Gun Policy News
Firearm violence, gun control and small arms
Sweden
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)
Read More: Local (Sweden)
36146
Russia,China,United States,United Kingdom,Congo (DRC),Myanmar,Iran
UK Minister Calls for International Support on Arms Trade Treaty
17 May 2012
Guardian (UK)
The international arms trade has become the greatest threat to development and has to be controlled by a tough treaty to regulate weapons and munitions sales, a government minister warns.
In a speech to the Institute for Strategic Studies thinktank, Alan Duncan, the minister for international development, will urge allies such as the US to set aside their concerns and sign up to the comprehensive arms trade treaty (ATT), which will be hammered out during a month-long... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Guardian (UK)
36143
United Kingdom
High Number of Guns on Island of Jersey, for Small Population
2 May 2012
BBC News
There are three times as many guns per head of population in Jersey than in England and Wales, according to the police.
The States of Jersey police said there were more than 9,700 guns in the island, with a population of 97,857.
The guns in Jersey are kept by 1,800 registered owners.
One islander owns more than 300 weapons but the police said they were a World War II enthusiast and all the guns had historical significance.
Home Affairs Minister Senator Ian Le... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: BBC News
36098
South America,Asia,Turkey,United Kingdom,Mexico,United States
Proposal to Relax Export Restrictions on Firearms in U.S. Unpopular
2 May 2012
Wall Street Journal
U.S. homeland-security and law-enforcement agencies have objected to
Obama administration proposals to relax export restrictions on
high-powered firearms, threatening a centerpiece of the president's
trade and national-security agenda.
The agencies, in internal memos viewed by The Wall Street Journal,
warn the changes could help arm drug cartels and terrorists and make
it harder for the U.S. to crack down on gun-trafficking.
The arms proposal is part of a broader... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Wall Street Journal
36097
United States,France,China,Pakistan,Afghanistan,Sweden
Pakistan a 'Very Gun-friendly Society,' 9 in 10 Owners Unlicensed
30 April 2012
Dawn (Karachi)
On January 25 this year, 32-year-old Waqas, a garment factory employee was hit by a bullet in New Karachi and he died. The bullet was not fired from the gun of a target killer, but by friends of a bridegroom amidst late-night wedding celebrations.
Two children aged 10 and 12, died in Sialkot in a similar incident on February 20, when the jubilant brother of a bridegroom unleashed a burst of bullets.
Such accidents, almost an every-day affair in Pakistan, never make it... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Dawn (Karachi)
36091
Denmark
Only Danish Police, Gun Clubs, Hunters May Own Big-bore Airguns [Dansk]
25 April 2012
Berlingske (Denmark)
[Translated Summary: As of June 1st, ownership of airguns over 4.5mm cal will be restricted in Denmark. More than 240,000 Danes currently own larger-calibre airguns, and authorities are anxious to avoid US-style weapon availability.]
Fra 1. juni er det ikke længere lovligt at eje og bruge luftvåben af en særlig kaliber uden at være politimand, medlem af en skytteforening eller jæger.
Danmark må ikke ende med amerikanske våbentilstande, hvor stort set alle med... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Berlingske (Denmark)
36089
Norway
For the Environment, Military Switches to Lead-Free Ammunition in Norway
25 April 2012
United Press International
RAUFOSS, Norway -- Norwegian/Finnish manufacturer Nammo has been selected to provide Norway's military forces with lead-free, small arms ammunition.
The contract is worth about $870 million, with options exceeding that of the original contract.
"We are proud to supply world class ammunition that is both environmental friendly and fully satisfies the customer's demands for operational function," said Edgar Fossheim, president and chief executive officer of... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: United Press International
36073
China,Sweden
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)
Read More: Local (Sweden)
36070
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)
Read More: Telegraf (Belarus)
36051
Oceania,Asia,Americas,Africa,United Kingdom,United States,Europe,Spain
New Forensic Technique Tags Firearm Type with Gunshot Residue
9 April 2012
United Press International
ALBANY, N.Y. -- A new forensic technique using lasers may allow investigators to match gunshot residue to a specific caliber of firearm, U.S. and European researchers say.
The new technique could lead to a stronger link between a suspect and a firearm, they said.
Researchers in Spain used spectroscopy to analyze six kinds of ammunition, assessing propellant from unfired cartridges then compared these spectra to the signature in residue from fired guns, ScienceNews.org... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: United Press International
36018
Europe,East Africa,Ireland,Palestine,Africa,West Asia,North Africa,Syria,Libya,Belgium
Special Report on Belgian Arms Exports in Middle East and North Africa - Blog
5 April 2012
New York Times, Blog
The uprisings in Libya and Syria have cast the Belgian small arms industry as a case study of the difficult balances within a Western arms-manufacturing community that seeks exports to preserve revenue and local jobs, but risks compromising European policies and human rights values.
Belgium is one of Europe's busiest exporters of small arms and light weapons. As late as 2010, the last year for which publicly released data is available, 32 percent of the small-arms... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: New York Times
35992
Panama,Liberia,Oman,Yemen,Egypt,Saudi Arabia,Mauritius,Seychelles,Mongolia,Djibouti,Madagascar,United Arab Emirates,United Kingdom,Somalia,Kenya
Anti-piracy Security Firms Keep Guns in Floating Armouries to Avoid Law
22 March 2012
Associated Press
NAIROBI, Kenya — Private security firms are storing their guns aboard floating armories in international waters so ships that want armed anti-piracy guards for East Africa's pirate-infested waters can cut costs and circumvent laws limiting the import and export of weapons, industry officials say.
Companies and legal experts say the operation of the armories is a "legal gray area" because few, if any, governments have laws governing the practice. Some security... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
35956
United Kingdom
Border Force Warns All Ships Entering UK: They Must Declare Guns on Board
16 March 2012
BBC News
Three shotguns and ammunition have been seized from the crew of an an oil tanker which docked in Milford Haven.
Officers from the Border Force boarded the Panamanian-registered ship for a routine search.
Members of the Chinese and South Korean crew told them the weapons were being carried as self-defence against pirates in the Indian Ocean.
But the Border Force is warning all ships entering UK waters they must declare any firearms on board.
The weapons were seized... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: BBC News
35917
Estonia,Dominican Republic,Ecuador,Ukraine,Kyrgyzstan,Moldova,Kazakhstan,Belize,Latvia,Venezuela,Belarus,Lithuania,Bahamas,Bolivia,Azerbaijan,Russia,Antigua & Barbuda,Guyana,South Africa,Jamaica,Honduras,Guatemala,El Salvador,South America,Colombia,Brazil,Central America,Caribbean
1/3 of Femicides Committed With Gun in Latin America and Caribbean [Espanol]
2 March 2012
RT-TV Novosti (Russia)
[Translated summary: Nearly a third of crimes against women are committed with a firearm and in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras this indicator is 60% - Small Arms Survey.]
