexico, under administrative regulations and ensuring prior technical qualification of the carriers.]
El catedrático y jurista Ernesto Villanueva aseguró que con ello se erradicará el tráfico ilegal y los delitos; además mencionó "pareciera que hay dos cárteles, uno operado por el presidente Calderón y otro operado por las bandas... (GunPolicy.org)
States 'Should Unite' to Combat Spread of Illegal Guns - S. Australian AG
19 April 2012
Australian (Sydney)
States should adopt a nationally consistent approach to deal with criminal organisations to combat the spread of illegal firearms, South Australian Attorney-General John Rau said yesterday.
Mr Rau's call came as NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione warned that gangs were moving towards an American criminal culture of resolving disputes "at the end of a handgun".
Gun-related violence has risen to national prominence after the Tuesday night shooting of a Hell's Angel... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico Seizes 268,000 Rounds of Ammunition from US Truck at Border
18 April 2012
Washington Post / AP
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Mexican customs inspectors seized 268,000 rounds of assault rifle ammunition found in a U.S. truck at a border crossing in Ciudad Juarez, authorities reported Wednesday.
Angel Torres, a spokesman for federal prosecutors in northern Chihuahua state, said a 37-year-old man from Dallas, Texas, was detained for trying to drive the truck across the border from El Paso, Texas.
Torres said the driver, who is being held pending investigation on... (GunPolicy.org)
100,000 Imported Handguns a 'Major Public Concern' for Australia
18 April 2012
Sydney Morning Herald, Opinion
April is an eerie time of year. Sixteen years ago this month, Martin Bryant opened fire at historic Port Arthur in Tasmania, killing 35 people and wounding 18 others. This month also marks the anniversaries of the Columbine massacre of April 20, 1999 in the US, where 13 people were killed and at least 21 injured, the Virginia Tech massacre of April 16, 2007, where 32 people died and 25 were injured, and now Oakland's Oikos University massacre, which happened two weeks... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigerian Customs Import 5,000 AK-47 Rifles to Tackle Gun Smuggling
18 April 2012
Leadership (Abuja)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it has imported about 5,000 AK-47 assault rifles and two helicopters to be used in tackling proliferation of small arms by smugglers across the country's porous borders.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, who disclosed this while speaking to State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday also said that Customs had purchase 400 units of Toyota Hilux vehicles approved by... (GunPolicy.org)
Cattle Herders Avoiding Disarmament in South Sudan for Fear of Attacks
17 April 2012
Sudan Tribune (France)
JUBA — South Sudan's army (SPLA) says that some Murle cattle herders are avoiding handing over their weapons to the military as part of a statewide disarmament campaign in Jonglei following severe violence earlier this year.
The SPLA captain responsible for disarmament in the Anyidi area, Philip Bol Akuei, said that reports of Murle raiders were reaching his forces but poor roads and the distances involved means that they are not mobile enough to respond.
Some... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia & New Zealand,Australia
Australia's PM Should Follow Her Predecessor and Ban Handguns Now
17 April 2012
Australian (Sydney) / AAP
Prime Minister Julia Gillard needs to step in and work with the states to ban semi-automatic handguns in response to Sydney's plague of drive-by shootings, a gun control group says.
The guns are the weapon of choice for criminals terrorising western Sydney because they are lightweight and easy to handle, says Samantha Lee, chair of the National Coalition for Gun Control.
"Sydney is drowning in drive-by shootings," she told reporters today.
"It is actually time for... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Under Fire for Renting Guns to Criminals in Trinidad & Tobago
17 April 2012
Guardian (Trinidad and Tobago)
Law enforcement officers will be placed under greater scrutiny as Government moves to clamp down on those who sell or rent state-issued weapons to criminals. Minister of National Security John Sandy made the announcement at the Police Academy, St James, yesterday while delivering the feature address at the opening of a sub-regional inter-training course on combating the illicit trafficking in firearms and explosives for the Caribbean states. "Let me state categorically... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Customs Should Be Embedded with Police to Tackle Gun Crisis
17 April 2012
Australian (Sydney) / AAP
Customs agents should be embedded within the NSW Police Force to tackle Sydney's escalating gun crisis, says Federal Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare.
In a five hour shooting spree last night, two tattoo parlours and three homes were sprayed with bullets.
Over four days there have been eight shootings across Sydney and 19 so far this month.
Mr Clare said a new firearms intelligence unit was needed to collect the intelligence gathered by Customs, and federal and... (GunPolicy.org)
Escalating Gun War in Sydney, Five Drive-by Shootings Overnight
17 April 2012
Agence France Presse
SYDNEY — An escalating gun war in Sydney saw five overnight drive-by shooting attacks, Australian police said Tuesday, as they struggled to bring the gangland violence under control.
There have been eight shootings across the city in four days and 19 so far this month, mostly in Sydney's west and southwest.
Three homes and two tattoo parlours were sprayed with bullets in the latest attacks. No one was hurt but five young children were lucky to escape injury in one... (GunPolicy.org)
NRA Gunfest Focuses US Fight Over 'Shoot First' Hidden Handgun Laws
14 April 2012
CBS News (USA)
ST. LOUIS - Avid hunter Rob West drove from Chillicothe, Ohio, to St. Louis this week to join some 70,000 fellow National Rifle Association members at the organization's annual convention, where seven acres of guns and gear were on display and where politics was never far from anyone's mind.
