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Craft manufacture of firearms and small arms
US Govt Moves to Stop Spread of 3D Gun Plans Online
15 May 2013
Red Deer Advocate (Alberta), Opinion
The story so far: Cody Wilson, who describes himself as a "crypto-anarchist" and almost certainly wears a Second Amendment belt-buckle, had a bright idea early last year. No government could ever oppress its people again, reasoned the 25-year-old law student at the University of Texas, if everybody in the world was able to manufacture their own guns at home.
Well, not everybody in the world, exactly, but at least everybody with $8,000 to buy a 3D printer on eBay, or... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Report Shows 80 Percent of Guns Unregistered in Turkey
11 May 2013
World Bulletin (Istanbul)
A report recently drafted by the National Police Department's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department shows that almost 80 percent of guns that police seized from individuals in incidents threatening public security from 2010-2012 were unregistered.
According to the report, the types of firearms confiscated in police operations over the course of past five years were manufactured guns (51 percent), handmade guns (33 percent), blank guns turned into real guns (16... (GunPolicy.org)
What is Gun Control Like in Ecuador?
8 May 2013
El Telégrafo
Most guns used by citizens Ecuador are still handmade.
Manufacturing guns in Ecuador has been illegal since Feb. 2012. However, most private security companies are still arming their guards with locally-made weapons acquired before February 2012.
In recent years, efforts to register and decommission guns that don't meet safety standards have increased. Last year, in most populated province Guayas, 9,958 guns were registered. In Pichincha in 2012: 9,145 guns. In... (GunPolicy.org)
US, Spanish Gun Lovers Download 3D Gun Plans 50,000 Times First Day
7 May 2013
New York Daily News
The first downloadable gun has gone viral.
The plastic firearm that can be churned out on a 3-D printer and easily assembled was downloaded at least 50,000 times Monday, according to the self-described anarchist who made it available for free online.
Cody Wilson of Defense Distributed, a collective of gun advocates, said the most downloads were done in Spain followed by the United States.
The prospect of terrorists getting hold of the guns by clicking a computer... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Seize Over 4,000 Weapons in Angola
30 April 2013
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
CAXITO — At least 4,483 fire-arms, among which 3,333 AKM, were collected in the northen Bengo province in the last six years, as part of the disarmament process of citizens illegally owning weapons.
According to a weekly assessment from the National Police in Bengo sent to Angop on Monday, the collection includes 23,472 ammunitions, 1,390 magazines, 340 explosive devices and 26 grenades.
The statement informs that during last week the police recorded a compulsory... (GunPolicy.org)
Chinese Shooter Jailed for Injuring Man with Illegal Homemade Gun
24 April 2013
Shanghai Daily (China)
A drug user who shot a man in the leg with a homemade gun after a quarrel was sentenced to 33 months in prison, a local court ruled yesterday.
The shooter, Chen Rongbin, 34, was convicted of three crimes including intentional injury, illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of drugs, Hongkou District People's Court officials said.
Prosecutors said Chen was playing a game on a machine in a game room at 710 Tangshan Road at 8pm on December 16. He had a... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Anti-Terrorist Squad Busts Gun Smuggling Gang
19 April 2013
Pioneer (India)
LUCKNOW - Sleuths of the Anti-Terrorists Squad (ATS) arrested four persons and claimed to have busted a gang which is smuggling parts of arms from overseas and assembling them here to dispose it off later to hardened criminals at higher rates. They said to have recovered arms in large quantity besides equipments and tools used for assembling.
Giving the details of the above development here on Thursday afternoon, ADG (law and order) Arun Kumar, said that the ATS is... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesia Police Ask Citizens to Surrender Illegal Homemade Guns
18 April 2013
Borneo Post
MIRI - The people here who have in their homemade guns are urged to surrender them to the police station or risked legal action taken against them.
District police chief ACP Mun Kock Keong told a press conference here yesterday that they would not compromise with any group of individuals found in possession of the guns.
"It is a serious offence to possess such gun [sic]. The offenders could be jailed up to 14 years if found guilty under Section 4 of the Firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesia Police Say Most Armed Robbers Use Homemade Guns
17 April 2013
Jakarta Post
JAKARTA - The police revealed on Tuesday that most guns used in armed robberies were homemade.
City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that 98 percent of the guns confiscated from robbery suspects were homemade and that most of them were made by air rifle makers.
"We are now tracing the air rifle makers who produce the homemade guns used in crimes," he said.
He added that the police had confiscated evidence such as raw materials for guns from an air rifle... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenyans Worried Over Use of Pistols, Homemade Guns as Crimes Rise
17 April 2013
Capital FM (Nairobi)
NAIROBI, Kenya – A survey conducted recently has revealed an alarming level of armed robberies and other violent crimes in Nairobi.
According to the study by Security Research and Information Centre, 41 percent of crimes reported are violent robberies and residents in all parts of the city are prone to such attacks.
Inspector General David Kimaiyo welcomed the Nairobi Regional Annual Crime Observatory Report, saying it will help in facilitating stakeholders to... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigeria Police Uncover 3 Gun Factories
13 April 2013
Daily Trust (Abuja)
ASABA — Police detectives from Anambra and Delta States have uncovered arms factories in three communities in Delta State.
This is just as residents of Alizomor in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State fled the community after the corpse of ex-Anambra deputy governor Dr. Nwike Chidi was found in the area.
Police spokesman ASP Lucky Uyabeme said the discovery came when detectives stormed the community. He, however, said no arrest has been made.
The body of... (GunPolicy.org)
600,000 Unlicensed Guns in Philippines as Black Market Thrives
11 April 2013
France 24
Bespectacled and clean shaven, 37-year-old Jomari Paraas could pass for a typical office employee in the Philippines, except he has six guns in his backpack that he will soon sell.
The father-of-two is a prolific player in the country's enormous and lucrative weapons black market, which has been under scrutiny following a spate of high-profile massacres and shoot-outs this year.
"Why do I trade guns? Because there is a demand for it. And it's extra income," said... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Seize Homemade Guns, Manufacturing Equipment in India
11 April 2013
Times of India
KANPUR - In a major haul, the city police with the arrest of two persons have recovered 15 country-made pistols and 12 semi-finished guns of separate bores, several live cartridges, 81 big and small barrels of 315 bore, several furnaces, welding machines and other equipment used in manufacturing firearms. The arrested men were running an organized racket of illegal arms sale.
