Gun Policy News
Firearm violence, gun control and small arms
Yemen,Argentina,Costa Rica,Libya,Germany,United States,Brazil,Paraguay,Austria
Most Brazilian Guns Exported to US
29 April 2013
Folha de Sao Paulo
BRASILIA - The U.S., currently discussing restrictions on the sale of firearms, purchased 7.9 million guns from Brazil in the past 40 years, and 59% of those were exported during the Lula administration (2003-2010).
That is the result of a new study by the Army Command to which Folha had access through the Access to Information Act, with a detailed record of the sellers and buyers of 9.9 million revolvers, pistols, rifles and shotguns, among other weapons, exported... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Folha de Sao Paulo
37390
Yemen,England & Wales,United States,Macedonia,Croatia,Slovenia,Kosovo,Bosnia & Herzegovina,Montenegro,Serbia
Citizens in Former Yugoslavia 'Traumatised and Heavily Armed'
10 April 2013
Washington Post
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — The wars from 1991 to 1999 as Yugoslavia broke up took up to 200,000 lives, turned millions into refugees and left much of the region's people traumatized and heavily armed. It was the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II.
The millions of weapons that remained in possession of civilians after the fighting have caused fatalities every week, as traumatized former soldiers either shoot family members or commit suicide or... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Washington Post
37301
Africa,Americas,Asia,Europe,Oceania,United States,Russia,Italy,Germany,Brazil,Switzerland,Israel,Austria,South Korea,Belgium,Spain,Turkey,Norway,Canada,United Kingdom,Australia,France,Pakistan,Yemen,Honduras,El Salvador,Jamaica
Fact and Figures: Global Trade in Small Arms
18 March 2013
al Jazeera
Diplomats from around the world have gathered at the UN for talks on an international arms trade treaty, in an effort to stop the sale of illegal conventional arms.
Similar talks held last July failed, mainly due to the objections of the US and Russia, the world's two largest arms exporters.
Al Jazeera has compiled a list of facts related to the global production and trading of small arms.
1. Authorised international transfers of small arms, light weapons, their... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: al Jazeera
37196
Sweden,Uruguay,Finland,Iraq,Saudi Arabia,Cyprus,Switzerland,Yemen,Serbia,United States
10 Nations with Highest Gun Ownership
12 March 2013
SiliconIndia
Bangalore: "Force and mind are opposites; morality ends where a gun begins," said novelist Ayn Rand. In an era where the misuse of guns and ammunitions are leading to massacres, it is no more a place of nonviolence. Arms and ammunitions leave bitter memories and scar the human race for ages to come. Here are the 10 countries with highest gun ownership, as listed by yahoo.com.
USA:
USA tops the list of countries with highest gun ownership and this no surprise! The... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: SiliconIndia
37179
Yemen
Yemen Plans Stricter Enforcement of Ban on Gun Carrying in Public
5 March 2013
Al Bawaba (Jordan)
The Interior Ministry ordered security authorities to enforce a public weapons carrying ban in the capital city on Saturday.
The ban is actually a part of a 1992 firearms organizational law that has been loosely enforced.
The law stipulates a ban on carrying firearms unless permitted by concerned authorities.
Following a year of increased assassinations, officials say the plan to implement the ban is in line with a larger security campaign that has been beefed up... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Al Bawaba (Jordan)
37142
Yemen
Yemeni Culture a Barrier to Gun Control
12 February 2013
Atlantic (USA)
SANA'A, Yemen - With shops lining the main road and hard bargaining merchants abounding, Jihana appears to be your average Yemeni market. But instead of shopping for food or clothes, customers peruse a vast assortment of glocks, pistols, AK47s, M16s, anti-aircraft artillery, bazookas, and nearly any other weapon short of an actual tank.
"In Yemen, no matter if you're rich or poor, you must have guns. Even if it's just one piece," insists Abdul Wahab al-Ammari, a tribal... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Atlantic (USA)
37058
Iran,Yemen,North Korea,Libya,Somalia,Africa
UN Monitors See Weapons in Somalia From Yemen, Iran
10 February 2013
Reuters
As the United States pushes for an end to the U.N. arms embargo on Somalia, U.N. monitors are reporting that Islamist militants in the Horn of Africa nation are receiving arms from distribution networks linked to Yemen and Iran, diplomats told Reuters.
The U.N. Security Council's sanctions monitoring team's concerns about Iranian and Yemeni links to arms supplies for al Shabaab militants come as Yemen is asking Tehran to stop backing armed groups on Yemeni soil. Last... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Reuters
37046
Yemen,France,United States,Switzerland
Three Dead, Two Injured in Swiss Shooting
8 February 2013
Washington Post
DAILLON, Switzerland — On Jan. 3, the day Sandy Hook Elementary students returned to school in Newtown, Conn., Florian Berthouzoz leaned out his window and opened fire on this tranquil Swiss village with an old military carbine and a 12-gauge shotgun.
By the time he finished shooting, three women were killed, apparently at random, and two men were wounded. Berthouzoz was brought down by a police officer's bullet in the chest.
The shooting in Daillon, on a steep... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Washington Post
37043
Yemen,Saudi Arabia
Saudi Border Guards Seize Hundreds of Smuggled Weapons
26 January 2013
Yahoo! Maktoob News
Saudi Border Guards in Jazan province foiled numerous attempts to smuggle weapons and ammunition in addition to liquor and narcotics into the Kingdom from Yemen over the last two months, spokesman of the Border Guards in Jazan Col. Abdullah Mahfouz said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.
"The Border Guards seized 308 weapons of various types, 13,051 rounds of live ammunition, 19 bottles of liquor and 78 narcotic tablets, 403,562 kg of hashish and 1,775... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yahoo! Maktoob News
36996
England & Wales,Djibouti,Sri Lanka,Yemen,Somalia,European Union
British Authorities Question Legality, Security of 'Floating' Gun Armouries
10 January 2013
Guardian (UK)
Private security companies guarding ships against Somali pirates are increasingly storing their weapons on so-called "floating armouries" in international waters, to avoid arms smuggling laws when they dock in ports.
About 20 ships stocked with assault rifles and other small arms as well as ammunition, body armour and night vision goggles are scattered around the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, the EU naval force has confirmed.
The legal status of... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Guardian (UK)
36926
Russia,Ukraine,Kenya,East Africa,European Union,Israel,Libya,Yemen,Ethiopia,United States,Somalia
Special Investigation: Lack of Gun Treaty Fuels Kenyan Smuggling Trade
9 January 2013
Star (Kenya)
Whether looking after his herd of cattle or taking them to the watering point, Boru hardly leaves his AK47 behind. He lives in the outskirts of Gambella village, a few kilometres from Isiolo town.
"It has become like a stick for me. I carry it around and my enemies fear me. It gives me more power than I had before I acquired it," Boru said.