For the NRA, which opposes any restrictions on gun ownership and President Barack Obama's re-election, the Second Amendment right to bear arms is sacrosanct.
"We don't want... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Owner Smuggled Assault Weapon Parts from US to Australia - Cops
14 April 2012
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
Gun parts which could be assembled to make a military assault rifle similar to that used in the Port Arthur massacre have been removed from the streets of Sydney in the latest police raid and crackdown on illegal weapons.
The illegally imported parts, which slipped into the country through Australia Post, were uncovered on Thursday when detectives raided a property near Port Macquarie and another owned by the same man in Sydney's south.
Among the large cache of... (GunPolicy.org)
Private Guards with Semi-automatic Guns to Defend German Ships from Pirates
13 April 2012
Spiegel (Germany)
Using private security firms to protect ships from Somali pirates has long been a legal gray area in Germany. Conceding that it doesn't have enough soldiers to do the job, the German government is considering a draft law allowing shipowners to deploy private armed guards. But there's one caveat: Security personnel would be limited to using semi-automatic firearms.
Shipping companies and Western governments have been struggling with the problem of piracy off the Horn of... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghanaians Called Upon to Rise Against Gun Violence
13 April 2012
Public Agenda (Accra)
The Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has noted with grave concern the recent incidence of gun violence reported in the media.
According to the Commission, the growing impact of Small Arms in the country especially as we approach the elections is worrying and must not be ignored by all peace loving Ghanaians.
It therefore reminded all and sundry that the proliferation and misuse of small arms was a threat to the security of people and nations... (GunPolicy.org)
Is Gun Control Dead in America? Adam Winkler in the Washington Post
13 April 2012
Washington Post, Opinion
Monday marks five years since the massacre at Virginia Tech, where a mentally ill student, Seung Hui Cho, used two handguns he had bought legally to kill 32 people and wound 25 others. Other than a relatively minor law to improve the national database used for background checks, no significant gun-control legislation followed that tragedy.
Since then, there have been several mass shootings, including additional school rampages and the attempted assassination last year... (GunPolicy.org)
Peace Council Imposes Gun Ban in Philippine Autonomous Region
13 April 2012
Philippine Information Agency
COTABATO CITY -- The members of the Regional Peace and Order Council has decided to impose a gun ban and regulate the issuance of firearms in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
ARMM governor officer-in-charge regional governor Mujiv Hataman said that the council has unanimously agreed to pass a resolution proposing the imposition of gun ban in the areas under the autonomous region not only during the election period but also during voters'... (GunPolicy.org)
Majority of Illegal Guns in Australia Sourced Locally, Not Smuggled
12 April 2012
ABC News (Australia)
NSW Police say progress is being made in the operation to crackdown on gang related gun violence in Sydney, despite ten reported shootings in as many days.
The head of Operation Spartan, Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli says officers have seen some success however remain frustrated by the wall of silence around victims and witnesses.
Operation Spartan has seen 36 firearms seized since January with 314 people arrested and more than 515 charges laid by... (GunPolicy.org)
New York Mayor Launches Campaign Against 'Shoot First' US Gun Laws
12 April 2012
Washington Post / AP
WASHINGTON — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a national campaign against gun laws that he said "justify civilian gun play."
Bloomberg was joined by the leaders from the NAACP, National Urban League and other groups Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., as he announced "Second Chance on Shoot First."
The campaign aims to repeal or reform the laws that eliminated a person's duty to retreat when threatened with serious bodily harm or... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Launches New Firearm Intelligence Team to Trace Crime Guns
12 April 2012
Australian (Sydney) / AAP
A new Firearms Intelligence and Targeting Team is to be established to link all available information on illicit firearms in a move to tackle rising gun crime.
Home Affairs and Justice Minister Jason Clare said this was the same model used by Customs and Border Protection and other law enforcement agencies for counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation activities and illegal drug importation and it had proved highly effective.
Mr Clare said work would start immediately... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada Police Say Scrapping of Long-gun Registry 'Challenges' Tracing
12 April 2012
Winnipeg Free Press (Manitoba) / Canadian Press
OTTAWA - As it prepares to destroy millions of long-gun records, the RCMP says the Conservative government's decision to scrap the registry will make it tougher to trace firearms used to commit crimes.
The process that will lead to deletion of rifle and shotgun records in the registry is under way — with the exception of Quebec files at the centre of a court action, said Cpl. Laurence Trottier, an RCMP spokeswoman.
"It is a complex IT project involving the... (GunPolicy.org)
Qatar,East Africa,Russia,North Korea,China,West Asia,North Africa,Syria,Mali,Libya,Belgium,West Africa
Small Arms Manufactured in Belgium Proliferate in Libya, Mali [Francais]
11 April 2012
L'Express (France) / AFP
[Translated summary: Notwithstanding risks of proliferation, small arms manufactured in Belgium circulate in Libya, Mali, and maybe tomorrow in Syria? Belgium is the biggest european exporter of small arms: in 2010, 32% of european exports of small arms to Middle East and North Africa came from this country.]