The police said two persons were arrested near the Juhi 'dhaal' area of the city on Tuesday.... (GunPolicy.org)
India Police say Criminals Trying to Buy Guns From Students
8 April 2013
Times of India
CHENNAI - Police are worried over local criminals attempting to source guns from students from north India.
After several instances of students from Jharkhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh brandishing firearms and an engineering college student pistol-whipping a classmate and his friend in Maduravoyal on Thursday, police said they are keeping a close watch on students from outside Chennai.
Some students and former students from other cities have links with criminals in... (GunPolicy.org)
Jilted Lover Kills Indian Girl's Dad, Injures Mom
4 April 2013
Times of India
NAGPUR - A 49-year-old office superintendent with joint director of technical education was shot with a country made revolver and stabbed to death by his daughter's male friend at his residence in ShriHarinagar near Manewada Ring road on Wednesday. YogeshDakhode's wife Kusum was also assaulted a number of times. The perpetrator Anwar Khan, 28, who was once in a relationship with Dakhodes' daughter, wanted to kill the girl too but was overpowered by neighbours before... (GunPolicy.org)
Printable Firearms a 'Grave Threat' to Australians
3 April 2013
News.com.au
Anti-gun activists are urging action to shutdown a controversial project to produce fully printable firearms and threat "to put a gun in the hands of every citizen".
Defense Distributed is behind the operation to manufacture the world's first fully printable, mostly plastic gun using basic three-dimensional printers which today cost as little as $1000.
The American company began testing its printed parts for a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle in December and have so far... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Arms Smuggling Continues to Thrive in Indian City
2 April 2013
Times of India
ALLAHABAD - The recent seizure of some sophisticated pistols from an arm smuggler by the Special Task Force here has again brought to fore the thriving smuggling of arms in the region. Most of these firearms are being smuggled from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal or manufactured in small illegal units running in the district.
The graph of arms seized in past three years also points towards this fact. From desi kattas (local arms) to sophisticated smuggled guns,... (GunPolicy.org)
Police in Spain Seize 59 Illegal Guns, Parts in Sting Operation [Español]
25 March 2013
Vanguardia (Colombia)
[Translated summary - The Spanish Civil Guard has dismantled a criminal organisation making illegal firearms in Barcelona, some of which were linked to a double homicide. Five people were arrested and 59 weapons were seized, as well as parts and tools for gun manufacture.]
MADRID - La Guardia Civil ha desarticulado una organización criminal dedicada presuntamente al tráfico de armas por toda España, con el arresto de cinco personas, según ha informado el Ministerio... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Data Shows Spike in Illegal Gun Use in South Australia
24 March 2013
Advertiser (Adelaide)
Gun-toting criminals are more likely to use their gun to threaten someone now than they were five years ago, statistics show.
SA Police figures reveal there were 33 acts likely to endanger life involving a gun in 2011-12, compared with nine in 2007-08.
An act likely to endanger life with a firearm involves the firing of the gun in most cases, but the offence may also apply if a loaded gun is pointed at someone.
The Advertiser requested statistics from police for the... (GunPolicy.org)
Two Arrested Over Illegal Manufacture and Sale of Guns in Ghana
21 March 2013
Vibe Ghana
Prosper Adewornu alias Dzakpasu Kofi 50, a Blacksmith and his son Safari Daworlo 21, Auto Mechanic and Blacksmith, have been arrested for allegedly manufacturing and selling guns and gun parts at Kakadedzi on Ghana-Togo border.
Two locally manufactured pistols, seven old locally made shotguns and two foreign shotguns, six BB-short-barrel gun cartridges and 39 empty cartridges were retrieved from them.
A grinder, metal boring machine, hammers, a newly made shotgun... (GunPolicy.org)
South America,Eastern Europe,Thailand,Italy,Canada,United States,Philippines
The Gunmakers of the Philippines
20 March 2013
BBC News
CEBU, Philippines - A shot rings out from a factory on the outskirts of the Philippines' second-biggest city, Cebu.
But this isn't an all-too-frequent drive-by killing or an argument that has become violent.
The sound is from a testing range at Shooters Arms, the country's second-largest gun factory.
Shooters Arms produces about 20,000 pistols and shotguns every year, 85% of which are sold abroad - mainly to the US, Canada, Italy and Thailand.
Operations manager... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Regional Police Uncover Huge Stash of Firearms
20 March 2013
Oshawa Express (Ontario)
Durham Regional Police Inspector Mario Lessard of the Criminal Intelligence Branch was surrounded by a room full of guns.
There were weapons strewn about everywhere, all part of a massive seizure.
Grenades, landmines, 67 guns and a small cannon were recently found in a Bancroft home where a couple now faces more than 600 charges as a result.
But what does Durham have to do with this? According to Insp. Lessard, Durham is a member of the Provincial Weapons Enforcement... (GunPolicy.org)
39,880 Militants' Firearms, Ammunition Handed Over to Nigerian Army
17 March 2013
Vanguard (Lagos)
ENUGU — The 39,880 assorted firearms and ammunition recovered from former militants in the Niger Delta by the inter-agency taskforce set up by the Federal Government have been handed over to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.
A breakdown of the arms handed over on Saturday at the 82 Division's parade ground included the following: 482 automatic arms, 20,132 ammunition, 295 magazines and 18,971 locally made guns.
The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Raise Alarm about Pen Guns after Drug Bust in Canada
12 March 2013
Calgary Herald (Alberta)
It's what you might expect to find in James Bond's arsenal of high-tech weapons.
But it's turning up in Calgary and possibly gaining popularity with those involved in the city's drug trade.
A .22-calibre pen gun with a half-mile range was discovered in a drug bust Tuesday in Forest Lawn. The weapon — which looks like an ordinary retractable pen — is the third of its kind seized by police in the past year.
"This pen looks no different than something you could buy... (GunPolicy.org)
Easily Available Home-made Handguns, 1st Choice of Criminals in Nepal
11 March 2013
Kantipur (Nepal)
PARSA - An 18-year-old boy brandished a pistol to threaten one of his friends over a minor dispute while playing snooker at Maisthan in Birgunj last Thursday.
Fortunately, the situation was brought under control as police reached the incident site immediately. The boy, however, managed to flee the scene upon seeing the police personnel.
On August 24, 2012, Rama Shankar Mandal, general secretary of the Madhesi Factory Workers' Forum, was shot dead by an unidentified... (GunPolicy.org)
Russian Police Raid Illegal Gun Workshop Making and Repairing Guns
7 March 2013
RIA Novosti (Russia)
MOSCOW – The police and the Federal Security Service (FSB) have uncovered an underground arms factory and large cache of firearms in the Moscow Region, the Interior Ministry reported on Thursday.