El mayor nivel de feminicidios se registra en Latinoamérica y el Caribe. Catorce países latinoamericanos aparecen entre los 25 del mundo con la tasa más elevada de crímenes contra la mujer.
El informe de la organización de investigaciones independientes Small Arms Survey,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: RT-TV Novosti (Russia)
35882
Germany,Chad,Yemen,Egypt,Libya,France,United Kingdom,United States,Sudan,Belarus,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Syria,Russia
Towards an International Control of Arms Trade, NGOs Concerned [Francais]
19 February 2012
Le Monde (France)
[Translated summary: As negotiations were launched this week in New York on the Arms Trade Treaty, Amnesty International, CCFD-Terre Solidaire and Oxfam France are concerned about the risk of a "Treaty at a discount ".]
La vente d'armes à un régime qui réprime sa population, comme le fait aujourd'hui la Russie à l'Etat syrien, sera-t-elle bientôt illégale ? C'est l'enjeu des négociations qui devraient aboutir, en juillet, à New York, à la signature d'un... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Le Monde (France)
35854
Sudan,China,Egypt,Bahrain,Libya,Germany,United Kingdom,Russia,United States,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
At Last, the World Acts to Control Global Arms Trade, UN Talks Begin this Week
12 February 2012
Independent (Dublin)
The global arms trade, which produces two bullets for every person on the planet every year and the weapons that kill 1,500 people each day, is facing the first worldwide effort to control it. An unprecedented treaty that would attempt to restrict arms sales is expected to be drawn up at talks in the United Nations this week.
A campaign for such an agreement, begun six years ago by Nobel laureates, faces attempts by the United States and Russia to water the treaty... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Independent (Dublin)
35825
Uganda,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Turkey,Scotland,United Kingdom,Oceania
Dunblane Father Urges End to Global Gun Trade Killing 1500 a Day
12 February 2012
Daily Record (Scotland)
A global campaign to control the trade in deadly weapons will be stepped up at Glasgow University tomorrow when anti-gun campaigner Dr Mick North - whose daughter Sophie was killed in Dunblane tragedy in 1996 - leads a new push by Oxfam and Amnesty towards a United Nations arms treaty.
Here, he explains why the issue means the difference between life and death.
_________
Next month marks the 16th anniversary of my daughter's death.
Sophie was just five when a gunman... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Daily Record (Scotland)
35822
Germany,United Kingdom,China,Nigeria
British and German Arms Dealers Involved in Arms Shipment to Nigeria
8 February 2012
Daily Trust (Abuja)
British prosecutors recently vowed to pursue a legal case involving the shipment of large cache of weapons, allegedly from China and destined for Nigeria, after a London judge threw it out.
Those involved in the trade are said to be British and German arms dealers. Mr Gary Hyde, a 42-year old retired British volunteer police officer, is accused of conspiring with his German business partner Karl Kleber for the illegal shipment of 40,000 Ak47 assault rifles, 30,000... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Daily Trust (Abuja)
35808
United Kingdom
UK Govt is Considering Tougher Penalties for "Middle Men", Gun Runners
8 February 2012
Huffington Post (UK)
The government is considering plans to give tougher sentences to "middle men," gun runners who supply the firearms used in murders.
Home Secretary Theresa May said the "middle men are as responsible as those who pull the trigger", as she announced a consultation on the issue on Wednesday.
It follows concerns from police chiefs and politicians that current sentences of up to 10 years are too lenient.
"We need to target not just those who use illegal firearms but those... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Huffington Post (UK)
35807
Ireland
Concerns Persist Over Irish Police Attitude to Gun Licence Applicants
2 February 2012
Irish Times (Dublin)
ANALYSIS - Following an intervention by Mr Justice John Hedigan, the Garda and three gun enthusiasts have come to an agreement. This will allow gun club members reapply for licences where they have been refused.
The basis on which the case was settled was the reasoning for the refusal of licences was flawed.
However, questions about the behaviour of the Garda posed by Mr Justice Hedigan remain to be answered. Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has asked the Garda... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Irish Times (Dublin)
35797
Ireland
Legal Challenge on Irish Police's Refusal to Grant Licences Settled
31 January 2012
Irish Examiner (Dublin)
A legal challenge by shooting enthusiasts to the Garda refusal to grant them licences for restricted firearms has been settled.
The shooting enthusiasts had claimed their applications for restricted guns were being refused on a blanket basis by gardaí without adequate reasons.
The Garda authorities have denied claims of a fixed policy of refusing licences.
This morning at the High Court, when the matter was briefly mentioned before the court, Mr Justice John Hedigan... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Irish Examiner (Dublin)
35784
Madagascar,Guinea,Ghana,Botswana,Angola,Algeria,South Africa,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Russia,Austria,Israel,Germany,Italy,United States,Yemen,Philippines,Pakistan,Sri Lanka,Tunisia,Brazil,Burkina Faso,Egypt,Côte d'Ivoire,Malawi,Mauritania,Morocco,Namibia,Niger,Nigeria,Congo (ROC),Senegal,Tanzania,Uganda,Zambia,Zimbabwe,Argentina,Ecuador,Chile,Honduras,Guatemala,United Arab Emirates,Trinidad & Tobago,Jordan,Dominican Republic,Singapore,Kazakhstan,Liberia,Saudi Arabia,Bosnia & Herzegovina,Congo (DRC),Guyana,Mauritius,Latvia,Oman,Nepal,Somalia,Bolivia,Colombia,Venezuela,Peru,Mexico,Qatar,Kuwait,Indonesia,Malaysia,Thailand
Brazilian Gun Industry Seeks New Markets: Africa and Asia [Portugues]
27 January 2012
Publica (Brazil)
[Translated summary: With the support of the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs, Brazilian gun manufacturers seek new markets in countries with a history of human rights violations: Tunisia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Philippines and Yemen. Brazil is among the six countries in the world with annual exports exceeding $ 100 million, according to recent research from Small Arms Survey. According to the Army, responsible for supervising and controlling exports from 2005 to... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Publica (Brazil)
35794
Ireland
Irish Police Accused of Sharing Phrases to Defeat Gun Applications
26 January 2012
Independent (Dublin)
Letters sent by senior gardai to shooting enthusiasts turning down their gun-licence applications shared the same spelling and factual mistakes.
An analysis of refusal letters by 23 garda chief superintendents responsible for issuing firearm licences has concluded that 17 displayed evidence that they were not "independently produced".
Garda guidelines for restricted firearm certificates state that "each case ought to be judged on its own merits, being mindful of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Independent (Dublin)
35781
Ireland
Calls for Probe as Top Irish Cop Admits Altering Gun Licence Forms
24 January 2012
Independent (Dublin)
Pressure is mounting on the Government to launch an inquiry after one of the country's most senior gardai admitted altering application forms for firearms licences.
The alterations by Crumlin Chief Superintendent John Manley, described last week as "disturbing" by a High Court judge, took place after legal action was brought by almost 200 shooting enthusiasts who were refused firearms licences.