Taking cover from the scorching sun under the shade of an old acacia tree, Boru, a father of three, told the Star he bought his... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Star (Kenya)
36922
Yemen
Yemeni Authorities Seize Guns, Motorbikes After Hit-and-Run Killings
7 January 2013
Al Arabiya News (Dubai) / Agence France Presse
SANAA, Yemen - Yemeni authorities impounded 500 illegal motorbikes in a three-day campaign to put an end to hit-and-run shootings which killed dozens of security officers last year, officials said on Monday.
"The campaign has succeeded in stopping 500 unlicensed motorbikes and 72 cars without number plates, some of which are suspected to have been used in assassinations," an interior ministry report said, adding that 50 weapons such as Kalashnikovs and other firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Al Arabiya News (Dubai) / Agence France Presse
36915
United Kingdom,Finland,Colombia,Mexico,Western Europe,Australia,Yemen,Canada,New Zealand,United States
On Guns and Gun Law, America an Outlier Among Developed Nations
20 December 2012
Huffington Post (USA)
How freely do guns flow in the United States compared with the world's other industrialized countries?
According to GunPolicy.org, run by Philip Alpers, a firearms analyst at The University of Sydney, the United States is unusual with what Alpers described as the "two pillars" of gun control: licensing gun owners and registering weapons.
"You are basically the only country in the developed world that doesn't license gun owners across the board and you are almost alone... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Huffington Post (USA)
36858
Yemen,Norway,Switzerland,Canada,Germany,Spain,Finland,United States,United Kingdom,Australia
Homicides Down after Tougher Gun Laws Adopted Abroad
19 December 2012
Los Angeles Times
Twelve days after the worst mass murder in Australian history, when 35 people were shot to death at Tasmania state's Port Arthur tourist mecca in 1996, the government issued sweeping reforms of the country's gun laws. There hasn't been a mass shooting since, and suicides, deaths by firearms and robberies at gunpoint have plummeted.
The results of toughened gun rules in Britain after the massacre in the Scottish town of Dunblane that same year weren't so immediate or... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Los Angeles Times
36841
Tunisia,Egypt,Qatar,United Arab Emirates,Kuwait,Bahrain,Oman,Iraq,Saudi Arabia,Yemen,Iran,United States
How US, Middle East Gun Laws Measure Up
19 December 2012
Al Arabiya (Dubai)
The fatal Dec. 14 shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut which claimed the lives of 28 people, including 20 innocent children under 10 once again brought to light the dilemma of gun ownership in the United States and despite the fact that it received no response from the gun rights advocates but a deafening silence, laid emphasis on the necessity for the United States to revise its gun policies.
The shooting rampage, in which a mentally... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Al Arabiya (Dubai)
36840
United Kingdom,Yemen,Egypt
Egypt Officials Let British Man with 'Bags Full of Weapons' Get on Plane
9 September 2012
Press TV (Egypt)
Officials at Cairo International Airport have surprisingly allowed a British man carrying four bags full of weapons to get on an airliner bound for the Yemeni capital Sana'a.
Metal detectors and X-ray scanners at the airport showed that the Briton had a large quantity of armaments, ranging from sniper rifles to ammunition, in his luggage, the Aden Press news website reported.
Although the security forces were immediately notified about the contents of the bags, the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Press TV (Egypt)
36542
Yemen
Tampering With Guns Results in Hundreds of Casualties in Yemen
2 August 2012
Yemen Observer
Abdulkhaleq, 8-year-old child, was killed last Wednesday when he was tampering with Russian-made pistol in his district of al-Qaflah, Amran governorate. According to the police, the bullet lodged in his head and died on the spot.
In another accident, an 8-year-old child killed his father during his tampering with a machine gun in his home in Sabwah governorate.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the bullet launched from his fathers' gun that the child was playing... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Observer
36422
United States,Yemen,Africa,Americas,Asia,Europe,Oceania
Time to Face Facts on Gun Control - Fareed Zakaria, CNN
27 July 2012
CNN, Blog
It has now been just over a week since a lone gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado. The airwaves have been dominated by soul searching.
Most of the pundits have concluded that the main cause of this calamity is the dark, strange behavior of the gunman. Talking about anything else, they say, is silly. The New York Times' usually extremely wise columnist, David Brooks, explains that this is a problem of psychology, not sociology.
At one level, this makes... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: CNN
36399
Tunisia,Yemen,United States,Japan
Land Without Guns: How Japan Has Virtually Eliminated Firearm Deaths
23 July 2012
Atlantic (USA)
I've heard it said that, if you take a walk around Waikiki, it's only a matter of time until someone hands you a flyer of scantily clad women clutching handguns, overlaid with English and maybe Japanese text advertising one of the many local shooting ranges. The city's largest, the Royal Hawaiian Shooting Club, advertises instructors fluent in Japanese, which is also the default language of its website. For years, this peculiar Hawaiian industry has explicitly targeted... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Atlantic (USA)
36376
Sierra Leone,Yemen,Syria,Algeria,Iran,Somalia,China,Belarus,Italy,Germany,Bulgaria,Austria,Russia,Tunisia,United Kingdom,United States,Qatar,Sudan,Africa,Libya,Egypt,France
An Arms Buyback for Libya? – Analysis
9 June 2012
Eurasia Review (EU/Asia)
The Libyan civil war of early 2011 was one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history, with an estimated 30,000 killed and 50,000 injured. While Muammar Gaddafi's death marked a watershed moment in Libyan history, the months of frenzied violence that preceded it saw a massive buildup of arms and munitions in the country. In the months leading up to and after his fall, Gaddafi's arms warehouses all across the country became unsecured; such was the level of... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Eurasia Review (EU/Asia)
36228
Yemen
4,000 Gun Deaths in Yemen Mark 'Drastic Increase' in Armed Violence
3 April 2012
United Press International
SANAA, Yemen (UPI) -- Yemen's Interior Ministry says more than 4,000 Yemenis have been killed by drastically increased gun violence in the last two years.
In a statement posted to the Ministry's website in February, the ministry warned armed violence was holding Yemen back, Bikyamasr.com reported.
"Widespread weapons in the country as we have seen threaten security and stability in the society…increasing the crimes within the country such as killing, kidnapping,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: United Press International
35976
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
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
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
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
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
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
Iran,Yemen,Turkey,Libya,Iraq,Lebanon,Syria
Syria's Alawites Go on Arms Shopping Spree
16 October 2011
Jerusalem Post (Israel)
Small arms are increasingly in demand inside volatile Syria, particularly among the country's Alawite minority, who fear they may face retaliation over the revolt against their co-religionist, President Bashar Assad.
