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Mexican Couple Admit to 27,000-round Ammo Cache in Texas
15 May 2012
Reuters
Two illegal immigrants pleaded guilty in Texas on Monday to possessing 27,000 rounds of assault rifle ammunition along the U.S.-Mexico border, where cross-border weapons smuggling has increased in recent years, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Police in Laredo, Texas, discovered the ammunition after they stopped a Dodge Ram pickup truck that failed to stop at a stop sign in March, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson said in a statement.
Weapons traffickers along the... (GunPolicy.org)
Israeli Police Say Gun Violence Continues to Climb in Arab Sector
27 March 2012
Jerusalem Post (Israel)
Despite police efforts to stamp out the use of firearms in the Arab sector, gun crime rose by 7 percent in the first three months of 2012 in comparison to the same period last year, police said Monday.
In 2011, in 557 cases a firearm was used during the commission of a crime, with 579 arrests made for firearms offenses, police said.
The police and the Public Security Ministry have been the subject of continued criticism from the Arab sector due to the mayhem caused by... (GunPolicy.org)
Las Vegas Tourist Machine Gun Range Features Gun-toting Hostesses
5 March 2012
New York Times
LAS VEGAS — For Vegas die-hards bored with the $750 tasting menu at Guy Savoy, the $250 Elton John tickets at Caesars or the $200,000 baccarat bet at the Bellagio, this city is serving up a new way to find high-priced thrills.
Machine Guns Vegas — an upscale indoor shooting range complete with skimpily dressed gun-toting hostesses — opened last week a half-mile from the Strip with an armory of weapons and a promise to fulfill the desires of anyone wanting to... (GunPolicy.org)
3 Former New York City Police Officers Plead Guilty in Gun-smuggling Case
27 February 2012
New York Times
Three former New York City police officers pleaded guilty on Monday to taking part in a scheme to illegally transport firearms across state lines, the authorities said.
"As they admitted today, these police officers moonlighted as criminals, and even planned to use their badges to cover their illegal activity," the United States attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bharara, said in a statement.
Gary Ortiz, 28, who was an active-duty officer in the 71st Precinct in Brooklyn,... (GunPolicy.org)
Around 200,000 Guns in Circulation in Haiti - Analysis [Francais]
15 February 2012
Mondialisation (Canada)
[Translated summary: The large majority of the Haitian population is composed of poor, unable to exercise their constitutional right to armed self-defence by regularly importing or purchasing weapons. However, this segment of the population was the first one to suffer the consequences of the increasing criminality and tried to protect itself. Thus was born a local and artisanal production of firearms called "Creole" that, in addition to imported firearms, has fueled the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Club Officials Charged Over Illegal Machine Guns in Barbados
13 February 2012
Real Jamaican Radio
Shooting clubs and gun dealers in Barbados are at the centre of police investigations following the discovery of a number of unregistered high powered weapons.
Among the weapons were a number of M4 assault rifles used for single and automatic fire, President Barbados Rifle Association (BRA), Michael Holder, club secretary Debbie Holder and committee member Richard Arthur, were charged with illegal possession of firearms and or ammunition. Another club member was being... (GunPolicy.org)
Thailand's Lethal Fascination with Firearms [Espanol]
18 January 2012
ABC News (Spain) / EFE
[Translated summary: According to data from the United Nations, firearms are used in 80% of homicides committed in Thailand, a percentage that is almost hand in hand with nations such as South Africa, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, or the United States.]
BANGKOK - La fascinación de los tailandeses por las armas de fuego, de las que hay 15 por cada 100 habitantes, hace que Tailandia sea uno de los países con un mayor promedio de homicidios cometidos por gente propensa... (GunPolicy.org)
Guatemala,Mexico,United States
Texas Gun Shop Sold 'Infantry Squad' Weapons to Mexican Cartel Smugglers
8 December 2011
Guardian (UK)
It was nothing more than a routine inspection for federal agents. But as they browsed the records of Carter's Country gun shop in Houston, investigators picked up on a series of big sales. For cash.