Malgré les mises en garde à Bruxelles sur les risques de prolifération, les armes légères fabriquées en Belgique circulent de la Libye au Mali. Et demain,... (GunPolicy.org)
Report Debunks that Ghana Smuggled Illegally Manufactured Guns
11 April 2012
Peace FM Online (Ghana)
The Ghana National Commission on Small Arms has debunked reports that Ghana smuggles illegally manufactured weapons to neighbouring countries.
This came to light when the commission undertook a survey to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of some reports by some ECOWAS member states that Ghana tops the list of West African countries who smuggle illegally manufactured arms to other countries.
Speaking to Citi News, the programmes officer at the Ghana National... (GunPolicy.org)
What a Nerve: Mexican President Suggests a US Role in Gun Running
10 April 2012
The Hill (Washington DC)
The nerve of President Calderon of Mexico. How dare he come to the United States and utter two words Americans are no longer allowed to speak? I heard them myself in the Rose Garden last week: gun control.
Calderon's comments came in response to a reporter's question about the ongoing drug wars in Mexico, in which 11,000 people were killed in 2010 alone. What are you doing about the guns?
He began by noting that the level of gun violence in Mexico began to escalate in... (GunPolicy.org)
Weeklong Gun Ban in Masbate, Philippines Starts Monday
9 April 2012
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Starting Monday, only soldiers and law enforcers will be allowed to carry firearms in the island-province of Masbate.
Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome, in a memorandum on Saturday, ordered the suspension of gun-carrying privileges in Masbate from April 9 to 14, when the annual Rodeo Masbateño Festival is celebrated in the province as a tribute to its cattle industry.
He said that due to the event "all permits to carry firearms outside of... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda Government Asked to Expedite the Process of Small Arms Collection
8 April 2012
Uganda Pulse
Gulu Resident District Commissioner Chrissy Owori Odoi has called on government to expedite the process of collecting small arms which are still in circulation among people in Uganda.
Owori says small arms still pose a big threat to this country and may retard development if it is look at carefully.
Owori says the current peace which the northern region has achieved still stands in threat if small arms are in abundance on the wrong hands.
Speaking during a... (GunPolicy.org)
11,000 Licensed Guns 'Missing' in South Australia
7 April 2012
Advertiser (Adelaide)
Almost 11,000 licensed firearms have reportedly gone "missing" in South Australia over the past decade.
Among the 10,879 weapons are semi-automatic rifles, pump-action shotguns, pistols and antique guns, SA Police figures reveal.
Firearms classified as missing include those that are lost, unaccounted for from deceased estates, where the licence holder can't be located, firearms destroyed by the owner, or destroyed by other means such as flood and fire.
The figures -... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya, Ethiopia Turn to Trade to Curb Cross Border Gun Running
7 April 2012
East African (Nairobi)
Kenya and Ethiopia are opening up their volatile border to more trade as they seek to improve community relations, ease inter-ethnic tensions to reduce demand for small arms and disrupt one of the main routes of illicit small arms coming into East Africa.
Illicit small arms trade in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region has been one of the main drivers of crime across East Africa and has sustained organised criminal networks like cattle rustlers and urban... (GunPolicy.org)
Ugandan Army Soldiers Sell AK-47 Bullets to Gangsters in Local Pubs
7 April 2012
Daily Monitor (Kampala)
'In Summary
'Mine was an easy purchase'
It was a Sunday when I called on an old friend at Makindye. We settled at a pub on Salama Road. Here, we found a lively group of five men chatting over bottles of beer. They conducted their conversation in Luganda and Swahili, and owing to the kind of calls they consistently made, it was clear there was something cooking.
We took up seats close to their table and could clearly eavesdrop on their conversation. One of the men... (GunPolicy.org)
The Law of the Gun in Florida - Editorial
5 April 2012
New York Times, Editorial
Florida leads the pack in passing bills written by the gun lobby that block any sensible attempt to control the purchase and use of firearms. The dangerous folly of these laws was on display in the Trayvon Martin shooting, and will again be on display when Republicans gather for their presidential convention in Tampa this August.
The City Council is sensibly preparing tight security precautions for the downtown area by temporarily banning clubs, hatchets,... (GunPolicy.org)
9-yr Old Boy Accidentally Shot Dead by 13-yr Old in France [Francais]
5 April 2012
Europe 1 (France)
[Translated summary: It is in his father's arms collection that a 13 years old teenager has found the rifle used in the unintentional shooting that killed a 9 years old this week in France. Europe 1 parses French regulations on possession of firearms: categories, storage, conditions for lawful possession and latest amendments.]
C'est dans la collection d'armes à feu de son père que l'adolescent de 13 ans aurait trouvé le fusil qui a tué un enfant de 9 ans mercredi... (GunPolicy.org)
Art and Photo Show Focuses on Trade in Firearms, Deadly Effects in Mexico
5 April 2012
Huffington Post (USA) / AP
MEXICO CITY — An art and photo show focusing on the trade in firearms and their deadly effects in Mexico may soon be going to the United States, the same place where many of the weapons come from.