Most of the weapons are being smuggled in from Lebanon, once an end user of small arms during the country's 15-year civil war that ended in 1990. Today, Lebanon is overflowing with automatic weapons, grenades and hunting rifles, all of which are in demand... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Jerusalem Post (Israel)
35420
Eritrea,Yemen,Somalia
Arms Smuggling Rife in Somalia Despite UN Embargo, Claims Report
11 August 2011
Africa Review
Arms are still being smuggled into Somalia despite a United Nations embargo, a report released by an international security think tank yesterday indicates.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) arms continue to be illegally brought in from Yemen into Somalia as imports which end up with Somali opposition and criminal groups.
"Arms purchases by opposition groups have reportedly been facilitated by financing from Eritrea, private... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Africa Review
35179
Morocco,Algeria,Syria,Tunisia,Egypt,Yemen,Bahrain,Libya,United Kingdom
Lawmakers Report Says Britain Misjudged Its Middle East Gun Sales
5 April 2011
Associated Press
LONDON, United Kingdom - British lawmakers issued a critical report Tuesday showing that Britain approved sales of shotguns and tear gas to Libya, machine guns and sniper rifles to Bahrain and military technology to Yemen over the last three years.
Parliament's foreign affairs, defense, international development and business committees said in a joint report that ministers failed to consider the implications of weapons sales to the Middle East and elsewhere.
"Both the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
34635
West Asia,United Arab Emirates,Egypt,Yemen,Turkey
Turkey Probes 'Unauthorised' Shipment of 16,000 Handguns to Yemen
25 March 2011
Associated Press
ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey says it is investigating a shipment of thousands of Turkish-made small arms bound for Yemen that were seized by Dubai police.
A statement from Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Friday insisted that no such shipment had been authorized by Turkish officials.
Dubai's police found 16,000 pistols concealed in a cargo shipping container. It says the shipment originated in Turkey and passed through an Egyptian port before reaching the Gulf Emirate.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
34593
Saudi Arabia,Pakistan,Japan,United Kingdom,Switzerland,Finland,Yemen,United States
Civilians Own 74% Of All Guns Globally, Firearm Laws Differ Greatly
15 December 2010
Times of India
The 'Gun Debate' has engaged many parts of the world for decades and both public opinion and lawmakers in different countries differ considerably on this question. Interestingly, 74% of all firearms globally are owned by civilians.
The right to own a firearm is a major issue in US politics and many Americans consider the possession of firearms a time-honoured custom. Strong gun-supporting lobbies like the National Rifle Association spend millions of dollars to fight... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Times of India
33838
Yemen
Yemen Gun Culture Harms Stability as Tribal Feud Spurs Rush for Weapons
8 December 2010
Reuters
Business has been booming this past week at Jihana, one of Yemen's biggest weapons markets. A deadly feud has erupted between two local tribes, and fighters from both sides have been rushing to stock up on weapons.
"We stayed open until midnight yesterday to cope with the demand," said arms trader Muhammed Qubban. Trade is brisk and when a pick-up carrying four masked men arrives, Qubban and other traders are on their feet to sell guns and ammunition.
"They're from... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Reuters
33789
Yemen
All Previous Yemen Gun Permits Cancelled Unless Signed by Minister
25 October 2010
Yemen Post (Sana'a)
Yemen's Interior Ministry announced on Monday all previous gun carry permits are invalid, except those personally signed by its minister.
An official at the ministry said the announcement had been circulated to all security offices in all governorates, and the ministry had urged to tighten gun-control measures inside capitals and main cities.
The announcement also called for security patrols and checkpoints to apply strict gun-control measures and consider all gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Post (Sana'a)
33562
Yemen
Yemeni Children Play with Guns, Kill Family, Flee Home in Fear of Lives
31 August 2010
IRIN (UN News)
DHAMAR, Yemen - Many Yemeni children who accidentally killed their loved ones while playing with guns kept at home, flee immediately after the incident fearing punishment from their fathers. They become separated from their families and drop out of school.
Aref Qied, 15, from Zubaid Uzla village in Ans District, in the central governorate of Dhamar, has not returned home since he shot dead his mother in mid-November 2009 while playing with his family's AK-47 assault... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: IRIN (UN News)
33280
Yemen
In Yemen, 97 Percent of Those Polled Want a Law to Curb Gun Carrying
19 April 2010
Yemen Post (Sana'a)
Seeking to contribute to the efforts exerted to shed some light on the different social, economic and political challenges as well as the risks posed by the phenomenon of arms bearing in Yemen, the Yemen Polling Center (YPC) conducted a survey in seven Yemeni governorates, which sought to gauge Yemeni citizens' attitudes towards the carrying and possessing of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
Although there is no reliable data about the exact number of arms in... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Post (Sana'a)
32536
Yemen
New Laws Force 300 Yemeni Gun Dealers, Buyers Into Black Market Deals
14 February 2010
IRIN (UN News)
SANAA - The government has started imposing tough new restrictions on arms dealers in local markets, but this is merely pushing the trade underground, say local NGO activists and military officials.
"In the past, various types of small and medium-sized weapons were sold openly in arms markets inside or outside main cities," Tawfiq Haddash, a Defence Ministry official, told IRIN.
"Nowadays, arms dealers in the main cities open their shops with no weapons on display,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: IRIN (UN News)
32553
United States,Yemen
Arkansas 'Jihadi Attack' Gun Killer Faces Death Penalty, Cites al Qaeda
22 January 2010
Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - A prosecutor said Friday he won't waive the death penalty in the slaying of a soldier outside an Arkansas military recruiting center after the suspect asked to change his plea and claimed ties to al-Qaida.
Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley said he still planned to move forward with the June trial of Abdulhakim Muhammad, who faces capital murder and attempted capital murder charges. Pvt. William Long of Conway was killed in the June 1... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
31949
United States,Yemen,Vietnam
Virginian Company Fined for Attempted Yemeni Arms Brokering Deal
7 January 2010
Associated Press
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia - A Virginia company run by a would-be arms merchant pleaded guilty Thursday to trying to sell guns, night vision goggles and other military equipment to people in Yemen, Libya and other foreign countries.
Ioannis "John" Papathanassiou, 51, of Vienna, Va., entered the guilty plea on behalf of his company, Taipan Enterprises Ltd., at a hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court, admitting that his company sought to broker arms deals without a... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
31791
Yemen,United States,United Nations
US Ramps Up Arms Exports to Yemen, Feeds Established Gun Culture
1 January 2010
Inter Press Service News Agency
UNITED NATIONS - When Yemen refused to vote in support of a U.S.-sponsored Security Council resolution against Iraq during the 1990-1991 Gulf War, a visibly angry U.S. delegate turned to the Yemeni diplomat and said: "That will be the last time you will ever vote against a U.S. resolution."
Washington's subsequent retaliation, in the aftermath of that negative vote, was predictable.