Federal agents were alerted not only by the number of guns involved – sometimes a dozen at a time – but the type. Time and again buyers walked out of Carter's Country clutching assault rifles, semi-automatic pistols with armour-piercing bullets and powerful sniper... (GunPolicy.org)
In a Year, NYC Police Fire 20% of Bullets Fired in Hours by Kenya Police
4 December 2011
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
Consider this and think of the situation in Kenya as you read on: Last year, 52 officers out of a force of 34,565 officers from the New York Police Department intentionally fired 236 bullets during confrontations with suspects.
The officers reportedly shot and killed only eight people and injured 16 the whole year, in what the Police Department say marked record lows.
Of course the social and economic realities of Nairobi and New York are totally different but there... (GunPolicy.org)
Iraq,Afghanistan,United States
Conspiracists Chatter as Secretive US Company Buys Up Gun, Ammo Makers
26 November 2011
New York Times
SCARBOROUGH, Me. - Lined up in a gun rack beneath mounted deer heads is a Bushmaster Carbon 15, a matte-black semiautomatic rifle that looks as if it belongs to a SWAT team. On another rack rests a Teflon-coated Prairie Panther from DPMS Firearms, a supplier to the United States Border Patrol and security agencies in Iraq. On a third is a Remington 750 Woodsmaster, a popular hunting rifle.
The variety of rifles and shotguns on sale here at Cabela's, the national... (GunPolicy.org)
Iraq,Jordan,Turkey,Syria,Lebanon
Gun Smuggling Business Booming in Lebanon, Thanks to Syrian Uprising
25 November 2011
National Post (Toronto) / Reuters
BAALBEK, Lebanon — Weapons dealer Abu Wael has traded guns in Lebanon's Bekaa valley since the last days of his country's civil war, nearly a quarter of a century ago.
This has been his busiest year ever.
Unrest in neighbouring Syria has sent demand for weapons soaring, doubling prices for Kalashnikov assault rifles and other weapons and helping supply the increasingly well armed insurrection challenging President Bashar al-Assad.
In the first six months of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Guatemala,United States,Mexico,Central America
Arms Trafficking, Business of Death: Guns in Central America [Espanol]
16 November 2011
Contralinea (Mexico)
[Translated Summary: Contralinea magazine details the routes by which guns are trafficked into Mexico, including the flow of arms from the US directly to Guatemala, and then over Mexico's southern border. English translation at: http://bit.ly/uBnEGu]
En la última década, México pasó del lugar vigesimosegundo al quinto en tráfico de armas en el ámbito mundial. Se calcula que cada día ingresan al país unas 2 mil para abastecer a los cárteles de la droga, la... (GunPolicy.org)
Demand Growing in Canada for High-Tech Guns Popularised in Games, Movies
26 October 2011
Vancouver Sun (British Columbia)
Whether it's computers, cars, motorbikes or guns, 28-year-old Greg MacDonald — a self-confessed "tech nerd" — is always looking for the latest and greatest technology.
A Newfoundlander and lover of fine machinery, MacDonald says the rigorous research and development that goes into modern military-grade firearms — known as "black rifles" within shooter circles — is a sort of poetry in motion.
"When I see a firearm, I see engineering, mathematics and physics,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Eight New York Policemen Charged in Gun Smuggling Ring
25 October 2011
Reuters
NEW YORK - Eight New York City policemen were charged on Tuesday with helping run a gun-smuggling ring in a city whose mayor, Michael Bloomberg, is leading a national campaign against illegal guns.
The men were accused of exploiting their experience and credentials to take part in schemes to illegally transport guns, slot machines, cigarettes and counterfeit goods across state lines, a criminal complaint released by the U.S. District Attorney's Office said.
Five of... (GunPolicy.org)
One Gun for Every Four People, Owned by 6 Per Cent of Canadians
24 October 2011
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
The Canadian public loves its guns, and has a sizable arsenal to prove it.
According to the Canadian Firearms Centre, there are more than 7.6 million registered firearms in Canada, about one gun for every four Canadians.
More than 1.8 million Canadians - about six per cent of the population - have valid gun licences, with the largest concentrations in Atlantic Canada and the North.