"Two underground workshops for arms re-engineering were liquidated and four suspected criminal gang members were arrested," the police reported in a statement.
The workshops were based in two garages west of Moscow, where the security forces discovered at least nine machine... (GunPolicy.org)
30 Percent of Costa Rican Crime Committed with Toy Guns
6 March 2013
Inside Costa Rica
At least three in ten armed robberies in Costa Rica are committed using a toy gun, according to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ). This week, authorities destroyed 487 such toy guns that were being held in evidence in the National Arsenal.
Among toy guns confiscated by officers are replicas of revolvers, shotguns, AK47's, and pistols of different calibers, according to authorities.
Costa Rican authorities also warned, "the use of replica toy guns is a... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Bullets Cost the Same as Bread in Jamaica
3 March 2013
Gleaner (Jamaica)
In Jamaica, a loaf of bread retails at a corner shop for about $235 while a single 9mm bullet can be bought for about $280 or less. The degree of difficulty in purchasing the bread or the bullet is relatively the same: zero.
A special Sunday Gleaner probe has confirmed that one does not have to work up a sweat to buy bullets on the streets of Jamaica. It is literally no problem, as we found out when we purchased 25 of these 9mm bullets last week.
Anyone interested in... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Govt Asks Citizens to Submit Illegal Guns
2 March 2013
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - The Ministry of Home Affairs today appealed to all concerned to submit all types of weapons, both small and large, to the concerned District Administration Office, District Police Office or the nearest police unit by March 28, failing which legal action under the Arms and Ammunition Act-1963 would be initiated.
The move follows the growing possession and use of unlicenced weapons, small arms in particular, among the persons with criminal mindset to disturb... (GunPolicy.org)
Number of Illegally Held Guns Leads to Month Amnesty in Nepal
2 March 2013
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - The Ministry of Home Affairs today appealed to all concerned to submit all types of weapons, both small and large, to the concerned District Administration Office, District Police Office or the nearest police unit by March 28, failing which legal action under the Arms and Ammunition Act-1963 would be initiated.
The move follows the growing possession and use of unlicenced weapons, small arms in particular, among the persons with criminal mindset to disturb... (GunPolicy.org)
Sweden Holds Gun Amnesty to Get Illegal, Homemade Guns Off Street
1 March 2013
Local (Sweden)
Sweden on Friday commenced with its first weapons amnesty in more than five years, allowing anyone to turn illegal firearms in to police with no questions asked.
"From a law enforcement perspective, we are happy to have a new, temporary weapons amnesty underway," Detective Peter Thorsell of the legal division of the National Police Board (Rikspolisstyrelsen) said in a statement.
"Reducing illegal weapons possession is a very important measure for reducing gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Thai Men Arrested for Allegedly Selling Homemade Guns on Facebook
27 February 2013
Bangkok Post
Police have arrested two men for allegedly selling homemade guns, many of them to technical college students and teenagers, on Facebook.
The two suspects, Withaya Chai-Auari, 32, and Suriya Khoksombat, 25, were arrested in Bangkok yesterday.
An undercover police officer posing as a customer contacted Mr Withaya on the internet to buy weapons. Mr Withaya turned up for the meeting with the guns in Phahon Yothin Soi 55 and was immediately arrested, police said.
Police... (GunPolicy.org)
Handmade Firearms in Syria [Francais]
22 February 2013
Le Figaro (France)
[Translated summary: PHOTOS - The Free Syrian Army is running short of weapons to fight a regular army armed with tanks, planes and helicopters. Thus, rebels now manufacture their own weapons.]
EN IMAGES- L'Armée syrienne libre (ASL) manque d'armes pour affronter une armée régulière munie de tanks, d'avions et d'hélicoptères. Ainsi, face à l'ennemi, les rebelles fabriquent désormais leurs propres armes avec les moyens du... (GunPolicy.org)
Australians Offered Rewards for Gun Info After Shootings, Amnesty
21 February 2013
Advertiser (Adelaide)
Rewards of up to $10,000 will be offered for people who give South Australian police information that leads to major gun busts.
Premier Jay Weatherill announced the measure today in response to a spate of recent shootings - 17 since December 31.
He said the state could have confidence most of the shootings were not random but conceded more needed to be done to address the problem.
The gun bounty follows a recent amnesty encouraging people to hand in illegal guns.
Mr... (GunPolicy.org)
India Police Arrest Alleged Gun Smugglers in Ongoing Crackdown
10 February 2013
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
NEW DELHI - Three gun runners, who were allegedly attempting to smuggle more than a dozen sophisticated firearms were caught 'red-handed' by the special cell, police said on Sunday. The firearms were to be sold to criminals operating in the NCR.
The trio was waylaid and nabbed from near the Anand Vihar-Ghazipur foot-over bridge around 5pm on Saturday, said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, deputy commissioner of police (special cell). Their identities have been withheld due to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 100 Guns Seized After Venezuela Prison Massacre
8 February 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Authorities have seized over 100 firearms, as well as ammunition and drugs, from the Venezuelan prison where dozens recently died in a riot, yet another indication of the total lack of state control over the country's infamously violent prison system.
In a February 7 press conference, Venezuelan Head of Penitentiary Affairs, Iris Varela, stated that 106 firearms, over 8,500 rounds of ammunition and an unspecified amount of cocaine and marijuana were found at Uribana... (GunPolicy.org)
Nicaragua Gangs Make or Purchase Guns from Drug Traffickers
6 February 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
A report from a Nicaraguan think-tank analyzing crime and violence in one of the semi-autonomous zones on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast highlights the influence of the drug trade in the region, which helped bring about the country's highest incidence of crime in 2011.
The Nicaragua-based Institute of Strategic Studies and Public Policy (IEEPP) released the report analyzing crime rates in the municipality of Bilwi, the main city of the North Atlantic Autonomous Region... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Officials Say Most Gun Crime Traced to Under 1,000 Illegal Guns
2 February 2013
Washington Post
LONDON — When police on a weapons raid swarmed a housing project after London's 2011 riots, they seized a cache of arms that in the United States might be better suited to "Antiques Roadshow" than inner-city ganglands. Inside plastic bags hidden in a trash collection room, officers uncovered two archaic flintlock pistols, retrofitted flare guns and a Jesse James-style revolver.