The United States not only downgraded its relationship with Yemen but also cut off all... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Inter Press Service News Agency
31756
Yemen
Armed Violence Nagging Problem in Yemen, a Culture of 10 Million Guns
14 August 2009
National (Dubai)
SANA'A — Yahia al Umaisi, a flagstones worker, considers guns and jambiya, the traditional curved daggers worn by nearly all Yemeni men, symbols of status, power, manhood and responsibility.
"Once my boy becomes a grown-up, I will buy him a jambiya and a gun. They are part of our tradition, which we have to cling to and respect. It is a tradition we inherited from our ancestors," Mr al Umaisi said.
But with 35 people having died in June this year because of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: National (Dubai)
30749
Yemen
Yemen Fights to Control Rampant Weapon Trafficking and Gun Violence
10 August 2009
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, Transcript
SANA'A — In Yemen, weapons are considered the main cause of murder and acts of terrorism. However, the heavy weapons that used to be on offer in markets are no longer available due to the government's tough stand on this matter, which arms dealers in the country have resisted. However, you still can buy what you want from black market traders: Anti-aircraft missiles, cannons, offensive weapons, as well as artillery ammunition boxes.
In the regions of the north that... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: BBC Worldwide Monitoring
30745
Yemen
293,000 Weapons Seized, But Ban Fails to Curb Gun Violence in Yemen
5 August 2009
United Press International
SANAA, Yemen — A two-year government ban on firearms in Yemen claimed only modest success as locals prefer customs over formal judicial measures, the U.N. reports.
The Interior Ministry in 2007 imposed a ban on firearms to control the spread of weapons in major cities.
The government says nearly 293,000 unregistered weapons have been seized since the ban was instituted.
The measure comes as Yemen attempts to control al-Qaida affiliates attempting to establish... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: United Press International
30687
Yemen
9 Million Guns in Yemen, 1200 Gun Deaths Each Year in Nation of 23M
5 August 2009
IRIN (UN News)
SANAA — The Yemeni government is struggling to control the spread of small arms in major cities, despite the two-year-old ban on firearms.
The Interior Ministry's July 2007 ban "somewhat resulted in the disappearance of guns in the capital [Sanaa] and other main cities like Taiz, Ibb and Dhamar only", Khalid al-Ansi, a lawyer at the National Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms, told IRIN in Sanaa. The move, however, does not help in disarming people as... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: IRIN (UN News)
30680
Yemen
Tougher Gun Control Law Urged to Curb Kidnapping, Unrest in Yemen
27 July 2009
Reuters
SANAA — Yemen's government urged parliament Monday to pass tougher security and gun-control laws, saying unrest and kidnappings of Westerners were straining the economy of the poor Arab state.
Yemen, a mountainous Arabian Peninsula country of 23 million, has been battling a wave of kidnappings and al Qaeda attacks, as well as a Shi'ite Muslim rebellion in its north and rising secessionist sentiment in the south over marginalization.
The violence has raised Western... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Reuters
30636
Somalia,Ethiopia,Eritrea,Yemen,United Arab Emirates,Saudi Arabia,West Asia
Weapons for Warlords: Gun Running, Arms Trafficking in the Gulf of Aden
18 June 2009
Jamestown Foundation (USA) / Terrorism Monitor Volume 7, Issue 17, Web page
In the Hobbesian anarchy that has been the norm in Somalia since the late 1980s, the proliferation of weapons has been associated not only with the pursuit of political power but also with international terrorism and the protection and furtherance of economic objectives in the region. Somalia lies at the heart of regional arms trafficking networks that include governments and private traders in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Developed over many years, this... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Jamestown Foundation (USA) / Terrorism Monitor Volume 7, Issue 17
30307
Somalia,Ethiopia,Eritrea,Uganda,Kenya,Yemen,Djibouti
Gun Dealers Revel in Profits from Arms Trafficking, Somali War Business
9 June 2009
Reuters
MOGADISHU — Sitting on a mat at home between taking orders for arms on his two mobile phones, Osman Bare gives thanks for the riches flowing from Somalia's war.
"I have only been in the weapon business five years, but I have erected three villas. I have also opened shops for my two wives," said the 40-year-old, one of about 400 Somali men operating in Mogadishu's main weapons market.
"Peace means bankruptcy for us."
Despite a U.N. arms embargo on Somalia, the Horn... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Reuters
30279
Somalia,Eritrea,Uganda,Yemen
Mogadishu Gun Market Prices Fall, Smuggled Ammunition 'Plentiful'
9 June 2009
Reuters
In Mogadishu, prices of guns and ammunition have fallen in recent months due to plentiful supplies from Eritrea and Uganda and the weapons Ethiopian troops left behind when they withdrew, arms dealers say.
Here is a price list for some popular weapons:
Mortars
120 mm - $700 ($55 per mortar bomb)
82 mm - $300 ($25 per bomb)
60 mm - $200 ($18 per bomb)
Anti-aircraft guns (truck mounted)
23 mm - $20,000 ($2.50 per round)
37 mm version also available, but there is... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Reuters
30278
Yemen
Yemen Claims 230 Gun Shops Closed, But Black Market Takes Up Slack
25 October 2008
Yemen Observer
The Ministry of the Interior's anti-weapons carrying campaign in major cities resulted in the seizure of over a thousand weapons, stated a recent report.
Despite the minister's statement about the seizure of over a thousand weapons, the Yemen Observer has discovered weapons shops on the outskirt's of Sana'a that have resumed selling, particularly at Arhab market (50 kilometers northwest of Sana'a,), al-Hatarish (30 kilometers northeast of Sana'a) and Jahana (30... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Observer
28591
Finland,Yemen,Switzerland,United States,United Nations
Global Gun Ownership: Finland, Yemen, Switzerland, USA - Keith Krause
23 October 2008
Chicago Public Radio, Audio
Last month, a 22-year-old student walked into his trade school in Finland and opened fire. He killed 10 people before shooting himself. The school massacre was the second Finland experienced in less than a year.
Keith Krause is the Program Director of the Small Arms Survey, an independent research project located at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Switzerland.
The Small Arms Survey puts out an annual study on the production,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Chicago Public Radio
28487
Yemen
Yemen 'Will Never Allow' Gun Dealers to Sell Weapons to Public Again
23 September 2008
Yemen News Agency / SABA
SANA'A — Interior Minister Mutahar Rashad al-Masri said on Tuesday that Yemen will never allow weapons trade to be back after it was prohibited since June 2008.
Al-Masri was quoted by the state-run 26sep.net as warning that the Ministry would crack down any arms merchants who sell secretly or in public any pieces of weapons.