Another senior garda responsible for issuing gun licences has admitted, in... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Independent (Dublin)
35768
Sweden
Swedish Govt Suggests Stricter Penalties for Carrying Gun in Public Place
20 January 2012
Local (Sweden)
In a proposal to the Swedish Council on Legislation's (Lagrådet) the government has suggested implementing stricter penalties for carrying a weapon in a public place.
However, at present they are not willing to grant police the wire tapping capabilities for less serious crimes, powers which police have long sought.
"We have made every effort to signal the need for this and we hope that the government will continue to work on it. We really do need to have these... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Local (Sweden)
35759
United Kingdom
Children 'No Risk' with Shotguns, 7,071 Licences Issued to Under-18s in UK
18 January 2012
BBC News
Police revoked just two shotgun certificates given to children in the past decade, according to the Countryside Alliance.
The campaign group released the figures as MPs prepare to debate whether to introduce a minimum age of 14 for holding a shotgun certificate.
More than 7,000 under-18s received certificates between 2008 and 2010.
There is currently no minimum age for qualifying, but an anti-gun group said under-18s should not get certificates.
In a Freedom of... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: BBC News
35745
United Kingdom
Debate Over Minimum Age for Shotgun Licence in UK
18 January 2012
Yorkshire Post (UK)
Countryside campaigners have attacked moves to set a minimum age for shotgun licences, claiming research proves under-14s with certificates "pose no risk to the public".
The Countryside Alliance said their figures, which show that in the past 10 years only two people under the age of 14 have had shotgun certificates withdrawn by the police, prove "conclusively" that the young take the responsibility of handling shotguns seriously and efforts to stop them entering the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yorkshire Post (UK)
35740
Germany,Poland,Nigeria,China,United Kingdom
UK Arms Dealer Arranged to Sell 80,000 Chinese Guns to Nigeria - Court
10 January 2012
BBC News
A British-based arms dealer helped organise the shipment of thousands of guns from China to Nigeria without the necessary licence, a court has heard.
Gary Hyde partly arranged and organised the shipment in 2007 of 80,000 rifles and pistols and 32 million rounds of ammunition.
Southwark Crown Court heard he did not receive permission from the relevant government department.
Mr Hyde, from Derwent near York, denies the charges.
The court was told the shipment involved... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: BBC News
35724
United Kingdom,United States
Former Marine Gets 10yrs for Smuggling US Guns to English Crime Gangs
10 January 2012
News & Observer (North Carolina)
GREENVILLE -- A former U.S. Marine has been sentenced to 10 years in prison today for illegally trafficking dozens of handguns to the United Kingdom.
Steven Neal Greenoe, 37, a former Raleigh resident, pleaded guilty in federal court to the charges, which allege that the joint U.S. and U.K. citizen took nine trips from North Carolina – where he grew up – purchased handguns, and concealed a total of 63 pistols in his luggage before returning to England, where he... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: News & Observer (North Carolina)
35722
Sweden
Swedish Courts 'Go Easy' on Gangsters Needing Guns for Self Defence
8 January 2012
Local (Stockholm)
Being a member of a criminal gang in Sweden can actually result in milder sentences for weapons offences as courts provide leniency in cases in which offenders have been shown to live in a hostile environment and need extra protection.
Following the recent spate of killings in Malmö, politicians have promised changes in Sweden's current weapons laws to curb the violence.
According to some court's interpretation of current laws, criminals can actually receive milder... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Local (Stockholm)
35714
Denmark,Sweden
Swedish Customs 'Not Focused' on Weapon Smuggling from Denmark
5 January 2012
Local (Stockholm)
The Öresund bridge, connecting Sweden and Denmark, has long been known to be an important route for weapons smugglers to get their wares into Sweden. Despite this only seven illegal weapons were seized there over the course of 2011.
"We have been mainly focusing on drugs," said Anders Trägårdh, head of operations at customs in Malmö, to daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN).
The debate about the illegal smuggling of weapons has been given a new lease of life after a... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Local (Stockholm)
35711
Sweden
Swedish Gun Laws May Be Tightened - Minister for Justice
4 January 2012
Local (Stockholm)
Sweden's minister for justice, Beatrice Ask, says Swedish weapons laws will be looked over, after recent events in Malmö where five people have been shot within the space of a month.
"The previous report didn't see a reason to change the law. I am not happy with that and we are looking into it at the moment," Ask told news agency TT.
The Chairman for the Committee on Justice, Social Democrat Morgan Johansson, has been demanding that Ask does something about the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Local (Stockholm)
35710
United Kingdom
Gun Enthusiast Kills 3 Women, Self, Thrusts UK Gun Laws Back Into News
3 January 2012
Independent (UK)
A taxi driver who murdered his partner, her sister and her sister's daughter before shooting himself in a New Year's Day killing spree at the family home held licences for six weapons and had been known to police for three years after he threatened to harm himself.
His 19-year-old stepdaughter leapt to safety from an upstairs window after the man, named as Michael Atherton, opened fire in the crowded semi-detached house shortly before midnight. Police confirmed they... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Independent (UK)
35701
Sweden
Swedish Editors Charged for Buying Illegal Pistol, Handing it to Police
27 December 2011
Local (Stockholm)
Thomas Mattsson, editor-in-chief of one of Sweden's largest newspapers, has been charged for instigating a weapons offense.
Mattsson heads the Expressen daily newspaper, and in the fall of 2010 he gave one of the newspaper's reporters permission to buy a pistol in Malmö in southern Sweden.
Authorization was granted in connection with the reporter's efforts to show how easy it was to obtain a firearm in Sweden.
"If journalists can't work under cover, investigative... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Local (Stockholm)
35692
Ireland
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)
Read More: Herald (Dublin)
35691
Switzerland,Finland,Germany,United Kingdom,Netherlands,Norway,Europe
Gun Attacks in Europe and Their Effect on Gun Control Laws
14 December 2011
BBC News
As more details emerge of the shooting spree and grenade attack in Belgium in which five people died, the BBC News website takes a look at other recent incidents in Europe - and the effect they have had on each country's laws.
Norway
Seventy-seven people were killed in twin attacks on 22 July 2011 in Norway. Anders Behring Breivik has admitted that he planted a car bomb that exploded close to government offices in the capital Oslo, killing eight people. He then drove... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: BBC News
35669
Jamaica,Honduras,Israel,Canada,Norway,Australia,Colombia,El Salvador,United States,Venezuela,Pakistan,Mexico
Armed Societies, Another Tragedy for Women: Mexico, Pakistan, Venezuela
9 December 2011
Inter Press Service News Agency
CARACAS - Kairobis Arcia, 25, died from a bullet to her head shot by her husband, Oswaldo Mendoza, 32, who said he was blinded by jealousy in an argument fuelled by alcohol and drugs.
Her murder was just one of the more than 468,000 homicides a year that occur worldwide, 42 percent of which are committed with firearms. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the global murder rate is 6.9 per 100,000 people – 11.9 per 100,000 among men and... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Inter Press Service News Agency
35654
Europe,United Kingdom,Scotland
Every Crime Gun, Spent Bullet, Cartridge Case to Be Traced in Scotland
24 November 2011
BBC News
Scottish police have announced a new weapon in the fight against gun crime.