These days, that kind of antiquated firepower is about the baddest a British gang member... (GunPolicy.org)
Pakistan's Gun Makers Protest Election Ban, Blame Illegal Guns
30 January 2013
Express Tribune (Pakistan) / International Herald Tribune
PESHAWAR - A nationwide ban on the issuance of new small arms licences has hit manufacturing units hard, Peshawar's gunsmiths told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Siraj Afridi, the proprietor of City Arms, explained that locals do not purchase arms from Peshawar's gun shops, as they prefer indigenously-made arms from Darra Adam Khel. The 80 functional small arms manufacturing units operating in Peshawar rely solely on orders from... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Express Tribune (Pakistan) / International Herald Tribune
Ghanaian, Nigerian Suspects Caught Allegedly Smuggling Guns
30 January 2013
This Day (Lagos)
It was a perfect façade, so they thought. Who could have suspected that a couple riding in a neat-looking Mercedes Benz car was not what they pretended to be. To an ordinary onlooker, they were mere international travellers, perhaps heading to Nigeria on a pleasure or a business trip.
However, the vigilance of a police patrol team uncovered their evil intention. The duo of Mr. Daniel Ofori, a Ghanaian and his Nigerian counterpart, Ms. Olufumolayo Adeyemo, were nothing... (GunPolicy.org)
Jamaica Police Seize Semi-Auto Pistol, Homemade Guns
29 January 2013
Go Jamaica
Four persons are now in police custody in connection with the seizure of four illegal guns in separate incidents yesterday.
The police report that a man and a woman were arrested after a .45 semi-automatic pistol with serial number erased, along with three .45 cartridges was found in a car along Maxfield Avenue yesterday.
According to reports from the Constabulary Communications Network, three homemade firearms were also seized in separate operations in St. James... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Bust Illegal Gun Manufacturers, Seize Parts
26 January 2013
Inquirer News (Philippines)
Eight were arrested and several firearms, gun parts and equipment valued at around P1 million were seized in two separate raids described by police as a big blow in the illegal production of firearms in Danao City, northern Cebu.
The operations were conducted by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) last Thursday afternoon in sitio Canbiohan, barangay Poblacion, Danao.
Those arrested were identified as Jaime... (GunPolicy.org)
Ecuador Claims FARC Buying Arms During Peace Talks
16 January 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota) / EFE News Agency
The FARC rebel group has been increasing its arms purchases since the beginning of peace talks with the Colombian government, according to an Ecuadorian general.
Army General Fernando Proaño Daza, who commands troops on his country's border with Colombia, told EFE that arms trafficking had increased since the beginning of the peace process, which formally began in October. According to Proaño, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is "taking advantage of... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearm Ownership, Trends Remain Unchanged in Estonia
7 January 2013
ERR News (Estonia)
While fears of possible changes to gun laws have prompted some Americans to make a run on semi-automatic weapons, Estonian gun ownership numbers remain relatively low and are holding steady.
ERR radio reported the number of legal guns in the past seven to eight years to be stable at 60,000 guns in the hands of 30,000 people, half of them hunters.
Police captain Sven Põierpaas estimated this number to be "optimal."
"Estonians are reasonable and balanced,... (GunPolicy.org)
8 Dead in Philippines Shooting, Unlicensed Guns Rife Say Police
4 January 2013
CBC News (Canada) / Associated Press
A man with domestic problems fatally shot eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children, after taking alcohol and drugs in a rampage Friday near the Philippine capital that ended when he was shot dead by police, officials said.
At least eight other people were wounded in Kawit township, about 16 kilometres south of Manila, Cavite provincial Gov. Jonvic Remulla said.
The violence happened days after the death of a 7-year-old girl who was hit in the head by... (GunPolicy.org)
India Struggling with Illegal Arms Trade, Rise in Gun-Related Crime
28 November 2012
Time (USA)
In a small tent, in a village about 60 miles outside the capital, Salim is putting the finishing touches on his gun. Despite the bright sun outside, the shelter is dark and Salim, who uses only one name, has to bend close to see the homemade pistol he's been working on for the last hour. Salim, 50, makes pistols and rifles in his clandestine workshop in Jhola, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where many villagers work in India's illegal gun making trade. Low... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Gun Market Booming in India
25 November 2012
Economic Times (India)
The details are still fuzzy as to who shot who, but the rivalry between liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother Hardeep ended in bloodbath at their Chattarpur farmhouse last week. Not just the brazenness of the act but also the wanton display of firepower stunned the entire country, forcing the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance and question the national gun-control norms. Clearly, the market for illegal weapons is booming in India. But where are the guns... (GunPolicy.org)
European Union Assesses Arms Trafficking Progress
19 November 2012
Europa (European Union), Speech
I am delighted to welcome you all to our conference on the fight against illicit trafficking in firearms, in the EU and beyond.
We have in the room today some of the leading experts on the topic – from law enforcement, industry, policy makers, and from civil society.
For you, it will not come as a surprise that the Commission puts focus on this issue by organising this conference. Still, it is worth recalling that despite repeated political declarations, at... (GunPolicy.org)
Anti-Poaching Operation Seizes Tusks, Illegal Weapons in Tanzania
19 November 2012
Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
Government trophies worth 618.4m/- were seized at Tunduru, Ruvuma Region, in an on-going operation by a special joint task force formed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
The operation, which was launched in July this year, impounded 297 firearms, 370 rounds of ammunition and 150 shell castings.
The type of firearms seized included 47 submachine guns, 225 homemade guns (gobole), 23 rifles, two SARs, one SMG, and one Egyptian G3.
Trophies seized include... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Thailand,Austria,Czech Republic
Thai Authorities Concerned Over Easy Access to Guns
18 November 2012
Bangkok Post
In recent years Thailand has been flooded with illegal firearms and the misery they cause is plain for all to see. Every day there are media reports of shootouts and homicides that begin with domestic quarrels, school rivalries and traffic accidents, and quickly escalate. Law enforcement officials say the root cause is the easy availability of guns, and this is true for teenagers as well as adults. People prefer to buy weapons outside of legal channels because they are... (GunPolicy.org)
Authorities Worried About Gun Crime, Availability of Weapons Rising
7 November 2012
Gulf Times (Doha) / Agence France Presse
It was a classic bank heist in many ways. Armed men using a stolen car and motorbikes held up a van carrying cash in central New Delhi, shot a guard, and made off with the money.
While familiar in many countries and a set-piece of Hollywood films, it set alarm bells ringing in India where gun crime and armed robbery is still low by the standards of other developing countries in Latin America or Africa.