The show, "A Farewell to Arms. Contraband on the Border," uses photos and artwork to illustrate how the illegal weapons trade has affected Mexico, where more than 47,000 people have died in drug-related violence since late 2006.
The non-governmental groups Global Exchange... (GunPolicy.org)
US: We Need To Talk About Guns - Blog by Andrew Rosenthal
5 April 2012
New York Times, Blog
How many students have to be shot to death in their schools before this country has a serious discussion about guns? Are the 10 who have been gunned down just since Feb. 27 enough?
The question of the constitutional right to own guns is irrelevant here—even if you believe that the Constitution gives every last American the right to own a firearm (which The Times editorial board does not, but many other reasonable people do).
There is simply no defending the many... (GunPolicy.org)
Bogota Mayor Requests that Ban on Gun Carrying Be Extended [Espanol]
5 April 2012
El Universal (Colombia)
[Translated summary: The Mayor of Bogota requested that the restriction on the carrying of firearms be extended until the first of May 2012. This request has been motivated by a 6% homicide reduction in the capital.]
BOGOTÁ - El Secretario de Gobierno (e) de Bogotá, Jorge Rojas Rodríguez, solicitará a la Brigada número 13 del Ejército que se amplíe la medida de restricción de armas de fuego hasta el primero de mayo del 2012.
Esto con motivo de una reducción... (GunPolicy.org)
Number of Gun-related Crimes Is Dropping Rapidly in China - Police
5 April 2012
China Daily
The number of gun-related crimes is dropping rapidly nationwide, despite a recent spate of armed robberies, police say.
In 2000, police dealt with about 5,000 gun-related crimes across the country. The number dropped to about 500 in 2011, down 46 percent from 2010, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Public Security.
The decrease is mainly due to China's strict policy on gun control and tougher policing measures, said Yan Zhengbin, deputy director of... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada Votes to Kill Long Gun Registry, Delete Data on Gun Owners
4 April 2012
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
OTTAWA — The Conservative government vowed during the 2011 election to eliminate the long-gun registry. On Wednesday night, the bill to officially end the registry had its final vote in the Senate — leaving only a signature from the Governor General needed to officially kill the registry.
That signature signing Bill C-19 into law should come Thursday morning.
By a vote of 50-27, senators approved the bill, marking the last political hurdle needed to kill the... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns, Domestic Shootings Factor in Kenya's 1,756 Violent Deaths
4 April 2012
Nation (Kenya)
Some 1,756 people were killed last year by violent and armed criminals, a new police report shows.
The report, which records an increase in serious crimes like murder and violent robbery, cites the rise of criminal gangs and availability of guns on the black market as the reasons.
It shows a seven per cent surge in incidents reported to police compared to 2010.
Police, however, note that a "significant" number of victims were not killed by gangsters but died at the... (GunPolicy.org)
Quebec Seeks Injunction to Stop Canada Deleting Gun Registry Records
4 April 2012
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
After months of threatening legal action against the federal government to preserve records on the 1,560,359 long guns registered in Quebec, Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier announced Tuesday that he will challenge in Quebec Superior Court the constitutionality of Bill C-19, empowering Ottawa to destroy the records.
Quebec has asked repeatedly that records on Quebec residents be transferred so the province can create its own registry. As well, the National Assembly... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Shoots Dead His Brother with Licenced Gun in Tafara, Zimbabwe
3 April 2012
Herald (Zimbabwe)
Police yesterday confirmed the arrest of Tendai Mungororo of Tafara on charges of fatally shooting his brother Tichafunga in the early hours of Sunday morning. Police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau said Tendai Mungororo was facing murder charges and was being held in police cells as investigations continue.
"I can also confirm that the firearm Mungororo used in the murder of his brother was licensed for the purposes of cash-in-transit.
"We are also getting reports... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Mexico,Central America,Honduras,Guatemala,El Salvador
El Salvador Soldiers Accused of Selling Guns to Guatemala, Honduras Gangs
2 April 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Prosecutors in El Salvador ordered the arrest of eight soldiers and one civilian linked to an arms trafficking network that may have supplied thousands of weapons to drug gangs in Guatemala and Honduras.
On March 30, the office of El Salvador's Attorney General (FGR) ordered the arrest of the nine suspects, alleging that they had participated in a scheme which involved siphoning off weapons that were slated to be destroyed, and selling them to drug trafficking... (GunPolicy.org)
Davao City, Philippines Reports 50% Drop in Crime Following Gun Ban
2 April 2012
Sun Star (Philippines)
DAVAO CITY Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reiterated on Sunday the month-long gun ban imposed during the 75th Araw ng Dabaw celebration has been proven effective to deter crimes.
The implementation of the localized gun ban met strong opposition from various sectors, including Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.
In Sunday's press briefing at her office, Duterte-Carpio presented a comparative data of the study conducted to determine the crime rate in the city over the... (GunPolicy.org)
Jamaica Acquires Two Marking Machines to Help Stem Illegal Gun Trafficking
30 March 2012
Caribbean Press Releases
KINGSTON - The Government is to acquire two firearm marking machines to assist with efforts to stem the illegal trafficking in small arms.