Using computer techniques they will identify weapons more quickly and link firearms incidents across the UK.
Previously it was possible to compare firearms and ballistic materials such as cartridges and bullets for links with other crimes.
But the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (Nabis) will allow police to check databases in England and eventually parts of Europe.
Within 48 hours... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: BBC News
35570
United States,United Kingdom
UK Man Guilty of Receiving Handguns Smuggled from US, Selling to Gangs
10 November 2011
Guardian (UK)
A man has been found guilty of helping an international gun runner to smuggle dozens of handguns into Britain on commercial transatlantic flights.
Over a six-month period gun runner Steven Greenoe, 37, – an American who lived in Shrewsbury and is currently awaiting sentence in the US – repeatedly crossed the Atlantic to purchase weapons to sell on to the criminal underworld for a huge profit. He broke the guns down to their component parts and smuggled them into... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Guardian (UK)
35529
India,Afghanistan,Iraq,Sierra Leone,South Africa,Saudi Arabia,United States,United Kingdom,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
'The Shadow World', an Incisive Exposé of the ArmsTrade - Book Review
1 November 2011
Telegraph (UK), Book review
If there is one book unlikely to appear on the Christmas reading lists of the former defence secretary Liam Fox and his self-professed adviser Adam Werritty, one suspects that this is it. The sorry case of Dr Fox and the mystery chum-cum-lobbyist amplifies what critics of the defence procurement industry – Feinstein prefers the racier "global arms trade" – have long argued. To put it mildly, and in a nutshell, it is not known for its transparency. Nor, for that... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Telegraph (UK)
35511
Scotland,United Kingdom
Scottish Gun Crime Decreased by 24% between 2009-10 and 2010-11
25 October 2011
BBC News
The total number of offences involving firearms recorded by police across Scotland decreased by 24% between 2009-10 and 2010-11.
There were 154 shootings in which people were killed or injured last year, a drop of 28%.
The justice minister praised the efforts of Scotland's police forces in getting guns off the streets.
Kenny MacAskill said: "The message appears to be getting across that guns put lives at risk and anyone caught using them can and will be punished... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: BBC News
35463
India,Spain,United Kingdom,Italy,Germany,France,Czech Republic,Bulgaria,Belgium,Austria,Yemen,Syria,Libya,Egypt,Bahrain,West Asia,North Africa,Europe,Russia,United States
Major Arms Exporters Accused of Mideast Gun Sales Before Human Rights
24 October 2011
al Jazeera
According to an Amnesty International report, the US, Russia and a number of European countries supplied large quantities of weapons to repressive governments in the Middle East and North Africa before this year's uprisings.
The report says that these arms deals were signed despite evidence of a substantial risk that they could be used to commit serious human rights violations.
The human rights group reports that in the five years preceding the Arab spring $2.4bn... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: al Jazeera
35448
United Kingdom,Lithuania,Ireland
Irish Man Accused of Real IRA Gun Running Found Guilty in Lithuania
21 October 2011
BBC News
An Irish man accused of involvement in weapons smuggling for the Real IRA in Lithuania has been found guilty and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Michael Campbell, 39, from County Louth was caught in an MI5 weapons sting operation in 2008.
He was convicted of supporting a terrorist group, illegal possession of weapons and attempted smuggling.
He denied the charges against him, saying MI5 had set him up and claiming he was a victim of entrapment.
His two-year trial... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: BBC News
35445
United States,United Kingdom
Gang Leaders Jailed for 24 Years for Smuggling Guns into UK from US
21 October 2011
Guardian (UK) / PA
Two ringleaders of a gang which smuggled guns into the UK from the United States have each been jailed for 24 years. Mohammed Tariq, 33, and Atique Arif, 32, were sentenced at Bradford crown court along with six other men who were sent to prison for up to 12 years. The gang imported guns concealed with electrical equipment including DVD players and portable radios. Police said they smuggled 13 firearms into the UK over a 12-month period. West Yorkshire police said the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Guardian (UK) / PA
35442
European Union,China,Germany,South Korea,Switzerland,Serbia,France,United Kingdom,Syria,Yemen,Bulgaria,Belgium,Libya,Italy,Bahrain,Egypt,United States,Russia,West Asia,North Africa,Finland,Austria,Sudan,North Korea,Spain
Tracing the Middle East Weapons Flow
19 October 2011
al Jazeera
Earlier this year, as mass popular uprisings spread through the Middle East and audiences across the world sat transfixed by images of unarmed citizens confronting iron-fisted security forces in the streets of Arab capitals, powerful governments from Russia to the United States were forced to begin accounting for the weapons they had for decades sold to the very rulers they now found themselves abandoning.
In Egypt and Bahrain, protesters held up tear gas canisters... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: al Jazeera
35436
Germany,France,Czech Republic,Bulgaria,United Kingdom,Belgium,Austria,Yemen,Syria,Libya,Egypt,Bahrain,North America,West Asia,North Africa,Europe,United States,Russia,Italy,Spain
Arab Spring Abuses Show Need for Arms Trade Curb - Amnesty
18 October 2011
Reuters (Africa)
LONDON - Russia, the United States and European countries ignored fears over human rights abuses and sold large numbers of weapons to governments in the Middle East and North Africa in recent years, Amnesty International said in a report on Wednesday.
Rights group Amnesty said the failings showed the need for a meaningful international arms trade treaty to choke off the supply of weapons to countries seen at risk of turning them on their own people.
"The Arab Spring... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Reuters (Africa)
35431
Norway,European Union
EU Votes for Control of Cross-Border Movement of Civilian Firearms
13 October 2011
EuroNews (France)
The European Parliament has approved new rules to control the cross-border movement of civilian firearms such as sports and hunting weapons.
The thinking behind the new export procedure is to keep track of weapons by introducing more transparency, and to fight illegal trafficking.
MEP Salvatore Iacolina from the European People's Party said: "What happened in Norway should not happen again. With these new rules we guarantee the simplification of the procedures,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: EuroNews (France)
35413
United Kingdom,Hungary
Machine Guns, Handguns for Brad Pitt Film Seized by Hungarian Police
11 October 2011
Washington Post / AP
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Nearly 100 weapons to be used in Brad Pitt's "World War Z" film were confiscated in Hungary because they had not been properly deactivated, authorities said Tuesday. The weapons included machine guns, rifles and pistols.
The weapons arrived from London to Budapest's Ferenc Liszt Airport on Saturday and were discovered at a nearby duty free zone, Janos Hajdu, head of Hungary's Counterterrorism Center, said. He said he could not confirm they were... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Washington Post / AP
35415
United States,United Kingdom
Handguns Smuggled into UK from US in Major Criminal Enterprise
11 October 2011
Yorkshire Post (UK)
Lethal handguns were smuggled into Yorkshire from the US in a major criminal enterprise which saw weapons dismantled and hidden in hollowed-out electrical goods.