The daylight robbery in September and several mass shootings in... (GunPolicy.org)
Peru Authorities Concerned About Gangs with Homemade Guns [Espanol]
1 November 2012
Peru 21
[Translated summary: Authorities are alarmed at the increasing use of cheap and simple homemade guns by criminals in Peru, including by youth.]
Alarmante. Ahora los cientos de pandilleros que generan zozobra en la capital 'fabrican' de manera artesanal sus propias armas de fuego y las utilizan durante sus enfrentamientos. Tal es el caso de un grupo de delincuentes juveniles de Comas al que la Policía le incautó nada menos que nueve armas caseras con sus respectivas... (GunPolicy.org)
Gangs in Peru Using Homemade Guns, Weapons
1 November 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Police in Peru's capital seized a cache of guns apparently made out of iron pipes by local street gangs, illustrative of how the intense, highly localized conflict between neighborhood gangs has pushed even the most low-level groups to arm themselves.
Lima police reported seizing the nine homemade pistols - iron pipes crudely welded together into 'T' shapes - after breaking up a gang fight in the northern district of Comas. A youth fleeing the scene dropped a backpack... (GunPolicy.org)
Homemade Guns Involved in Myanmar Conflict, Thousands Displaced
1 November 2012
Nation (Pakistan)
YANGON/DHAKA - Communal bloodshed in western Myanmar risks developing into "armed terrorist acts", the government said Wednesday, after homemade firearms were used in the latest deadly fighting.
The government said 180 guns were seized during the new wave of conflict between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine state, which has killed dozens and seen whole neighbourhoods razed. It said several people had been arrested on suspicion of making the weapons.
"The clashes... (GunPolicy.org)
Colombian Man Charged Over Guns Found in Backpack [Espanol]
29 October 2012
El Diario (Colombia)
[Translated summary - A Colombian man was arrested after being found with four weapons in his backpack. He was charged with possession, manufacture and trafficking of weapons.]
En una celda de la cárcel de varones La 40 de la ciudad de Pereira, pasó la noche Jhon Darío Puerta Vargas, de 37 años de edad y quien fue capturado el pasado sábado en el municipio de Quinchía, después de que le hallaran en su poder cuatro armas de fuego.
Según el informe de policía... (GunPolicy.org)
Chinese Police Bust Gun-Dealing Syndicate, Seize Over 6,000 Weapons
25 October 2012
Shenzhen Daily (China)
Police in Huai'an City of Jiangsu Province busted a gun-dealing ring and seized seven suspects and more than 6,000 guns from two underground workshops and two warehouses, Xinhua reported yesterday.
Police received a tip-off in March that an online dealer was selling model guns, and discovered that the guns were lethal and banned by China's gun-control laws.
The dealer, surnamed Chen, was caught March 26 in Shenyang, the capital of northeastern China's Liaoning... (GunPolicy.org)
India Craft Gunsmith Caught for Fourth Time Illegally Making Weapons
24 October 2012
Times of India
NEW DELHI - Munger in Bihar may have earned nationwide notoriety as a manufacturing hub of illicit arms but it is Meerut, closer home, which feeds much of the demand for guns in Delhi and its vicinity. The recent discovery of a gun factory in Meerut has revealed that illegal arms from this west UP town are lapped up by criminals in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
The special cell's raid at the factory was prompted by the arrest of 55-year-old Om Singh,... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Criminals Shun Craft Guns for More Expensive Modern Pistols
23 October 2012
Gulf News (Dubai) / Indo-Asian News Service (India)
NEW DELHI - A bank van was recently robbed of Rs52.5 billion (Dh3.58 billion) and its guard shot dead. The disturbing use of a weapon in the crime indicates the growing use of modern firearms by criminals in Delhi.
Be it robbery or murder, more and more criminals in the capital are opting for guns in particular, for a better strike rate and efficiency. Gone is the infamous 'katta' (home-made firearm), according to Delhi Police data.
The gun's steep price is clearly... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Gulf News (Dubai) / Indo-Asian News Service (India)
Australia Expert Says Legal Loophole Allowed Guns onto Black Market
15 October 2012
Australian (Sydney) / Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
A legal loophole in Queensland has allowed thousands of handguns to flood the black market, according to a leading criminologist.
Australian Institute of Criminology researcher Dr Samantha Bricknell also says theft, corrupt gun dealers, a grey market of missing weapons and the lack of a national firearms database have contributed to an estimated 260,000 guns circulating illegally in Australia.
In a report released earlier this year, Dr Bricknell said a loophole in... (GunPolicy.org)
China Police Shoot Drug Addict Hostage Taker, Gun Availability Rising
15 October 2012
Global Times (China)
A drug addict armed with a pistol held a woman hostage in Southwest China's Sichuan Province and opened fire on passersby, in a rare outburst of gun violence that shocked the nation.
Police shot the drug-crazed gunman dead on a highway in Guangyuan, northern Sichuan on Sunday after a 12-hour standoff, local police said.
One of the passersby was slightly wounded in the abdomen. The hostage was frightened but suffered no injuries, Luo Hong, a publicity official with... (GunPolicy.org)
Solomons Man Arrested After Threats with Modified 'High Powered' Gun
4 October 2012
Solomon Times Online (Solomon Islands)
A recent firearm incident in the Province of Makira, Solomon Islands had left police seriously concerned about the country's security.
Deputy Police Commissioner, Walter Kola yesterday had announced the arrest of a person in Arosi in the possession of a 3-0-3 high powered weapon.
Mr Kola says that the weapon also seem modified by homemade means.
Police became aware of the matter when villagers reported the man to police, following an incident over a brawl over which... (GunPolicy.org)
Irish Pensioner Charged After Police find 'Small Arms Factory' in Home
28 September 2012
BBC News
A pensioner accused of having a "small firearms factory" at his west Belfast home, has pleaded guilty to having firearm and explosive components in suspicious circumstances.
Thomas Maguire denied possessing the arms cache with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.
Maguire was arrested following searches at his Suffolk Drive home.
He also denied possessing articles useful to terrorists, and possessing other weapons a year earlier.
Concealed
A... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Criminals get Guns From Local Factories, Police Want Law Change
26 September 2012
Daily Mail (UK)
Criminals in Delhi are arming themselves with sophisticated weapons that are readily available from local arms factories, making them more dangerous than ever before.
According to Delhi Police sources, some of these weapons can use ammunition meant for imported arms, which are available on the black market and have added to their firepower.