The Dot Peen machines will allow the authorities to trace weapons by placing marks on them, which cannot be easily erased, should they fall into the possession of criminals.
They will be procured by the Ministry of National Security as part of a co-operation agreement with the Organization of American States (OAS), which was signed... (GunPolicy.org)
Year's Jail, Life Ban for Vet Caught Smuggling Gun Parts US-Canada
29 March 2012
880 CKLQ AM (Manitoba)
A 47 year old former member of the military has been sentenced to one year in jail for smuggling a submachine gun part into Canada from the United States.
He did so by hiding it in a bag of empty beer cans when crossing the border on November 5th, 2011.
Cameron Eugene Bell says he was going to just display the parts of the gun as art.
Along with one year in jail he was sentenced to a 15 year firearms ban and lifetime restricted weapons... (GunPolicy.org)
Vietnam,Thailand,Singapore,Philippines,Myanmar,Malaysia,Laos,Indonesia,Cambodia,Brunei
Southeast Asian Nations Meet in Cambodia to Strengthen Small Arms Control
29 March 2012
Xinhua
PHNOM PENH -- The ASEAN security officials gathered here on Wednesday to seek effective measures for cooperation to prevent disasters caused by illegal arms smuggling and trafficking, said Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the three-day ASEAN workshop on Small Arms, Light Weapons and Unexploded Ordnances Control, Sar Kheng said the meeting was very important to identify effective measures for... (GunPolicy.org)
For Every 300 Guns in Mexico, 299 Are Carried Without a Licence [Espanol]
28 March 2012
Quadratin (Mexico)
[Translated summary: For every 300 firearms that exist in Mexico, 299 are possessed without a licence. Of those, 270 are for criminal use, said researcher and writer Ernesto Villanueva, citing data of the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA).]
MORELIA, Mich. - Por cada 300 armas de fuego que existen en México, 299 se portan sin permiso y de esas, 270 son para uso delictivo, afirmó el escritor e investigador Ernesto Villanueva, aludiendo datos duros de la... (GunPolicy.org)
Hidden Handgun Permit Holders Killed 391 US Civilians, Police in 5 Years
28 March 2012
New York Times, Column
The debate over the shooting death of Trayvon Martin seems to be devolving into an argument about the right to wear hoodies, but it really does not appear to be a promising development.
Congress, which never draws any serious conclusions from terrible tragedies involving gunplay, did have time on Wednesday to fight about whether Representative Bobby Rush of Chicago violated the House dress code when he took off his suit jacket, revealing a gray sweater he was wearing... (GunPolicy.org)
Bolivia Govt Seizes Shotguns, Handgun from US Vehicle
27 March 2012
Huffington Post (USA)
LA PAZ, Bolivia — Bolivia's interior minister says his government has seized three shotguns, a revolver and more than 2,300 rounds of ammunition from a vehicle owned by the U.S. Embassy.
The minister claims the weapons were being transported without authorization and posed a security threat.
But the U.S. Embassy says the weapons confiscated Tuesday were being transferred under an agreement with Bolivia's police. It said in a statement that Washington routinely... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda Govt Marks Police, Army, Civilians Firearms to Reduce Crime
27 March 2012
Observer (Kampala)
As part of this year's mission to create a pro-people justice system, the Justice Law and Order Sector, based at the ministry of Internal Affairs, last week labeled guns before the general public at the Railway grounds.
Anthony Nahaima, legal officer for the National Focal Point on Arms and Light Weapons — the department that handles the gun labeling process — says to date, they have labeled 80 percent of police guns and 50 percent of the army's. The labeling... (GunPolicy.org)
Multiple Shootings Highlight Growing Illegal Gun Trade in France
27 March 2012
Christian Science Monitor
France's strict gun laws sharply limit legal ownership. But illegal trafficking is on the rise – at prices that people like Toulouse gunman Mohamed Merah can afford.
PARIS - As the prosecutor listed the weapons gunman Mohamed Merah amassed before going on a shooting rampage in Toulouse, French citizens received a stark reminder that gun trafficking doesn't only affect unstable countries. It's happening in France, too – a nation that is anything but gun-friendly.... (GunPolicy.org)
China Makes War on Illegal Guns, Gun Crime, Seeks 'Social Stability'
27 March 2012
China Daily / Xinhua
BEIJING - Police across China have been ordered to step up their war on crimes involving guns and explosives to safeguard social stability and public security.
Addressing a national conference on Monday, Huang Ming, deputy minister of public security, said police agencies at all levels must fully bear in mind the extreme importance of fighting gun and explosive-related crimes.
Huang urged coordinated efforts involving police in different sectors and regions to... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippine Police Plan More Gun Control, Visits to 'Delinquent' Gun Owners
26 March 2012
Journal (Manila)
MAMANG PULIS -- Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome has ordered the implementation of stricter gun control measures aimed at reducing by 10 percent gun-related crimes and reducing by 3.38 percent the number of loose firearms in the country.