"The Ministry don't allow the death trade to appear again after we took an unprecedented step enabled to shut down the arm trade markets", he... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen News Agency / SABA
28313
Yemen
Yemen Jails 234 Illegal Gun Dealers, Seizes 150,000 Civilian Firearms
28 July 2008
Yemen Times / Media Line (New York)
SANA'A — Until recently guns in Yemen were almost as common as water. But bearing arms in the streets was banned a year ago. The Media Line reports on whether the legislation has made any difference.
Muhammad never thought that the pistol he kept for self-defense would one evening kill his own child, when the boy took his father's gun to play with.
In Yemen there are many such tragic stories about gun victims. It is not unusual to read a newspaper report about a... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Times / Media Line (New York)
27816
Yemen
209 Gun Shops Shut, 148 Dealers Jailed, 160,000 Guns Seized in Yemen
30 June 2008
Yemen Post
Two weeks ago, Yemen took its biggest step yet in fighting the existence of weapons as a nationwide campaign begun with a goal to close down all weapon shops throughout the country. Until today, 209 weapon shops have been closed down. The government's policy in its campaign was to close down the shops and reimburse weapons dealers by buying their weapons from them, therefore causing the dealers no losses. However, over 148 shop owners refused to hand in their weapons to... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Post
27560
Yemen
124 Gun Shops Closed as Yemen Cracks Down on Illegal Weapons
19 June 2008
National (Abu Dhabi)
SANA'A — The ministry of interior announced this week that it has closed 124 shops across the country that were selling firearms, arrested 188 weapons dealers and seized vehicles carrying weapons for al Houthi rebels.
The closures and arrests came as the government stepped up a campaign it launched in Aug 2007 to close shops selling guns and reduce the number of firearms on the country's streets.
"We have closed these shops and will continue to do so for security... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: National (Abu Dhabi)
27410
Yemen
Gun Control in Yemen: 12 Weapon Markets, 300 Firearm Shops to Close
16 June 2008
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
SANA'A, Yemen — Yemen's Interior Ministry has embarked on a campaign to close weapons markets across the Arab state to curb the spread of unlicensed weapons, a ministry source said on Monday.
'All weapons shops and markets will be closed and their dealers will be arrested,' the source said in remarks carried by the official media.
He said the crackdown would affect 12 main weapons markets and nearly 300 light weapon shops that operate openly throughout the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Deutsche Presse-Agentur
27381
Yemen
Shootout Injures Six as Authorities Try Seizing Guns from Yemeni Tribesmen
29 April 2008
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
SANAA — Four military police officers and two civilians were injured in a clash between security forces and unidentified armed men in a southern Yemeni city Monday, police sources said.
According to the sources, the gunbattle broke out after police forces tried to disarm the men armed with AK-47 rifles in a marketplace in Ja'ar in the southern province of Abyan.
Police forces were acting as part of a campaign to enforce a ban on carrying weapons in main cities.
One... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Deutsche Presse-Agentur
26984
Yemen
Heavily Armed Yemeni Society 'Reaping Benefits from National Gun Ban'
8 April 2008
Yemen Observer
The Taiz Governor has confirmed in a debate at Taiz University that the government's weapons carrying ban is universal, from which no citizens are exempt.
The governor confirmed that the campaign will continue because it is in the best interests of people who respect the law, and he called on all officials to set a model for the public.
Brigadier general Yahiya al-Hisami, the Taiz security commander, disclosed that the government campaign has corresponded with... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Observer
26759
Yemen
Yemen Confiscates 90,000 Weapons, But Gun Culture Defies Rule of Law
31 March 2008
Agence France Presse
SANAA — Lawlessness, corruption and an inadequate judiciary combined with age-old customs fuel Yemen's "gun culture" despite government efforts to curb the use of firearms, politicians say.
Carrying weapons is so entrenched in the traditions of the Arabian peninsula republic that one resident of the eastern tribal province of Marib was ostracised by his kinsfolk when he decided to ditch his machine-gun.
"After graduating from university (in Iraq), I felt that my... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Agence France Presse
26664
Yemen
Over 88,000 Firearms Seized, Crime Falls in Yemen as Gun Ban Continues
3 March 2008
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
SANA'A, Yemen — Yemeni police have confiscated more than 88,000 firearms since a nationwide campaign to enforce a ban on carrying weapons in cities began in last August, the interior ministry said on Monday. It said in a statement that more than 3,000 weapons have been seized in major cities across the Arab country, and over 85,000 pieces were confiscated at checkpoints outside the capital Sana'a and other cities since August 23, 2007.
The ban, that includes... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Deutsche Presse-Agentur
26302
Yemen,Somalia,Australia,Denmark
Australians, Dane Among Gang Smuggling Guns from Yemen to Somalia
2 March 2008
Yemen Times
SANA'A — Two men, Abdi Othman Soli, 28, a Danish citizen of Somali origin, and Abdullah Awadh Al-Masri, 37, a Yemeni national, were found not guilty this week of smuggling weapons to Somalia in 2006. However, the court gave Al-Masri a three-year prison sentence for other charges such as working with and providing shelter for Al-Qaeda operatives and illegal weapons trading.
Among other accusations, the two suspects were tried for smuggling anti-aircraft weapons and... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Times
26333
Yemen
Firearm Ban, Weapon Seizures Decrease Yemen's Gun Crime Rate by 43%
7 January 2008
Yeman Times (Sana'a)
According to recent statistics, incidents of crime have decreased by an average of 43% in Yemen's urban areas. The decrease is explained as a result of implementing a government ban on carrying weapons. Mohammed Abudulah Al-Qowsi, the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, confirmed that, "As a result of disarmament, cities are safer for people to live in, especially encouraging and opening better opportunities for investment in Yemen."
According to Ahmed Hae'l,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yeman Times (Sana'a)
25797
Yemen
Shootings Decline as Yemen Bans Gun Carrying, Destroys 62,000 Firearms
5 January 2008
Yemen Observer
The campaign to ban carrying weapons has achieved positive results in the governorate of Marib, whose officials seized 40,845 weapons at security checkpoints. Those caught with weapons were prevented from entering the city, said the security director of the Marib governorate, Colonel Mohammad al-Ghadra.
"The total number of crimes declined during the implementation of the campaign, from 160 reported crimes compared with 183 crimes during the four months preceding the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Observer
25770
Yemen
Firearm Ban Decreases Yemen's Gun Crime Rate
20 November 2007
Yeman Observer (Sana'a)
Mohammed killed his little sister when he was 20 years-old.
"One day, when I was cleaning my gun, my sister was cooking. I knew that she was afraid of guns, so I went to the kitchen to frighten her." He said that he was certain that the gun was locked. "When she saw the gun, she pleaded with me to stop joking with her. But I was so happy that she was afraid. I pointed the gun at her and saw the fear in her eyes. But I was still enjoying her fear." Mohammed did not care... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yeman Observer (Sana'a)
25396
Yemen
Yemen Tries Gun Ban, Seizure, Destruction in Move to Curb Firearm Deaths
20 September 2007
Reuters AlertNet / IRIN
SANAA — "Guns have caused us to suffer and lead a miserable life," said Ashwaq Mohammed, 27, remembering her husband who was killed four years ago in a shooting incident.