Delhi Police has prepared an eye-opening report on the 'easy availability of high-quality firearms' in the Capital and the... (GunPolicy.org)
American Group to Put 3D Printer Gun Plans Online, Allow Full Access
26 September 2012
Guardian (UK)
Imagine an America in which anyone can download and print a gun in their own home. They wouldn't need a license, a background check, or much technical knowledge, just a 3D printer. That's the vision a cadre of industrious libertarians are determined to turn into reality.
Last week, Wiki Weapon, a project to create the first fully printable plastic gun received the $20,000 in funding it needed to get off the ground. The project's goal is not to develop and sell a... (GunPolicy.org)
Black Market For Guns Thrives in India's Capital
23 September 2012
Times of India
NEW DELHI - An illegal arms bazaar is thriving in the city and it is easy to procure a gun if you have the money and right contacts. From simple kattas (crude handguns) to sophisticated automatics, everything's available for prices ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
The trade has changed in some ways over the last decade. For one, it does not cater to only gangsters anymore. As the events of the last few weeks show, even lovers with a grudge can find guns easily now.... (GunPolicy.org)
German Man Fined for Crossing Switzerland Border with Potato Gun
21 September 2012
Local (Switzerland)
A 29-year-old German cook was fined €300 and had his potato cannon confiscated after customs officers searched his car as he crossed the border from Switzerland.
In a routine check, German customs officials in Lottstetten seized the weapon, citing its owner's lack of a gun licence, newspaper Südkurier reports.
The main customs office in Singen noted that such rudimentary weapons, usually homemade, are often fashioned from metal or plastic tubes, with gas used to... (GunPolicy.org)
India Authorities Blame Gun Availability for Rise in Homicides
20 September 2012
Times of India
NEW DELHI - Over the past fortnight, Delhi has witnessed a series of brutal killings caused by unrequited love that has surprised the cops and shocked the city. But consultant psychiatrists as well as sociologists feel that those involved in these crimes were emotionally too ill-equipped to negotiate refusal and at its core, the issue wasn't love but control.
The crime spots of the "jilted lover syndrome" are peppered over different parts of the city. But what's common... (GunPolicy.org)
Jamaica Police Seize Handgun, Manufacturing Equipment
17 September 2012
Jamaica Observer
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Montego Bay Police seized a firearm and other items believed to be used in the making of homemade firearms in Tucker district, St James yesterday. No one was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Police report that about 4:00 pm, a team of officers conducted an operation in the area, during which the items — a Lorcin 9mm pistol with the serial number partially erased, a magazine containing ten 9mm rounds, two magazine moulds, two pistol... (GunPolicy.org)
Craft Guns, Automatic 'Miniguns' Legal in Most US States
10 September 2012
Business Insider
No matter which side you stand on in the gun debate, it's pretty well known a whole host of weapons exists in America.
And for some, like flamethrowers or knife-point sharp Wild Kat Keychains, you can hardly believe they're legal — at least in most states.
We've rounded up the best of the best, or the most dangerous of the dangerous, depending on your point of view.
While many of these weapons are banned in at least a few states, for the most part they're fair... (GunPolicy.org)
Daytime Shootings On The Rise In Sweden, Police Say People at Risk
10 September 2012
Local (Sweden)
Criminals in Sweden are becoming more prone to firing gunshots in broad daylight, according to a new study, increasingly putting innocent passersby in harm's way.
Gunfire in Sweden is no longer a phenomenon restricted to out of the way alleys in the cover of darkness.
To an ever greater extent, Swedish criminals are opening fire in the middle of the day and in places where there is an increased risk of innocent bystanders getting caught in the crossfire.
On Sunday... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Police Say Illegal Gun Trade in Tourist Hub Real Threat
8 September 2012
New Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram)
Senior police officers in the Kathmandu Valley have warned that Nepali capital has been turned into a hub for illegal trade of small arms and guns.
The nation's one and only major tourist hub Thamel has become a major centre for illegal exchange and buying of small arms, which threatens the safety of foreign tourists, said Hanumandhoka Jaya Bahadur Chand, chief of the Kathmandu District Police also known as Metropolitan Police Range (MPR), Xinhua reported.
"We fear... (GunPolicy.org)
Loaded Sub-Machine Gun Seized in $2.5m Australia Drug, Weapons Bust
4 September 2012
Adelaide Now
Police have uncovered a fully-loaded Uzi sub-machine gun in Adelaide as part of a major ice ring bust, in which more than $2.5 million in drugs and weapons were seized. …
It is the biggest drug bust this year.
The rare gun - which was found alongside other purpose-made weapons such as handguns and a sawn-off shotgun - is unusual in South Australia and police are concerned about its origins.
Two men and a woman have been arrested after six house raids - on August... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Man Shoots Self, Five Others After Rejected Proposal
3 September 2012
Times of India
NEW DELHI / GHAZIABAD - Spurned by a married woman, a heavily armed 27-year-old jobless youth went on a killing spree that left six people dead, including himself, in Delhi and Ghaziabad on Monday.
The bloodbath began when the alleged killer, Ravi, visited the home of his cousin Navin, a BPO cab driver who lived in Bindapur near Dwarka in southwest Delhi. Ravi had earlier proposed to Navin's wife Renu, 24, who had rejected him.
Police said Ravi was armed with an... (GunPolicy.org)
Punjab Women Take Up Guns to Shoot Criminals, Rebels, 'Spoiled Brats'
1 September 2012
Tribune (India)
CHANDIGARH - Septuagenarian Amrik Kaur of Amarkot, a recipient of the Shaurya Chakra, a top civilian gallantry award, wants arms licences for both her daughters-in-law to carry forward the family tradition of keeping its women armed.
Amrik Kaur — once known as the "lioness of the border areas" — used to engage militants in night-long encounters during the peak of militancy in Punjab. Though she lost her husband Shahbeg Singh and domestic help Mukhtyar Singh in one... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Mail Considers Ban on Posting Guns
31 August 2012
BBC News
Plans by Royal Mail to ban the posting of guns and component parts from its services would lead to rural businesses closing, gamekeepers have claimed.
Royal Mail has launched a consultation proposing a ban on the transport of all firearms, including sporting guns.
It said it was acting to ensure its terms and conditions were consistent with existing firearms legislation.
But the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) argued the move would directly lead to rural job... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Nepal Gun Owners Get Weapons Back After Amnesty
13 August 2012
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - After making amendments to the Arms and Ammunition Rules, 2028, the government today called all licence holders of small arms to renew their licences and take the arms back which were voluntarily submitted to the government or seized by security forces during the conflict which ended in 2006.