He tasked the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to spearhead the massive nationwide gun control campaign aimed also at accounting for loose firearms and tens of thousands... (GunPolicy.org)
French Public Amazed at Toulouse Mass Killer's Arsenal of Illegal Guns
23 March 2012
Reuters
PARIS - As France asks itself whether it could have done more to prevent Islamist gunman Mohamed Merah shooting dead seven people in a killing spree that shook the nation, there is one question that refuses to go away: how did he obtain so many guns.
The size and nature of the arsenal amassed by Merah - who stockpiled at least eight guns including a Kalashnikov assault rifle and an Uzi machine pistol - has focused attention on the easy availability of illegal weapons... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Govt Launches an Amnesty for Those in Possession of Illegal Firearms
23 March 2012
Star (Kenya)
The government has given those in possession of illegal firearms in Western province a one month amnesty to return the guns. Speaking during a two day workshop on awareness rising on the dangers of illicit small arms and light weapons in a Bungoma hotel, the Kenya National Focal Point director David Kimaiyo said the criminals have been terrosing residents of Bungoma North, Kimilili and parts of Webuye. The workshop was also attended by Upper Western regional... (GunPolicy.org)
El Salvador Police Report the Seizure of 11 Guns Per Day in 2012 [Espanol]
22 March 2012
La Prensa Gráfica (El Salvador)
[Translated summary: The Civil National Police (PNC) of El Salvador seized 901 firearms in 2012. According to Police, these firearms are linked to 56 homicides, 22 injuries, 27 robberies, 2 extortions and 6 thefts.]
La Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) reportó el decomiso de 901 armas de fuego y la captura de 11,667 personas entre el 1.º de enero y el 19 de marzo en todo el país, según el subdirector de Seguridad Pública, comisionado Howard Cotto.
"Esto es el... (GunPolicy.org)
Suspected Belgian Killers Involved in Illegal Gun Trade in Uganda and Kenya
22 March 2012
New Vision (Kampala)
Four men including a police officer who allegedly murdered a Belgian tourist in Mount Elgon National Park in Kapchorwa district in 2008 were allegedly involved in an illegal firearms trade, a Police commissioner has told court.
Christopher Kwerit, a commissioner in charge of political education in the Police force produced charge and caution statements before the court martial on Tuesday in which the suspects allegedly confessed that they were involved in arms trade in... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico,Australia,Brazil,Nigeria,Canada
Canada Changed Its Arms Policy, Chose UN Delegate to Suit Gun Lobby
21 March 2012
CBC News (Canada)
The office of Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird ordered last-minute changes to Canada's position on an international arms treaty, as well as to its delegation to meetings at United Nations headquarters, CBC News has learned.
According to documents obtained under the Access to Information Act, the minister's office ignored advice from the department and ordered civil servants to invite Steve Torino, president of the Canadian Shooting Sports Association (CSSA), to... (GunPolicy.org)
African Countries Urge Gun Making Countries to Curb Sales to Govts
20 March 2012
Leadership (Abuja)
African countries have called on major arms-producing states to ensure that the supply of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is limited only to governments.
The African Group made the call at the preparatory committee meeting for the second United Nations (UN) conference to review the progress made in the implementation of the programme of action to prevent, combat and eradicate indiscriminate circulation of SALW.
The UN Correspondent of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)... (GunPolicy.org)
France 'Awash' with Illegal Firearms Imported Across Porous EU Borders
20 March 2012
Press Association (UK)
France is awash with illegal firearms transported into the country across porous European borders, it was claimed.
While gun laws are strict, it is not difficult for unauthorised members of the public to get their hands on weapons, according to the president of the Union Francaise des Amateurs d'Armes, a French gun society.
Jean-Jacques Buigne suggested the killer responsible for the attacks outside a school in Toulouse most likely did not have a licence for the heavy... (GunPolicy.org)
Sudan,Syria,Russia,China,Papua New Guinea,Fiji,Oceania
Pacific Nations Push for Global Arms Trade Treaty to Curb Gun Trade
19 March 2012
ABC News (Australia), Transcript
Every year illicit trade in small arms results in thousands of deaths. Most of them in developing countries, including the Pacific, where the impact of gun violence has been devastating.
Now the international community is to meet at the United Nations to finalise the first ever global arms trade treaty.
HELEN HAKENA, WOMEN'S RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER: I was seven months pregnant when gunmen came into our village terrorising the entire village community. My house was burnt to... (GunPolicy.org)
Vanuatu Lauded for UN Arms Trade Treaty Programmes
19 March 2012
Vanuatu Daily Post
PORT VILA, Vanuatu – Vanuatu was represented at the Pacific regional workshop on small arms and light weapons and the arms trade treaty.
This 3-day workshop, held in Australia at Brisbane's Novotel Hotel, was organized by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in conjunction with AusAID and Oxfam.
It was intended to provide a forum for discussion by Pacific Region representatives on the implementation of the UN Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons... (GunPolicy.org)
More Rumours, No Evidence of Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Gun Running
19 March 2012
Pacific Islands News Association (Fiji Islands)
There is an arms build-up between Vanimo and Green River in the border areas of West Sepik province, a Papua New Guinea Customs official said.
He said intelligence indicated that guns were being smuggled into the country from five locations in Indonesia.