The Yukon stacks up as the most gun-loving area of the country, with more than 84 guns... (GunPolicy.org)
Small Arms and High Powered Rifles Stolen from Belize Defence Force
13 October 2011
Guardian (Belize)
The Ministry of Defense called a press conference at Price Barracks on Wednesday evening to inform the media that there was a security breach at the Price Barracks compound and a number of small arms and high powered rifles were stolen.
Allen Whylie, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Defense, said it is a devastating breach and the Ministry will leave no stones unturned to get to the bottom of the heist. The discovery was made at about 10:20 a.m. on Wednesday,... (GunPolicy.org)
Only 2 Guns Should be Allowed, Says Former Chief of Philippines Army
11 October 2011
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon called on Tuesday for stricter gun control law after authorities learned that Presidential Political Adviser Ronald Llamas acquired five high-powered firearms to protect himself from death threats.
Biazon, a former chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said that an individual should only be allowed one short and one long firearm at the most to defend his life.
"You have only two hands anyway so why the... (GunPolicy.org)
481 Guns Seized by Police in Dominican Republic [Espanol]
24 September 2011
Listin Diario (Dominican Republic)
[Translated summary: An average of two illegal firearms have been seized per day by the Dominican Republic Police. These guns add to the 481 (pistols, shotguns, rifles and revolvers) seized in the first seven months of this year for illegal possession, crime, or expired licences.]
Un promedio de dos armas de fuego han sido decomisadas cada día en lo que va de septiembre de manos de delincuentes por la Policía Nacional y la Dirección Nacional de Control de Drogas... (GunPolicy.org)
US Customs Seized 30 Assault Rifles Bound for Mexico
22 September 2011
Reuters
AUSTIN, Texas - U.S. customs agents in Texas seized 30 high-powered assault rifles when they searched a car heading into Mexico in what they said was the largest gun seizure at the state's border this year.
Agents at the Del Rio port of entry found the stash of Kalashnikov and M-4 type rifles in the trunk of a Nissan Altima headed into Mexico on Wednesday, and arrested the 18-year-old driver from Eagle Pass, the Customs and Border Protection agency said in a news... (GunPolicy.org)
Automatic Assault Rifle, Military Weapons Seized from Australian Bodyguard
15 September 2011
Sydney Morning Herald
The former bodyguard of the deceased billionaire Richard Pratt was caught with a cache of military weapons, explosives, stolen NSW police files and false passports stashed in his apartment, court documents reveal.
Sean Shane Bowman, who allegedly had an affair with one of Mr Pratt's mistresses, Madison Ashton, while still employed by him, appeared in Burwood local court yesterday on 60 charges after a police raid on his Rhodes apartment on May 12 uncovered the massive... (GunPolicy.org)
After Norway Attacks, Estonia Considers Reviewing Its Firearm Laws
18 August 2011
ERR Estonian Public Broadcasting (Tallinn)
In the wake of the attack by lone gunman at the Defense Ministry and the tragedy in Norway, Estonia is considering reviewing the country's firearms laws, which are fairly restrictive but do currently allow those with gun permits to purchase semiautomatic versions of deadly assault rifles.
As of the end of July, there were about 58,000 guns in Estonia in civil commerce, 40,000 of which are hunting weapons.
Gun shop proprietor and sportsman Martin Bahovski says that... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Firearm Dealer Faces Gun Smuggling Charge in Philippines
28 July 2011
ABS-CBN News (Manila)
MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed smuggling charges and charges for unauthorized importation of 'weapons of war and parts' before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against a gun store owner who uses balikbayan boxes in allegedly illegally bringing in firearms and ammunition.