"My husband was waiting for lunch in our yard when his close friend jokingly pointed a pistol at his head. A bullet was fired and ended his life."
Ashwaq, from Sanaa Province, is a mother of five, has no job and depends on her family to survive, but her plight is not uncommon.
A recently... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Reuters AlertNet / IRIN
24732
Yemen
Yemen Seizes 2,500 Firearms, Launches Buyback, Bans Guns in Cities
3 September 2007
PressTV (Tehran) / AGB / KB
SANA'A, Yemen — Police in Yemen have seized more than 2,500 firearms in the first week of a campaign to implement a ban on carrying weapons in cities.
The Interior ministry said in a statement that weapons have been confiscated at checkpoints outside the capital Sana'a and other major cities since August 23.
The campaign was aimed at reducing the visibility of arms that discourage tourism and investments in the country.
The ban includes bodyguards of... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: PressTV (Tehran) / AGB / KB
24552
Yemen
Yemen Follows US as Second Most Armed Society in the World: Gun Survey
30 August 2007
News Yemen
GENEVA — The Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies said in a new Small Arms Survey 2007 released last Tuesday that "Yemen is the second after the United States in the number of armed people".
It said that Yemen has 61 guns per 100 people after U.S whose citizens own 270 million of the world's 875 million known firearms and about 4.5 million of the 8 million new guns manufactured worldwide each year are purchased in the United States.
India had... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: News Yemen
24531
Yemen
Yemen Seizes 'Medium and Heavy Arms,' Licensed Owners Can Keep Guns
2 August 2007
Yemen Times (Sana'a)
SANA'A — A security expedition was undertaken, last week, to collect heavy and medium arms, which are considered to pose one of the biggest threats to Yemen's security. Based on the strategy that aimed to collect arms and compensate their owners, Jihana souk of arms, 40 km from Sana'a, was closed during this expedition, according to 26 September newspaper.
A source in the Ministry of Interior indicated that the strategic arms limitation is applied by the Ministry so... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Times (Sana'a)
24325
Yemen
Government Aims to Ban Firearm Sales, Close All Gun Shops in Yemen
8 July 2007
IRIN (UN News)
SANAA — Following a 2 July suicide car bombing that killed seven Spanish tourists and two Yemenis in Marib, the government and activists are stepping up efforts to rid the country of weapons. But doing this, they say, is a difficult and complicated process that requires awareness efforts at all levels to prevent tribal violence and revenge killings.
Abdul-Rahman al-Marwani, chairman of local NGO Dar al-Salaam Organisation to Combat Revenge and Violence, told IRIN... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: IRIN (UN News)
24087
Yemen
Yemeni Gun Control NGO Erects 80 Billboards, Brokers Tribal Agreements
12 June 2007
Yemen Times
SANA'A — Within the framework of the week of global action against small arms and violence, Al-Salam Organization for Combating Revenge and Spreading Tolerance Culture and International Peace, over the period of June 11 to 17, launches a number of activities aiming to raise awareness among society members as to the risks posed by small arms and violence.
Themed "Society Participation for Developing a Cooperation Strategy to Control Arms", the week activities include... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Times
23970
Yemen
Disarmament in Gun Saturated Yemen Will Not Be Easy
29 May 2007
Inter Press Service News Agency
SANA'A — Government plans to disarm large swaths of the population are running into difficulties, with some lawmakers reticent to pass new legislation, calling for enforcement of existing law instead, and tribal leaders demanding the right to protect themselves.
The government is trying to arm itself with new legislation for the task. The new law states that weapons must be licensed, and bans possession of heavy weapons.
"Within weeks, field committees formed for... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Inter Press Service News Agency
23772
Yemen
Yemen Buys Bombs, Rockets from Civilians, Leaves Them With Guns
27 May 2007
al Jazeera
Yemen has spent millions of dollars in recent months buying up bombs, artillery and even anti-aircraft guns from ordinary civilians as part of a crackdown in a country where arms are openly carried.
The country's cabinet launched a campaign last month to shut down shops selling weapons without a license and confiscate unlicensed weapons. It also said that millions of dollars would be spent buying up weapons from heavily-armed tribesmen, in a country where tribes remain... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: al Jazeera
23751
Yemen
Yemen Plans to Confiscate Medium and Heavy Guns from Individuals
28 April 2007
Yemen Observer
The new Cabinet's decree for confiscating medium and heavy sized weapons from individuals and controlling personal weapons is to be implemented within two weeks, announced Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Dr. Rashad al-Alimi on Thursday. Over the coming days, we'll be implementing the system of protecting senior officials, and treating the issue of personal weapons and collecting the medium and heavy sized weapons from all over the country, the Minister... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Observer
23554
Yemen
The Epidemic of Gun Violence in Yemen
21 January 2007
Attieg Am Horn, Blog
Why are multi-sectoral gunshot reduction interventions needed?
The 2003 Small Arms Survey reported that Yemen has one of the most armed societies in the world. There were varying figures for the exact numbers of firearms owned by Yemeni citizens, but unofficial estimates suggested that there are almost 7 million weapons circulation in the country, which according to the latest census in March 2004 has a population of 19.7 million.
Guns, ranging from pistols to large... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Attieg Am Horn
22539
Yemen
Yemeni Gun Trade Thrives, Even as Disarmament Debate Gains Traction
9 January 2007
Asharq Alawsat (Yemen)
SANAA, Asharq Al-Awsat — Yemeni authorities are currently seeking to restrict the spread of arms in the country, in fear of weapons falling into the hands of terrorist networks such as Al Qaeda for example.
Last year, Yemeni authorities discovered that weapons belonging to the Yemeni Ministry of Defense had reached members of Al Qaeda who attacked the American consulate in Jeddah in 2005. However there are many obstacles in the way of controlling the arms trade in... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Asharq Alawsat (Yemen)
22472
Yemen
Gun Toting Yemenis Don't Encourage Investment, Laments Ruler
2 December 2006
Yemen Observer
A new law regulating gun possession and the carrying of weapons was first submitted to Parliament in 1995. But in just a few months, it will finally be approved, and should take effect during the first half of next year. So said Sultan al-Barakani, assistant secretary general of the ruling General People's Congress party, in remarks about pending anti-gun and anti-corruption legislations, and about Yemen's development plans.
"It's very urgent, because we cannot create... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Observer
22244
Yemen,Australia
Yemen Arrests 8 Foreigners Accused of Gun Running to Somalia
30 October 2006
Australian (Sydney)
At least three Australian converts to Islam have been arrested in Yemen for alleged arms smuggling and accused of links to al-Qa'ida.