On July 27, the Cabinet took a decision to this effect of handing over the arms which were legally owned according to the rules within six months. Some people had... (GunPolicy.org)
US Courts Decide Against the 'Right' to Have a Machine Gun
9 August 2012
Wall Street Journal, Blog
Since the Supreme Court recognized an individual's right to keep and bear arms in 2008 — but declined to say which types of arms — several lower courts have had their say on whether Americans can own machine guns.
The U.S. courts of appeals for the Third, Sixth and Eighth circuits have all said, in so many words, no right exists to have a machine gun. You can add the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to the list.
In affirming the conviction of Alaskan... (GunPolicy.org)
North Korea Firearm Legislation Bans All 'Non-official' Guns
6 August 2012
Korea Times / Yonhap
North Korea has had a gun control law since 2009, recently obtained data showed Monday, in what was seen as an effort to tighten control over the society at a time of power succession.
North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un was groomed as the successor to his ailing father Kim Jong-il, with the hereditary succession plan becoming official for the first time in 2010 when the young Kim was named as a four-star general in the military.
Kim Jong-un took the helm of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Police Say Demand Growing for Gun Licences, Illegal Weapons
2 August 2012
Times of India
AHMEDABAD - The wealth of the city and areas nearby has grown in the past half decade or so, and the number of firearms has also corresponded with this. In Ahmedabad city and parts of Gandhinagar, applications for firearm licences have increased by 25 per cent in the last two years. In the city alone, the firearm licence branch receives about 25 new applications every month.
J B Gadhvi, inspector of licence branch, said most applications come from persons fearful for... (GunPolicy.org)
Sierra Leone Lifts Ban On Guns, Plans to Regulate Ownership
2 August 2012
News24 (Cape Town)
Freetown - Sierra Leone lawmakers have lifted a ban on small arms in new legislation which seeks to regulate ownership of weapons in a country ravaged by a decade-long civil war, an official said on Wednesday.
"The act will regulate the private ownership of guns and other weapons in the country to control the proliferation nationwide," said deputy Internal Affairs Minister Raymond Kabia, who piloted the bill.
"The act will also ensure that stockpiles of small arms and... (GunPolicy.org)
US Man Creates Assault Weapon on $1,000 3D Printer, Fires 200 Bullets
1 August 2012
New York Daily News
Could a gun be made at home?
An engineer claims to have taken the first steps toward doing so using a 3D printer.
Michael Guslick said last week in an online forum that he "printed" and fired the world's first home-made, 3D-impressed gun more than 200 times. Guslick granted an exclusive interview to the Daily News, revealing just how easy it is to create a firearm at home at a time when gun control is back on the minds of millions of Americans following last month's... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Australia,Philippines
Gun Makers Tool Up Illegal Production Lines for Philippine Election
28 July 2012
Reuters
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines - In the Philippines, they vote with their trigger fingers. Elections mean big business for illegal gunsmiths, who are looking forward to 2013 mid-term polls.
With election-related violence commonplace, the Philippines imposes a ban on the carrying of guns for six months, from campaigning to the proclamation of winners.
With legal access denied, Filipinos simply turn to the many illegal gunsmiths who ply their trade in back alleys and on the... (GunPolicy.org)
Serbian Expert Calls for Gun Amnesty, Destruction by Authorities
27 July 2012
RTS (Belgrade) /, SEESAC (Belgrade)
The recent raid in Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia, during which authorities found and seized a significant amount of weapons in the house of a man suspected of producing and selling weapons and explosive materials, provides yet another opportunity to reflect on the widespread presence of illegal weapons in Serbia.
In a recent interview for Radio Television Serbia (RTS), Mr. Ivan Cvijovic from the Belgrade Police Department pointed out that in 2011 alone, the Belgrade Police... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Faces Growing 'Gun Culture' and Crime Rate
26 July 2012
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU: A burgeoning trade in small arms has accentuated [the] threat to public security in the Kathmandu Valley, which witnessed three shooting-related deaths in the fiscal year 2011/12.
The September 26 murder of Muslim activist Faizan Ahmed, December 23 murder of jeweller Harka Bahadur Diyali and the May 31 assassination of Supreme Court Justice Rana Bahadur Bam in Lalitpur highlight the threat that these arms pose. So far, police have managed to bring the... (GunPolicy.org)
Rate of Homicide Using Unlicensed Guns Rises in Maharashtra, India
23 July 2012
Times of India
The police in Maharashtra seem to have another growing problem on their hands. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, the number of murders with unlicensed firearms increased in the state every year by more than 30% since 2009.
An NCRB report showed that 37 people were killed in Maharashtra in 2009 with unlicensed firearms. The next year, the figure rose by 32% to 49. And the year after that, it reached 67, a rise of 37%. Altogether, from 2007 and 2011, more... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 280,000 Firearms Destroyed in Venezuela Since 2003 [Espanol]
19 July 2012
Prensa Latina (Havana)
[Translated summary: 287,838 firearms have been destroyed since 2003 by the Venezuelan government. During the same period, an estimated 600,000 weapons have entered the country.]
CARACAS - El gobierno venezolano ha destruido más de 280 mil armas de fuego desde el 2003 hasta la fecha y continúa este proceso en combate contra la inseguridad, afirmó hoy el miembro de la Comisión Presidencial de Desarme Reinaldo Hidalgo.
En los últimos nueve años se han destruido en... (GunPolicy.org)
Armed Rustling Gangs in Madagascar Pose Threat to Development
18 July 2012
IRIN (UN News)
ANALYSIS
"At 9am I checked them [the zebu] and they were still there, and two hours later they were gone," he told IRIN. "I need them to do the work in the field, to pull the cart and to produce fertilizer. These animals are important."
Razafindranoivo and community volunteers tracked the cattle rustlers for three days before giving up the chase. They say the theft of livestock and food have ticked up since 2009 - after Andry Rajoelina seized power with the backing... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Guns Easy to Get, Linked to Most Violent Crimes in Bangladesh
14 July 2012
Khabar South East Asia
An explosion of illegal small arms has spiked crime in Bangladesh, made its borders an arms trafficking route and above all, stolen lives.
Salma Sultana, 35, a resident of Dhaka's Mirpur suburb, knows the horrendous impact of gun violence more than most.
Returning from a relative's house with a friend on April 6th to his home, Sultana's husband, 40-year-old Hazrat Ali, came to the aid of three women out for a morning walk who were set upon by three muggers.