Self-loading Glock pistols, normally used only by police, were bought in Texas and shipped to the region in an operation involving 15 Yorkshire-based conspirators, a court heard yesterday.
The group succeeded in smuggling 12 pistols into the country and wanted 18 in total, but the plot was foiled by a... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yorkshire Post (UK)
35390
Sweden,European Union,Netherlands,Finland
Murder in Finland, Sweden, Netherlands: Drunk Friends v Criminals - Study
6 October 2011
Helsingin Sanomat (Finland)
Finland rightly appears rather high on the statistics for violent crime in Europe, but as so often behind the statistical data there lie a number of caveats and a lot of small print.
There are, for instance, large differences between different EU nations when it comes to the reasons for homicides and the methods used in such crimes.
In Finland, a typical person to commit a homicide is a middle-aged heavy consumer of alcohol and the victim is his drunken contemporary.... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Helsingin Sanomat (Finland)
35379
United Kingdom,United States
Former US Marine Smuggled up to 80 Guns for UK Criminals - Court
5 October 2011
Guardian (UK)
Guns smuggled into the UK on commercial flights by a former US marine captain were used to carry out crimes on the streets of Britain, including a fatal shooting, a court was told.
Steven Greenoe, 37, bought weapons from American gun shops, broke them down to their component parts, and smuggled them into the UK in his luggage, Liverpool crown court heard on Wednesday.
Two British men were also said to have been involved in the alleged conspiracy: Steven Cardwell, 31,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Guardian (UK)
35376
Norway,Netherlands
Gun Licence Applicants May Have to Prove Mental Health in Netherlands
4 October 2011
Auburn Journal (California)
A majority of Members of the Netherlands Parliament are supporting a recommendation from the public security council that applicants for a gun ownership license prove they are psychologically healthy before they can obtain a license.
In the Netherlands gun ownership is not a right but a privilege, with hunting and target shooting the only two legitimate reasons for owning a gun. Self-defense is not considered a legitimate reason for owning a gun and only the police may... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Auburn Journal (California)
35367
United Kingdom
People Given Suspended Sentence in UK May Be Refused Gun Licence
4 October 2011
News and Star (UK)
People given suspended prison sentences might be refused a firearms licence following a report in the wake of the Derrick Bird shootings, the Home Office has said.
Bird, 52, shot dead 12 people and seriously injured 11 others after going on a rampage in west Cumbria on June 2, 2010. He then turned the gun on himself.
Last December, the Home Affairs Select Committee made a series of recommendations, saying current gun law was "a mess".
Responding, the Home Office said... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: News and Star (UK)
35366
United Kingdom
Gun Dealer Trapped After UK Police Set Up Fake Shop in Manchester
4 October 2011
Manchester Evening News (UK)
A gun dealer was trapped after police set up a fake shop selling combat clothing.
Undercover cops posed as shop workers who were looking for lethal weapons in the elaborate sting.
The store was set up after police became concerned at the number of firearms on the streets of Manchester.
After weeks at the store on Princess Road, Moss Side, a gang member customer introduced the plain clothes officers to Marc Billingham, who supplied them with two working guns, an air... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Manchester Evening News (UK)
35361
Nigeria,Bahrain,Saudi Arabia,United Kingdom
UN Estimate: 1 to 3 Million Automatic Guns in Civilian Hands in Nigeria
17 September 2011
Next (Nigeria), Opinion
Arms manufacturers and dealers are delighted when a new conflict breaks out.
Desert Storm was a fantastic business opportunity for arms manufacturers. Every round shot through the barrel of a gun was another "ching-ching" in the cash register.
They are not the only ones that benefit through conflict. The likes of Halliburton rejoice with every airstrike and artillery shell that destroys a building or some part of national infrastructure in a foreign country. Every bit... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Next (Nigeria)
35300
United Kingdom
UK Gangsters Get 400yrs for Pistol Factory, Drug & Gun Trafficking
12 September 2011
London Daily News (UK)
A group of 37 gun traders and drug suppliers have been sentenced to a total in excess of 400 years imprisonment following a successful Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) sting operation.
The men appeared at Wood Green Crown Court following an undercover initiative designed to target serious and organised crime in and around Enfield borough. The last sentencing took place on 9 September 2011.
Codenamed Operation Peyzac, the initiative involved detectives launching a... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: London Daily News (UK)
35269
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)
Read More: Guardian (UK)
35237
United Kingdom,France,Russia,Bahrain
Russia Ignores European Human Rights Embargo, Offers Guns to Bahrain
29 August 2011
Moscow Times / Bloomberg
Russia for the first time is selling weapons to Bahrain after Britain and France banned deliveries of security equipment to the Gulf monarchy because of its crackdown on protesters.
State arms trader Rosoboronexport says it wants more business in Bahrain. The country is selling AK-103 Kalashnikovs with grenade launchers and ammunition for tens of millions of dollars to Bahrain, according to a person close to the Russian Defense Ministry who declined to be identified... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Moscow Times / Bloomberg
35224
Estonia,Norway
After Norway Attacks, Estonia Considers Reviewing Its Firearm Laws
18 August 2011
ERR Estonian Public Broadcasting (Tallinn)
In the wake of the attack by lone gunman at the Defense Ministry and the tragedy in Norway, Estonia is considering reviewing the country's firearms laws, which are fairly restrictive but do currently allow those with gun permits to purchase semiautomatic versions of deadly assault rifles.
As of the end of July, there were about 58,000 guns in Estonia in civil commerce, 40,000 of which are hunting weapons.
Gun shop proprietor and sportsman Martin Bahovski says that... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: ERR Estonian Public Broadcasting (Tallinn)
35206
United States,United Kingdom,Australia
UK Rioting Proves that Gun Control Is Not Crime Control
16 August 2011
Menzies House (Australia)
Peter Whelan demonstrates how gun control leads to greater crime as law-abiding citizens are no longer allowed to defend themselves:
"Armed shopkeepers fight back" (headline in Sydney Morning Herald Aug 11, 2011)
The comment from the manager of the Turkish Food Market, Greens Lane, Haringey, during last week's London riots, as reported by the Guardian News and Media Service, said it all. "I'm scared that the police and the government will attack us if we defend our... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Menzies House (Australia)
35203
Sweden,Iceland,Denmark,Finland,Norway
Nordic Countries Set Sights on Stricter Gun Control after Norway Attacks
16 August 2011
Agence France Presse
STOCKHOLM — In the Nordic countries, where hunting is popular and firearms are plentiful, the twin July 22 attacks that killed 77 people in Norway have spurred lawmakers to consider tighter gun laws.
But change will not come without resistance in a region where hunting is viewed by many as a cultural heritage passed down from Viking ancestors, and sport shooting is a favourite pastime.