While there were customs operations in Vanimo and Wutung, "there is none in Bewani, Imonda, Kembratoro in Amanab and Green River".
"These are strategic locations, including open jungle where illegal trade and... (GunPolicy.org)
Feds Caught Top Man in US-Mexico Drug Cartel Gun Running, Let Him Go
19 March 2012
Los Angeles Times
Federal agents stopped the main target of the ill-fated Operation Fast and Furious in May 2010. After they questioned him, he disappeared back into Mexico, and the program went on to spiral out of control.
WASHINGTON — Seven months after federal agents began the ill-fated Fast and Furious gun-tracking operation, they stumbled upon their main suspect in a remote Arizona outpost on the Mexican border, driving an old BMW with 74 rounds of ammunition and nine cellphones... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico, Awash in Illegal Firearms, Has Just One Legal Gun Store
19 March 2012
Kansas City Star (Missouri)
MEXICO CITY — Mexico has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the world. If any of the nation's 112 million citizens want to buy firearms, there's only one store where they can do it legally. It's on a sprawling military base and run by the army.
That, however, hasn't stopped Mexicans from acquiring firearms. The country is awash in illegal guns, many of them assault weapons in the hands of merciless criminal gangs. President Felipe Calderon says authorities have... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Accused of Fumbling Crime Gun Ballistics in Pakistan
19 March 2012
Tribune (Pakistan)
KARACHI - Every gun leaves a unique mark on the bullets it fires. This is true for every firearm in the world. This fact makes it all the more baffling that there is no centralised database that contains the ballistic signatures – the term for these unique marks – in Pakistan.
Despite repeated calls made by senior police officers for such an integrated system, the requests have fallen on deaf ears.
Take the example of Sindh, in particular Karachi. Despite the fact... (GunPolicy.org)
Caracas, Venezuela: Police Officers Murdered for Their Guns - Report
16 March 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Some 26 Caracas police officers have been murdered so far this year, and analysts warn that they may be being targeted by criminals who want to steal their weapons.
The assassination of Reinaldo Jose Mata Malave outside his home earlier this week brought the number of police officers murdered in greater Caracas in 2012 to 26. According to El Nacional, Mata was killed for his police-issued weapon, a Beretta pistol.
Criminologist Javier Gorriño told El Universal that... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Germany,Europe,Australia
In Wake of Glock Seizure, Australian Minister Defends Gun Control Efforts
15 March 2012
ABC News (Australia), Transcript
TONY EASTLEY: According to Tony Abbott Sydneysiders this morning not only face peak hour traffic but a reign of terror on the streets because of the illegal importation of hundreds of handguns from Europe and he puts it down to the Federal Government's lack of border control. The Opposition Leader says it can all be sheeted home to the Government.
On Tuesday police and other Federal and state authorities arrested alleged members of a gun smuggling syndicate who'd... (GunPolicy.org)
Debate Over Allowing Ex-senators Licences for Banned Firearms in Pakistan
14 March 2012
Dawn (Karachi), Opinion
The interior minister has promised the outgoing members of the Senate quite a few parting gifts. While it is difficult to hold that his fit of generosity meets the test of good sense, it is his offer to allow the ex-senators licences for prohibited bore firearms that will cause widespread alarm.
The desire of parliamentarians to go on enjoying VIP status even after retirement is known. Some years ago, the list of post-retirement privileges demanded for the speaker of... (GunPolicy.org)
Amnesty Re-launched in North Kivu, Congo DRC [Francais]
14 March 2012
Radio Okapi (Kinshasa)
[Translated summary: The Governor of North Kivu, Julien Paluku, re-launches the operation "North Kivu Unarmed", calling anyone who illegaly possess a firearm to surrender it. A buyback launched in 2009 in Kinshasa and in the eastern provinces had allowed to collect 12,000 firearms.]
Le gouverneur du Nord-Kivu, Julien Paluku a remis une centaine d'armes individuelles et de guerre, mardi 13 mars, au commandant de la 8ème région militaire. Cette remise coïncide avec la... (GunPolicy.org)
Post Office Owner Smuggled German Glocks to Sydney Gangs - Police
14 March 2012
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
It began at a firearms manufacturing factory in Austria - and ended at a suburban Sydney post office.
Police yesterday cracked an elaborate gun-smuggling operation that spanned the globe, putting hundreds of illegal firearms into the hands of Sydney's underworld.
In the small township of Remscheid, Germany, up to 300 brand new Austrian-made Glock handguns were disassembled, packed in boxes with inconspicuous labels such as "plastic" and "metal", and shipped to... (GunPolicy.org)
European Union Adopts New Law on Export, Import & Transit of Guns
13 March 2012
GRIP.org
On 8 March 2012, the European Union Council has finally adopted a new European legislation that sets the rules and procedures to be followed by Member States on export, import and transit authorizations of firearms for civilian use (such as hunting weapons and sporting weapons), their parts and components, and ammunition, to and from the EU. These new rules therefore only address firearms transfers with non-EU countries. They complement the existing European legislation... (GunPolicy.org)
German-Australian Gun Smuggling Network Broken in Police Raids
13 March 2012
Sydney Morning Herald
Police have smashed a criminal syndicate allegedly importing illegal handguns from Europe into Australia via a Sydney post office.