Ali did... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearms, Ammo Marking to Control Illicit Gun Possession in Uganda
13 July 2012
New Vision (Kampala)
The Commissioner of Police and national coordinator of Focal Point on Small Arms, Ahmed Wafuba has advised regional governments to put in place measures that will help curb illicit possession of fire arms.
According to the Nairobi Protocol, the Great Lakes regions and the Horn of Africa agreed to control as well as regulate the transfer, possession, storage, disposal plus destruction of small arms and light weapons.
Despite the agreement, the region is challenged with... (GunPolicy.org)
Deaths Show Guns Remain Available Despite Chinese Police Crack Down
11 July 2012
Global Times (China)
Early on July 1, a 48-year-old factory boss surnamed Nan was shot through the head while on the way to do his morning exercise in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. He later died in hospital. Police later announced that they found the murderer surnamed Lin who was found dead with a gun beside his body. The two were involved in a dispute over money that resulted in the murder.
The case sparked fresh concerns on gun use in China, coming so shortly after the country launched an... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Factory, Semi-automatic Handguns Found in Sydney Home
4 July 2012
Sydney Morning Herald
A fitter and turner is alleged to have made and modified weapons in his Sydney home for an organised crime group.
The 55-year-old man was arrested at his Greystanes home at 11am today but taken to hospital when he complained of breathing difficulties. He will be interviewed later.
The arrest comes after a 12-month investigation by the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad into a syndicate dealing in illegal weapons.
Today detectives from Strike Force Centre and the... (GunPolicy.org)
New Australian Registry to Keep Track of 'Lost' Guns
4 July 2012
Sydney Morning Herald
Australian police ministers are hoping a new national gun database will put an end to the estimated 14,000 firearms police lose track of each year.
Gun trafficking has reached such a crisis point, an annual meeting of police ministers was brought forward a month to last week to kick-start a national response.
That response, according to the meeting recommendations, will include an Interpol-compliant National Firearms Identification Database (NFID), a... (GunPolicy.org)
Mali,Liberia,Côte d'Ivoire,Ghana
Locally Made Guns Constitute 80% of Guns Found at Crime Scenes in Ghana
30 June 2012
Peace FM Online (Ghana)
Locally manufactured small arms and ballistic weapons constitute more than 80 percent of weapons found at all crime scenes in Ghana, police sources have disclosed.
Security agencies are partly crippled in their capacity to put these local producers under effective checks because there are currently no specific working regulations guarding gun production in the country.
DAILY GUIDE investigations indicate there are about one million illicit small arms (short guns,... (GunPolicy.org)
Uzi, AK47 and More Seized by West Midland, UK Police Over Last 12 Months
27 June 2012
Daily Mail (UK)
This shocking array of firearms is just part of the terrifying arsenal of weapons seized by a police force in just the last year.
The deadly haul of guns collected from the streets of the West Midlands include an Uzi, AK47 and an exact replica of the handgun used by Saddam Hussain.
The myriad of over a hundred fierce firearms - some of which are modified or homemade - have been seized by, or been surrendered to, West Midland's Police over the last 12 months.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Crying Need for a New Gun Control Law in Honduras [Espanol]
18 June 2012
La Tribuna (Honduras)
[Translated summary: According to the Center of Investigation and Promotion of Human Rights, Honduras current legislation is outdated, since there is no real control: 84 percent of deaths involve the use of firearms, and 74 percent of seized firearms are illegal, ie that people are not allowed to carry arms.]
SAN PEDRO SULA - Con el propósito de socializar el anteproyecto de "Ley de Control de Armas de Fuego, Municiones, Explosivos y Materiales Relacionados", este... (GunPolicy.org)
Angola Police Recover More Than 100 Firearms in Luanda [Francais]
18 June 2012
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
[Translated summary: Angola National Police recovered 109 firearms of various calibres in Luanda. This action took place in the framework of the disarmament programme of the civilian population.]
LUANDA - la Police Nationale à Luanda a recueilli 109 armes à feu de divers calibres, au mois de mai dernier, dans le cadre du programme de désarment de la population civile, qui se trouve dans sa phase cohercitive.
L'information est contenue dans le rapport mensuel de la... (GunPolicy.org)
Cambodia,Philippines,Indonesia
Around 90,000 Illegal Guns in Indonesia
18 June 2012
Jakarta Post
With a spike in armed robberies taking place in Greater Jakarta over the past few months, the Jakarta Police are being expected to work harder to cut off the circulation of illegal firearms, a police watchdog group said over the weekend.
"The police are very sluggish in cracking down on the spread of illegal guns, while armed robberies occur everyday," Neta S. Pane, chairman of the Indonesian Police Watch (IPW), told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Neta said that weak... (GunPolicy.org)
Booming Sales of Pistols and Other Small Arms in Karachi, Pakistan
16 June 2012
Pakistan Today
KARACHI - The legal and illegal sale of the light weapons in the violence-hit metropolis is skyrocketing as the target killers appear to have an inclination for using the arms that are lethal but handy. These small-sized deadly arms are: 9MM, 30 bore and .22 pistol.
According to police sources, in over 90 percent incidents of targeted killings in the city the killers had used small-size but highly sophisticated weapons during the last five months.
The sources said the... (GunPolicy.org)
Sri Lanka Police Launch Massive Islandwide Crackdown on Illegal Guns
9 June 2012
Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)
Police yesterday began a massive islandwide crackdown on illegal firearms and weapons on a directive by IGP N.K. Illangakoon.
IGP Illangakoon has sent a circular to Officers-in-Charge of police stations islandwide to seize illegal firearms forthwith by conducting raids on hideouts of criminals and other suspected individuals, Police Media Spokesman Ajith Rohana told the Sunday Observer.
"Illegal firearms and weapons are used by underworld gangs despite it being an... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Rifles, Machine Guns Seized by Police in Marseilles [Francais]
8 June 2012
Le Figaro (France)
[Translated summary: AK-47 assault rifles, israeli machine guns, 9 mm and 11.43 mm handguns… In total, 27 firearms, as well as 150 kilos of ammunition, were seized by the Police in the city of Marseilles, France.]
Au total, 27 armes de tous calibres, dont des Kalachnikov et des Uzi, ainsi que 150 kilos de munitions, ont été découvertes lors d'une opération dans le XIIe arrondissement de la ville.
Des fusils d'assaut de type Kalachnikov, des pistolets... (GunPolicy.org)