Finland, which has one of the world's highest gun ownership rates at 1.5 million... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Agence France Presse
35198
United States,Canada,Norway
Lack of Guns Makes Riots Safer in London Than in Los Angeles
15 August 2011
Economist, Blog
To an American visiting London, one of the more striking aspects of last week's riots was how few people died. Not including the police shooting death that touched off the original disturbance, five deaths have been attributed to the riots and looting. By contrast, 53 people died in the rioting that followed the acquittal of police officers in the beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles in 1992.
At least part, if not most, of the difference is down to the fact that... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Economist
35207
Norway,Estonia
Estonia Reports Shooting at Defence Ministry
11 August 2011
Associated Press
TALLINN, Estonia — A gunman armed with explosives entered Estonia's Defense Ministry on Thursday and opened fire, but police stormed the building and killed him, officials said. No one else was hurt.
Many employees were seen escaping from first-floor windows as the gunman detonated a smoke bomb and fired shots in the central Tallinn building.
Defense Minister Mart Laar said authorities should investigate whether the assailant had been partially motivated by the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
35181
Norway,United States
Norway Killings Show Gun Control Only Affects Law Abiding Shooters
6 August 2011
New Jersey Local News, Opinion
Gun control results in giving control of guns to those who should never have them. The most recent, horrific example is in Norway, where last month a crazed citizen methodically killed 76 people. Everyone ran, including the unarmed police. The shooter, Anders Behring Breivik, acted as judge, jury and executioner — unopposed.
The unarmed citizens of Norway, where gun control prevails, assumed an incident of this nature would not — could not — occur. But the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: New Jersey Local News
35167
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)
Read More: Embassy Magazine (Canada)
35160
Denmark,European Union,United States,Norway
Police Call for Stricter Gun Control in Norway
2 August 2011
Views and News from Norway
Calls are going out for stricter gun regulation and changes to the Norwegian criminal code after the terrorist attacks on Oslo and Utøya, with police, politicians and academics welcoming a debate. When such a debate will be able to occur is more uncertain, with the American police chief in charge of the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombings warning Norwegians not to be overly critical of police or emergency services at this early stage.
The police have expressed a... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Views and News from Norway
35153
United Kingdom
UK Home Secretary Accused of Resisting Calls to Tighten Gun Laws
2 August 2011
Independent (UK)
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, was accused last night of resisting calls to tighten gun laws following the shooting spree of Derrick Bird in which 12 people were murdered.
A report by MPs more than seven months ago denounced the legislation in England and Wales as a "complex and confused" mess and condemned the loopholes that allowed convicted criminals to acquire firearms legally.
Ms May is yet to respond to demand for action by the Commons Home Affairs Select... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Independent (UK)
35150
United States,Norway,United Kingdom,Africa,Afghanistan,Mexico
Gun Trade Inevitably Leads to the Sort of Atrocity Inflicted on Norway
31 July 2011
Independent (UK), Opinion
In discussion of the atrocity in Norway last week, there is one subject which has been notable by the almost total silence about it: guns. In response to recurring massacres in American high schools and British villages, in response to footage from Africa and Afghanistan showing ragged, untrained young men brandishing automatic small arms, in response to a man coolly murdering dozens of youngsters in an hour-and-a-half, funfair-like shooting spree on a Norwegian island,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Independent (UK)
35146
Norway,Canada
Gun Control in Canada: Crime and the Long-gun Registry
30 July 2011
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
MONTREAL - There are two basic crime scenes when it comes to gun violence in Canada. One involves weapons that are traceable - sometimes using the $1 billion long-gun registry that is likely to be scrapped by the Conservative government this fall, as promised. The other - far more common - involves guns that are not traceable because they are not registered, the registration number was erased or the guns used to kill are never found.
The looming question as MPs get set... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Montreal Gazette (Québec)
35148
Norway,United States
Maker of Norway Massacre Gun Donates $280,000 to US Gun Lobby
29 July 2011
Sturm, Ruger (USA), Media release
SOUTHPORT, Connecticut -- Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to announce that it has donated $279,600.00 to the NRA as part of Ruger's "Million Gun Challenge to Benefit the NRA" campaign.
Ruger is trying to make history by selling one million firearms to the commercial market in a 12-month period, and is pledging to give the NRA one dollar for every gun sold during that time period with the goal of donating $1,000,000.
At the close of the first quarter... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Sturm, Ruger (USA)
35147
United States,Norway
US Gun Control Activists Call for New Firearm Laws after Norway Massacre
28 July 2011
CBS News (USA)
Anti-gun violence activists in the U.S. are renewing their push for new gun laws in the wake of the revelation that the alleged Norway shooter claims to have purchased high-capacity ammunition magazines from a United States retailer.
Anders Behring Breivik, the alleged lone-wolf terrorist accused of shooting and killing 68 people at a youth camp in Norway and killing eight in an Oslo bombing last week, details purchasing the ammunition in his 1,500-page... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: CBS News (USA)
35142
United States,Norway
Norway Shooter's Ruger Mini-14: Very Popular, 'Poor Man's Assault Rifle'
27 July 2011
Huffington Post (USA), Blog
The attack in Norway by Anders Behring Breivik, apparently involving a Ruger Mini-14 assault rifle, is only the most horrific of the mass shootings involving the company's products.
Founded in 1949, the "corporate motto" of Sturm, Ruger & Co. is "Arms Makers for Responsible Citizens." But Sturm, Ruger firearms are also often found in the hands of mass shooters: last year's attack at a Connecticut beer distributor, leaving eight victims dead and two wounded; the 1999... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Huffington Post (USA)
35140
Norway
Norway's Gun Tradition Unshaken, Strong Gun Control Laws Supported
27 July 2011
South African Press Association / AFP
OSLO - Last week's massacre has shaken Norway to its core but will not stop 4000 shooters from competing at an event within days of the tragedy, speaking volumes about the nation's special relationship with guns.
The fact that the country has more than one firearm for every five people stems from the enormous popularity of hunting and means there have been few calls for new laws after a lone gunman shot dead 68 people on an island on Friday.
The tragedy's impact on... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: South African Press Association / AFP
35130
Iceland,United Kingdom,Norway
Norway Mass Shooting: Police Preparedness, Delays Questioned [Francais]
26 July 2011
Le Monde (France)
[Translated summary: The Norwegian Police intervention in the attacks of July 22 is questioned. Succession of contretemps, an unarmed police officer on the island, the authorisation to carry firearms, or the rise of criminality?]
Quand un homme vêtu d'un uniforme policier et muni de deux armes à feu commence à tirer sur l'île norvégienne d'Utoya, où se trouvent 600 jeunes réunis pour le camp d'été du Parti travailliste, personne ne se méfie. Il est alors 17... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Le Monde (France)
35128
Belgium,Norway
Would Belgian Gun Law Prevent a Norway-style Shooting? [Francais]
26 July 2011
RTBF (Belgium)
[Translated summary: Lawfully acquire a weapon of war in order to commit a massacre as in Norway raises questions. Would the new Belgian legislation on firearms have prevented such tragedy for us?]