The trio are among a group of eight foreigners rounded up late last week by Yemeni authorities who had been tracking weapons-smuggling to nearby Somalia.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed last night it had been advised that three Australian citizens were under arrest in the capital, Sanaa.
A Yemeni Interior... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Australian (Sydney)
22060
Yemen,Somalia
Yemen Detains 6 Westerners Charged With Gun Running to Somalia
29 October 2006
al Jazeera / AP
Eight foreigners with alleged links to al-Qaeda have been arrested in Yemen on suspicion of trying to smuggle weapons to Somalia, the interior ministry says.
An official said the alleged smugglers included three Australians, one Danish national, a Briton and a German, but gave no details on the identities of the two others.
"The eight foreigners were arrested because they smuggled weapons to Somalia from Yemen," the official said in a statement posted on the state-run... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: al Jazeera / AP
22035
Yemen
Yemeni Gun Control Campaigner Shot 3 Times in Decade of Disarmament
8 October 2006
New York Times
SANA, Yemen — With his mobile phone buzzing incessantly, the radio blaring and a band of young men standing by the phones for any word of trouble, Abdelrahman al-Marwani waited nervously as the polls closed in Yemen's presidential elections on Sept. 20, eager to see the results of his decade-long campaign.
Success, however, had nothing to do with voting or who might win and everything to do with whether election day remained peaceful.
"People are usually riled up... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: New York Times
21805
Yemen
Human Rights, Human Security Key to Reducing Gun Violence in Yemen
18 September 2006
Reuters / IRIN (UN News)
SANAA — At Yemen's first ever celebration of the United Nations' International Day of Peace, delegates discussed ways to prevent small arms violence through outreach programmes and dialogue.
"We hope in future the citizens of Yemen will stop going around with arms, but rather go around armed with the knowledge that their human rights are protected," said Flavia Pansieri, UN Resident Coordinator in Yemen, at the peace event in Sana'a Cultural Centre.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Reuters / IRIN (UN News)
21589
Yemen
Yemeni Gun Law is 'Applied Only to Common Citizens and the Weak'
14 August 2006
Yemen Times (Sana'a)
In an exclusive interview with the Yemen Times, Abdul-Rahman Al-Marwani, Chairman of Dar Al-Salaam Organization to Combat Revenge and Violence, stated that absence of confidence in the judiciary and security and absence of awareness are the main reasons for armed fighting and revenge among Yemenis.
How do arms enter the country?
There are known local arms dealers. There also are local markets that sell arms openly. Perhaps every city contains a weapons market; if not,... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Times (Sana'a)
21312
Yemen
Yemeni Sheikhs Lead Fight to Curb Gun Misuse in Major Cities
8 July 2006
Yemen Observer (Sana'a)
The carrying of small and light weapons in Yemen has been decreasing due to efforts made by leading Sheikhs in various rural areas, according to al-Marwani, head of the Dar al-Salam organization for combating revenge, violence and spreading a culture of tolerance.
The accompanying decrease in the small arms trade comes as a result of the many functions that the organization and its supporters have undertaken all over Yemen. The functions revealed suffering in many... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Observer (Sana'a)
21032
Yemen
Despite Weapon Control Efforts, Yemen Still Has 'A Gun in Every Home'
10 June 2006
IRIN (UN News)
SANAA — "I have cannons, missiles, Kalashnikovs, anti-aircraft guns and hand grenades," said community leader Mohammad Naji, sitting cross-legged in his house in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. "This is a part of our culture, and a tribesman can give up everything except his gun."
Though not everyone in Yemen has an arms cache the size of Naji's, almost every household has at least one gun. Arms possession is particularly common in the north and northwest of the country.... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: IRIN (UN News)
20667
Yemen
In Yemen, Cultural Norms Underpin Saturation Levels of Gun Ownership
21 May 2006
IRIN (UN News) / Reuters
SANAA — "I have cannons, missiles, Kalashnikovs, anti-aircraft guns and hand grenades," said community leader Mohammed Naji, sitting cross-legged in his house in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a. "This is a part of our culture, and a tribesman can give up everything except his gun."
Though not everyone in Yemen has an arms cache the size of Naji's, almost every household has at least one gun. Arms possession is particularly common in the north and northwest of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: IRIN (UN News) / Reuters
20466
Yemen
Yemeni Arms Trade: Still a Concern for Terrorism and Regional Security
6 May 2006
Terrorism Monitor; Vol. 3, Issue 9
The November 28 2002 attack on an Israeli airliner in Mombassa, Kenya, focused attention on Yemen and it arms markets. A UN report tasked with assessing arms trafficking to Somalia found that the shoulder fired missiles used in that attack likely originated from Yemen. Furthermore, follow-up reports cite Yemen's weapons availability as a significant risk factor for al-Qaeda's procurement of arms.
Yemen's efforts at internal control started after 9/11 with the new... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Terrorism Monitor; Vol. 3, Issue 9
20815
Yemen,United States
AK-47s Used in US Consulate Attack Came from Yemeni Govt
12 October 2005
Associated Press
SAN'A, Yemen — Two AK-47 assault rifles used in a deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Saudi Arabia have been traced to Yemen's Defense Ministry, according to Western and Yemeni officials, raising new fears that the country isn't doing enough to fight terrorism.
The revelation comes five years after al-Qaida-linked militants bombed the U.S. destroyer Cole on Oct. 12, 2000, at the port in San'a, the capital, killing 17 sailors.
In other developments, Yemeni... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
18414
Yemen,Somalia
Yemen Admits Breach of Arms Embargo to Somalia
10 October 2005
Khaleej Times (Dubai)
SANAA — The Yemeni government admitted on Monday that it sent weapons to Somalia earlier this year to help the country's interim government consolidate its grip on power and restore stability.
"Yemen has supplied the legitimate government in Somalia with personal arms in support of police forces that are being prepared and equipped to strengthen the elected government's capacities to boost the security and stability of the country," a Yemeni official source said in a... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Khaleej Times (Dubai)
18403
Yemen
Is Yemen's Political Regime Serious About Firearms Law?
27 September 2005
Yemen Times, Opinion
Last week, the capital Sana'a saw the protest against the firearms, demanding their ban in the main cities and the issuance of the firearms carrying and possession control that has been collecting dust in the parliament for several years. It is good that the firearms law turns into a public issue. Of course, public participation in all the issues is very much needed and I have been really happy when I heard that some NGOs were going to run a protest against firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Times
18270
Yemen
Yemen Anti-Gun Law to be Approved After Protests
21 September 2005
Yemen Observer (Sana'a)
SANA'A — The Yemeni parliament is set to approve a new law banning the carrying of weapons in cities, after hundreds of Yemenis gathered outside parliament on Monday.