The joint Australian German investigation, launched last month, resulted in three arrests today.
The NSW Firearms and Organised Crime Squad led raids earlier today to stop the importation of illegal firearms from Germany to Australia.
Three men have been arrested in Sydney and are assisting police with their inquiries after a number of... (GunPolicy.org)
Puerto Rico Gun Amnesty Nets 400 Firearms, 30,000 Rounds of Ammo
12 March 2012
Daily Sun (Puerto Rico)
The government has pulled out of circulation more than 400 firearms as well as more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition since last month's amnesty to turn them in came into effect, said the Secretary of Sports and Recreation, Henry Neumann.
"We have already collected over 400 firearms throughout Puerto Rico … more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition have been delivered to us as of 4 p.m. on Saturday, and we are letting the people know of the success behind this measure and... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Suspends Gun Imports for a Year
12 March 2012
Latin American Herald Tribune (Venezuela)
CARACAS – Venezuelan authorities have established a moratorium on importing guns for sale to the general public, while banning the marketing of munitions and all other armaments in an attempt to "put order" in that sector and exercise some control over the nation's widespread violence.
The technical secretary of the Presidential Commission for the Control of Arms, Munitions and Disarmament, Pablo Fernandez, said Friday in an interview on state channel VTV that since... (GunPolicy.org)
Soaring Gun Death Body Count, Gun Crime & Injury Figures in Jamaica
9 March 2012
Jamaica Observer
ACED with harsh criticism over the recent killing of innocent persons during an operation in Denham Town earlier this week, the police have sought to assure the country that they are determined to reduce the body count as the try to beat back the crime monster.
Speaking in this week's force orders, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, pointed to the difficult conditions members of the constabulary work under.
"We are determined to reduce incidence of fatal encounters... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Shootings, Trigger-happy Tactics Prompt Outrage in Jamaica
8 March 2012
San Francisco Chronicle / AP
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Security personnel armed with M16s and machine guns manned roadblocks and detained dozens of young men Thursday as part of a crackdown in a Jamaican ghetto where a 13-year-old girl, two elderly men and three others were killed during reported shootouts between police and gunmen.
Residents of the Denham Town slum in West Kingston blame officers for Monday's killings and the gritty area has been under curfew amid an ongoing security operation to... (GunPolicy.org)
Muslim Clerics Support Firearm Licensing Amnesty Campaign in Philippines
8 March 2012
Philippine Star
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Muslim clerics are ready to support the enforcement of a general firearm registration amnesty program in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
But the group noted that this can only be done if the government puts up more courts in the area with judges courageous enough to litigate high-profile cases to establish the semblance of strong justice system.
For local sociologists and contemporary historians, it is the perennial lack of... (GunPolicy.org)
Côte d'Ivoire,Mali,Togo,West Africa,Ghana,Kenya
Ghana National Security Receives Firearm Marking Machines
7 March 2012
Ghana News Agency
The Regional Centre for Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA) based in Kenya, on Wednesday presented two weapon marking machines to Ghana in efforts to eliminate the illicit trade and proliferation of small arms and weapons.
The donation was made during a three-day training programme for security personnel on weapons marking and record-keeping in Accra and organised in collaboration with the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA) and Ministry of the... (GunPolicy.org)
'Good Reason' Hidden Handgun Test Unconstitutional - US Federal Judge
6 March 2012
Washington Post
A federal judge in Maryland has ruled that state residents no longer must show they have a good reason to carry a handgun outside their home, declaring a key provision of the state's gun-control laws unconstitutional.
Gun rights advocates said the opinion — in a relatively liberal state with some of the country's tightest gun restrictions — would help as they challenge similar laws in about a half-dozen states. Maryland officials said Monday that they are seeking a... (GunPolicy.org)
Timor-Leste,Thailand,Sri Lanka,Myanmar,Indonesia,South Asia,South East Asia,Israel,Iran,Cuba,United States,Japan,China,Brunei,Philippines,Pakistan,India,Asia
UN Urges Asian Nations to Help Curb Global Trade in Illegal Guns
6 March 2012
Jakarta Post
The United Nations is urging all nations in the Asia region to implement concrete solutions to stop illegal trading in small arms and light weapons.
"Over the past decades, trade has made this region grow so phenomenally. If you are a region where international trade is what makes you tick, you better also make sure that you are seen as doing trade in the right way," UN disarmament affairs official Daniel Prins told reporters on the sidelines of opening the Asian... (GunPolicy.org)
South Sudan Army Ready to Conduct a Gun Amnesty Amongst Civilians
5 March 2012
Sudan Tribune (France)
JUBA — The South Sudan army, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) has announced its readiness to conduct the "peaceful" collection of illegal arms from the civil population across the country but primarily in Jonglei, Unity, Lakes and Warrap states; all of which have recently been subject to increased tribal conflict.
Majak D' Agoot, South Sudan's deputy defence minister, said the SPLA has the mandate to remove arms from the hands of the unauthorised civil... (GunPolicy.org)