Se procurer une arme de guerre en toute légalité pour commettre un massacre comme en Norvège, pose question. La nouvelle législation belge sur les armes aurait-elle permis d'éviter un tel drame chez nous ?
Les conditions de base
La majorité des clients des armureries... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: RTBF (Belgium)
35121
United States,Norway,Australia
Australian Gun Control Group Renews Its Call for Semi-auto Handgun Ban
26 July 2011
Herald Sun (Melbourne) / AAP
The National Coalition for Gun Control has renewed its call for a ban on semi-automatic handguns after the Norway massacre.
Coalition co-convenor Samantha Lee said semi-automatic longarms were deemed too dangerous and banned in 1996 after the Port Arthur massacre in which Martin Bryant shot dead 35 people.
But semi-automatic handguns remain available to sporting shooters.
"It only takes one person with a high-powered semi-automatic firearm and access to lots of... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Herald Sun (Melbourne) / AAP
35114
Norway
Norway Shootings: Police Revise Bomb Death Toll to 8, Gun Deaths to 68
26 July 2011
Telegraph (UK)
Norwegian police revised down the death toll from Friday's bomb and shooting attack to 76 people from a previous estimate of 93, citing difficulties in gathering information at Utoeya island, where the shooting spree occurred.
Police told a news conference on Monday the confirmed death toll at Otoeya now stands at 68. At the same time people killed in the bomb attack was raised to eight.
"This figure of 68 is a decrease compared to earlier numbers of deaths given,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Telegraph (UK)
35110
Sweden,Iceland,United Kingdom,Norway
Unsettling Wariness In Norway, Where Police Are Rarely Armed
25 July 2011
New York Times
OSLO — When a man dressed in a police uniform began slaughtering young people at a Norwegian summer camp last week, one of the first to be killed was a real police officer named Trond Berntsen, who for years had worked in security at the camp.
Whether Officer Berntsen tried to stop the gunman is still being debated. But facing a man carrying multiple guns and ample ammunition, there was little he could do. Like most other police officers here, he had no weapon.
By... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: New York Times
35125
Australia,Norway
Norway Shooting Should Force Semi-auto Handgun Ban - Australian Greens
25 July 2011
News.com (Australia) / AAP
The shooting spree in Norway should force Australia to ban semi-automatic handguns, Greens leader Bob Brown says.
More than 80 people were killed and scores more injured when a lone gunman opened fire on a Labour Party youth meeting on the island of Utoeya, near the Norwegian capital Oslo.
Senator Brown said reports the killer had used a semi-automatic handgun should force a re-think of Australia's laws.
"These would not necessarily be prohibited in Australia," he... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: News.com (Australia) / AAP
35117
Pakistan,South Asia,China,United States,United Kingdom,Germany,France,India,Nepal
Global Gun Trade Treaty the Only Way to Control 'Arms Bazaar'
25 July 2011
República (Kathmandu), Opinion
In 2009, I recall visiting a militant camp in India's North East a day before they would surrender. The deputy commander who was in charge and allegedly responsible for the death of at least 200 people brandished his M16 assault rifle and flaunted his bodyguard who was following him with a rocket launcher. He was calm but shifty-eyed and admitted having a personal saving of a few billion INR in his account. Barely 24 hours after his formal surrender, he was in seen in... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: República (Kathmandu)
35116
Norway,Sweden
Sweden's Gun Laws Would Have Stopped Norway Killer: Police
25 July 2011
Local (Stockholm)
In Sweden, a person like Anders Behring Breivik wouldn't have been allowed an automatic weapon, according to Swedish police.
By law, licenses for automatic weapons can only be issued if there are extraordinary reasons. Among other things, the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) must justify the possession.
Breivik, the suspected mass murderer, wrote in his application that the reason he was applying for an automatic weapon license was to hunt deer.
"It wouldn't... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Local (Stockholm)
35113
Norway,United States
US Gun Control Activists Mourn Norway Victims
25 July 2011
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A leading US group which has long pressed for tougher gun control laws in America Monday said the massacre in Norway was a tragic reminder that "guns are the enablers of mass killers."
The Brady Campaign, set up three decades ago to work to cut the number of gun deaths and injuries in the United States, said it "joins the world in mourning the horrific loss of life in the Norway terrorist attacks."
"The staggering toll of young lives taken by a gunman... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
35112
Norway,Philippines
Stricter Gun Control in Philippines Could Prevent Norway-type Shooting
25 July 2011
Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - A senior military officer reminded the people yesterday that the enforcement of laws against illegal firearms and the vigilance of citizens are needed to prevent violent incidents similar to those that claimed the lives of more than 90 people in Norway last Saturday.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy chief for operations Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said public vigilance would complement the efforts of the security forces.
"Two... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Philippine Star
35109
Norway
Norway's Mass Killer Used Special Bullets for Maximum Damage: Surgeon
25 July 2011
Associated Press
The gunman who slaughtered dozens of campers at a Norwegian island retreat used special bullets designed to disintegrate inside the body and cause maximum internal damage, the chief surgeon at a hospital treating victims said.
Colin Poole, head of surgery at Ringriket Hospital in Honefoss northwest of Oslo, said surgeons treating 16 gunshot victims have recovered only tiny fragments on bullets from victims' bodies, adding that the exit wounds were unusually small and... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
35100
Poland,Norway
Norway Mass Killer Tried Smuggling, Then Bought His Guns Legally Instead
24 July 2011
Financial Times (UK)
The Nordic countries' hunting traditions mean that there is a high rate of gun ownership in Norway, where locals – and tourists - often go out to the woods to hunt wild reindeer, moose, deer, hare and grouse.
About 439,000 Norwegians are recognised by the Norwegian Register of Hunters, or about one in every 10 citizens. However, most have licences for bolt-action rifles and shotguns, with a smattering of semi-automatic weapons, and ownership of heavier weapons and... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Financial Times (UK)
35102
Finland
In Wake of Oslo, Finland Advances Meeting to Reconsider Its Gun Laws
24 July 2011
YLE (Finland)
Finland's gun laws are to be reviewed in the wake of Friday's massacre in Norway. An Interior Ministry steering group will meet early in the week to look at pending firearms legislation.
Acting National Police Chief Pentti Saira told YLE on Saturday that Friday's attacks in Norway have given new impetus to moving ahead with changes to gun laws.
"The programme of the new government includes a second package of firearms legislation which is now under preparation. There... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: YLE (Finland)
35101
Norway
In Norway Gun Ownership is Common; Violence and Homicide Are Not
23 July 2011
Los Angeles Times
The shooting rampage that left at least 85 dead at a youth camp near Oslo stunned Norway, a nation of about 4.9 million residents who are far less accustomed to gun violence than the U.S.