The gathering was organized, AKI reports, to protest against the widespread use of weapons and urge parliament to ratify the draft law. The law was approved by the cabinet four years ago, but has yet to be passed by Parliament, which is largely made up of MPs with tribal backgrounds.
The Yemeni... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Observer (Sana'a)
18222
Yemen
Demand for Law to Control Firearms as Crime Soars in Yemen
20 September 2005
IRIN (UN News)
SANA — Hundreds of protestors on Monday took to the streets of the Yemeni capital, Sana, to demand that the country's parliament debate a stalled draft law controlling the ownership and use of firearms.
They demanded the banning of firearms in the major cities, saying gun-related crime in the country had soared to unacceptable levels.
Led by the mayor of Sana, Ahmed al-Kuhlani, the protestors marched from al-Tahrir square to the parliament where they delivered a... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: IRIN (UN News)
18214
Yemen
Yemeni Protesters Seek Ban on Carrying Guns
20 September 2005
Arab News (Jeddah)
SANAA — Hundreds of people demonstrated outside the Yemeni Parliament yesterday calling on MPs to ratify a draft law banning the carrying of firearms in cities.
The demonstrators, mostly rights activists, held placards denouncing the practice of carrying firearms in main city streets across Yemen. The legislation was approved by the Cabinet four years ago and has yet to be ratified by the Parliament controlled mainly by MPs of tribal backgrounds.
Yemeni authorities... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Arab News (Jeddah)
18198
Yemen
Yemeni Nurses in Anti-Gun Demonstration
20 September 2005
Gulf News (Dubai) / AP
SANAA — Yemeni nurses hold an anti-firearms poster as they join a demonstration in Sanaa yesterday against the alleged rising crime rate in Yemen. [Photo]
The banner claims that firearms are a problem for security, investment and a reason behind the rising crime rate.
In tribal gun markets outside the main cities, such as Sawadia, both light and heavy weapons are... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Gulf News (Dubai) / AP
18197
Yemen,West Asia
Yemen to Coordinate Mideast Small Arms Workshop
9 February 2005
Yemen Times
Yemen is chosen as regional co-ordinator of a workshop on small arms issues.
Organized by the Permanent Peace Movement Society in Lebanon and the Regional Network for Controlling the Misuse of Small Arms, the workshop will concentrate on the importance of the research for following up the spread of small arms spreading.
It was related to the UN special program for following up on arms studies.
Discussion carried out in a recent meeting in Beriut focused on the... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Times
16530
Yemen
Curbing the Proliferation of Guns
1 November 2004
Yemen Times
DAR AL-SALAAM — The House of Peace has been working hard to fight against Yemen being awash with weapons since it was established in 1997. According to Abdul Rahman Al-Marwani, Head and Founder of Dar Al-Salaam, the organization aims at reducing the availability and use of weapons.
"We are working on peace and tolerance and how to spread it," said Al-Marwani. "Our most important activities are to spread peace and tolerance, and it has started with social awareness."... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Times
14568
Ukraine,Cuba,Venezuela,Peru,Sierra Leone,Afghanistan,Iraq,Yemen,Pakistan,Malaysia,Sri Lanka
Ukrainian Arms Exports End Up in a Wide Range of Conflict Zones
19 September 2004
Jane's Defence News, Web Page
Ukraine's arms exports last year stood at US$530-550m, an increase on the year before when they were officially recorded at $440m. JID's regional analyst looks at the implications of Kiev's weapons policy.
Ukrainian experts analysing this highly secretive sector of Ukraine's foreign trade believe that the volume of military exports could rise to an annual maximum of $700m. Of course, these figures do not include the large volume of unofficial trade in weapons. Since... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Jane's Defence News
29147
Yemen
Saudis may Erect Fence Against 60,000,000 Guns
9 February 2004
Associated Press
CAIRO, Egypt — In a bid to stop arms smuggling and terror attacks, Saudi and Yemeni officials will meet soon to review plans to build a fence along their frontier, a pan-Arab newspaper reported Monday.
Lt. Gen. Talal Anqawi, head of the Saudi border police, told the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat that the concrete fence would be effective in preventing smuggling and infiltration, especially by car.
The newspaper said the meeting was being held to avoid an... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
14377
Yemen
Report Reveals 'Scary' Number of Unintentional Gun Deaths in Yemen
19 January 2004
Yemen Times
According to a recent report released by the Ministry of Interior, carrying arms and tampering with them during 2003 continued to be one of the most prevalent problems in Yemen, especially as many victims were reported last year because of the misuse or criminal use of weapons. Many of the victims were women and children.
The competent security bodies have observed last year sad incidents due to fiddling with small arms in various parts of the country. In some... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Yemen Times
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Yemen
Yemen, Saudis Join to Stem Weapons Trade, Red Sea Gun Running
17 October 2003
Associated Press
SA'DAH — In a grimy arms market in this border town, a salesman with a dagger tucked in his belt surveys firearms, grenades and launchers littering his shop. For $2,500, an 85mm surface-to-surface missile can be had that would destroy a car or blow through a building, arms dealers say.
Under U.S. pressure to keep illegal weapons out of terrorist hands, Yemen and Saudi Arabia have joined forces to stem the flow of weapons and explosives across their porous desert... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
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Yemen
Tribal Clashes Leave Five Dead, Seven Wounded in Yemen
25 May 2002
Associated Press
SANA'A, Yemen — Five people were killed and seven wounded in tribal clashes involving heave machine gun fire Saturday in central Yemen, a police official said.
Fighting between the al-Absi and Bani Wahab tribes in the central al-Baydah province killed four people. The fifth, a woman, died later in hospital, the official said on condition of anonymity.
People living in the area said the clashes continued for hours and badly damaged five al-Absi tribes people... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
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Yemen
Visiting NRA Heaven
19 March 2002
New York Times, Opinion
SUQ AL-TALH, Yemen — Want to buy a submachine gun?
This little market town in the wild, wild north of Yemen has more than 50 shops selling all kinds of toys for boys. A used Uzi goes for $170, a machine pistol with silencer is $350, and a brand-new AK-47 assault rifle goes for nearly $400.
Grenades are $4 each. An antitank mine is $22. A rocket-propelled grenade launcher is $500. An arms merchant I met here might even be able to find you an antiaircraft gun or a... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: New York Times
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Yemen
Yemen Bans Firearms from Streets
5 February 2002
Associated Press
SAN'A, Yemen — The government banned Yemenis on Tuesday from carrying guns on city streets, and urged security officials to do all they can to enforce the prohibition.
Guns, ammunition and explosives are sold freely in Yemen, a largely tribal society where weapons are carried openly and people often settle feuds with guns. The problem grew during the 1994 civil war when many arms were smuggled into the country.
The government did not say why it issued the ban, but... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Associated Press
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