Authorities have described the 32-year-old man arrested in connection with the shootings, as well as a bombing in downtown Oslo that left at least seven others dead, as a far-right Christian fundamentalist. A chilling manifesto attributed to the suspect, Anders Behring Breivik, that... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Los Angeles Times
35099
Norway
Worst-ever Mass Shooting Killer Licensed Gun Owner, Gun Club Member
23 July 2011
CNN
As Norway struggles to come to terms with its greatest loss of life in decades, all eyes are on the man charged in the explosion in central Oslo and the deadly shooting rampage at a youth camp.
While police have not officially named him, Norwegian television and newspaper reports have identified the suspect as 32-year-old Anders Behring Breivik, of Norwegian origin.
A picture is emerging, gleaned from official sources and social media, of a right-wing Christian... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: CNN
35098
United Kingdom,Scotland
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)
Read More: BBC News
35092
France,Qatar,United Kingdom,Libya,Russia,Italy
Small Arms Seized by Italy Gone Missing, Libya Likely Destination
20 July 2011
Scotsman (Edinburgh)
A shipment of weapons seized by the Italian navy following a tip-off from British secret agents has gone missing - most likely ending up in the hands of Libya's rebels.
The haul, which was described by one military expert as "enough to start and win a small war", included 400 anti-tank missiles and 50 launchers for them; 30,000 AK47s; 5,000 Katusha rockets; 11,000 anti-tank rockets and 32 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
All of the Russian-made weapons were... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Scotsman (Edinburgh)
35083
Israel,United Kingdom,Russia,France,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,China,United States
Productive Negotiations at the UN on Arms Trade Treaty [Francais]
18 July 2011
Courrier du Vietnam / AFP
[Translated summary: Member States of the UN "made significant progress" during the week of negotiations in New York for the adoption in July 2012 of the Arms Trade Treaty, said on July 15 Eric Danon, representative of France in the negotiations.]
Les États membres de l'ONU ont "beaucoup progressé" pendant une semaine de négociations à New York en vue de l'adoption en juillet 2012 d'un traité sur le commerce des armes, a déclaré le 15 juillet Eric Danon,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Courrier du Vietnam / AFP
35078
United States,European Union,United Kingdom,Germany,France,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
Skepticism, Caution as UN 'Stumbles' Toward Global Gun Trade Treaty
14 July 2011
Inter Press Service News Agency
UNITED NATIONS - After six years of protracted negotiations, a largely sceptical international community is moving towards readying a long outstanding global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) for signature by July next year.
"Governments have made a tremendous amount of progress toward this important treaty," Dr. Natalie Goldring, a senior research fellow at the Center for Peace and Security Studies of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, told... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Inter Press Service News Agency
35111
European Union,Bulgaria,Russia,West Africa,Pakistan,France,Australia,United Kingdom,Canada,Germany,Italy,United States,Haiti,Côte d'Ivoire,Madagascar
Study Finds Small Arms Have Serious Impact on Fragile States
6 July 2011
Voice of America
A new study finds the global authorized trade in small arms, light weapons, and their ammunition is worth nearly $7.1 billion a year. In its annual report, the independent think tank, the Geneva Forum, also examines the serious impact small arms proliferation is having upon three so-called fragile states-Madagascar, Ivory Coast and Haiti.
Arms exporters
The survey finds in 2008, the United States, Italy and Germany topped the list of 14 top exporters of small arms... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Voice of America
35022
United Kingdom,United States,Ireland
List of Northern Ireland's Decommissioned Guns Will Be Kept Secret
4 July 2011
Guardian (UK)
The inventory of every gun, bullet, rocket launcher, grenade and explosive put beyond use by the IRA and loyalist paramilitaries will not be made public, the body that oversaw the disarmament process in Northern Ireland has said.
In the final report of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, it said files on the weapons and explosives decommissioned by the paramilitary organisations will instead be held by the US state department in... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Guardian (UK)
35016
United Kingdom,United States,Europe,India,China,Russia,Libya,France
France Air-dropped Guns to Libyan Civilians: In Breach of Arms Embargo?
30 June 2011
Le Point (France) / Reuters
[Translated summary: France acknowledged that it airlifted small arms to Libyan civilians fighting Moammar Gadhafi's forces in a besieged mountain region south of Tripoli. Critics say that this is against the UN arms embargo].
NEW YORK, PARIS - La France a défendu sa décision de parachuter des armes aux insurgés libyens, une opération à laquelle l'Otan n'a pas été associée et qui suscite jeudi une controverse, les Nations unies ayant imposé en février un... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Le Point (France) / Reuters
35000
Finland
Tougher Gun Laws Go into Effect in Finland after Shootings
13 June 2011
univision.com / AFP
Tougher hand gun laws went into effect in Finland Monday, after being pushed through parliament amid outrage over two recent school massacres and a shopping centre shooting spree.
The new legislation raises the minimum age for a handgun permit from 18 to 20 years of age, requires applicants to be trained by a police-approved instructor at a gun club, and obliges medical and military personnel to report anyone they feel is mentally or socially unsuitable to own a... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: univision.com / AFP
34923
United Kingdom
UK MPs Condemned Judges of 'Resisting' Tough Penalty for Gun Crimes
8 June 2011
Sun (UK)
FURIOUS MPs condemned judges last night for giving less than the "minimum" sentence for hundreds of firearms crimes.
Former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett - who brought in five-year compulsory terms for carrying a gun - accused the judiciary of "resisting" tough punishments.
Other MPs, backing The Sun's No to Soft Justice campaign, hit out at judges for being a law unto themselves.
Compulsory minimum sentences are meant to guarantee that serious criminals... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Sun (UK)
34909
United Kingdom,Canada
Is Your Ex Fit to Own a Gun? British Police Plan to Ask Former Partners
1 May 2011
Daily Mail (UK)
Police will question the former partners of gun licence applicants about their mental stability under a proposed tightening of the law.
Former wives, girlfriends, husbands and boyfriends will be asked if the applicant has ever displayed violent traits or personality flaws.
If they say yes, officers will use their answers as grounds to reject the licence bid.
The move comes in response to last year's horrific killing spree in Cumbria by taxi driver Derrick Bird, 52,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Daily Mail (UK)
35051
United States,United Kingdom
British Immigrant Sues Massachusetts Police for Right to Possess Guns
20 April 2011
Associated Press
NORTHBOROUGH - A Northborough man and two gun rights groups have sued the town police chief and the head of the state Firearms Records Bureau in federal court, claiming a state law that bars legal immigrants from owning handguns is unconstitutional.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court on Friday, says Eoin Pryal was denied an application for a license to carry a handgun by Northborough police because he is not a U.S. citizen, but a permanent resident alien from the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
34703
Ireland
Medical Checks for Gun Licence Applicants Lack Clarity, Say Irish Doctors
20 April 2011
RTÉ (Dublin)
A group of doctors are calling on the Department of Justice and Equality to cease issuing gun licences until medical checks for applicants are clarified and agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation.
A GP in Mayo and former IMO president Dr Ken Egan is supporting a motion tabled for the organisation's annual meeting next week, calling for clear medical assessment criteria.
He said this was important given the increase in suicides and other incidents.
To be eligible... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: RTÉ (Dublin)
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