Mark Louie Mendoza, a resident of La Loma, Manila, and owner of Last Resort Armaments based in Makati City, was named respondent in the case. The BOC says he is a consignee... (GunPolicy.org)
Pakistan,South Asia,China,United States,United Kingdom,Germany,France,India,Nepal
Global Gun Trade Treaty the Only Way to Control 'Arms Bazaar'
25 July 2011
República (Kathmandu), Opinion
In 2009, I recall visiting a militant camp in India's North East a day before they would surrender. The deputy commander who was in charge and allegedly responsible for the death of at least 200 people brandished his M16 assault rifle and flaunted his bodyguard who was following him with a rocket launcher. He was calm but shifty-eyed and admitted having a personal saving of a few billion INR in his account. Barely 24 hours after his formal surrender, he was in seen in... (GunPolicy.org)
650,000 Illegal Guns Circulating in Honduras [Espanol]
17 July 2011
El Heraldo (Honduras), Editorial
[Translated summary: Honduras seems to be turning into a battlefield. Some 800,000 weapons are between being registered and not registered; 650,000 are circulating illegaly in the country; 19,640 gun deaths between 2005 and 2010. In its latest study, the National Commission for Human Rights urged the Legislative Power to reform the Firearms Act.]
En Honduras hay unas 800,000 armas entre registradas y no registradas.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Honduras entera pareciera... (GunPolicy.org)
Judges Giving Gun Rights Back to Americans with History of Mental Illness
2 July 2011
New York Times
PULASKI, Virginia — In May 2009, Sam French hit bottom, once again. A relative found him face down in his carport "talking gibberish," according to court records. He later told medical personnel that he had been conversing with a bear in his backyard and hearing voices. His family figured he had gone off his medication for bipolar disorder, and a judge ordered him involuntarily committed — the fourth time in five years he had been hospitalized by court order.
When... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Weapons Lawfully Bought in US End Up in the Hands of Mexican Cartels
28 May 2011
Deseret News (Utah)
WASHINGTON — Convicted gun smuggler John Phillip Hernandez of Houston was likely not the kind of customer that Bushmaster Firearms International had in mind when he purchased 14 of the company's .223 caliber AR-15s at Houston area gun shops in 2006 and 2007.
Bushmaster describes the AR-15 rifle, a civilian version of the U.S. military's standard-issue M-16, as intended "for law enforcement, security and private consumer use." But the weapons that Hernandez and his... (GunPolicy.org)
Influence Game: Gun Manufacturers Battling over US Military Rifle Market
25 May 2011
San Francisco Chronicle / AP
WASHINGTON - For nearly a decade, Colt Defense went without a lobbyist. The legendary gun maker based in West Hartford, Conn., had an exclusive deal to provide combat rifles to the U.S. military and didn't need a hired gun looking out for the company's interests in Washington.
Times have changed. After buying more than 700,000 Colt M4 carbines, the Defense Department has started a search for the rifle's successor, giving Colt's competitors the long-awaited chance to... (GunPolicy.org)
Government Forces Raided an Illegal Gun-Making Facility in Philippines
22 May 2011
Philippine Daily Inquirer
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Police and military forces raided here, on Saturday, a gun-making facility found illegally manufacturing, repairing or tampering with high-powered firearms.
Government forces seized several guns and paraphernalia and equipment for the repair and manufacture of, and tampering with high-powered firearms.
Recovered from the raid on the house of Gualberto Gonzaga in Doña Soledad Subdivision in Labangal village here, were barrels and... (GunPolicy.org)
As Syrian Violence is Escalating, Guns Black Market Flourishes in Lebanon
14 May 2011
al Jazeera
As the Syrian uprisings escalate in violence, Lebanon's black market in arms is flourishing, with prices of light and medium weapons driven higher by Lebanese and Syrian demand.
"Prices have tripled in less than two months," says Wael, a local arms dealer, whose name has been changed to protect his identity.
According to local dealers, Syrians have been crossing the borders into neighbouring Lebanon to purchase weapons since late January, when the country erupted with... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Gun Dealer Boasts He can't Keep Up with Demand in Lebanon
22 April 2011
Sydney Morning Herald
The Beiruti arms dealer Abu Jihad is more than an hour late to our pre-arranged meeting.
"I'm very sorry for the delay," says the balding father of four when he finally appears. "On the way here I made an unexpected sale. Two M16s."
Wearing green camouflage pants and a black parka, Abu Jihad sits down and reaches for the Smith & Wesson revolver strapped to his ankle. "I normally carry three weapons," he says, emptying the revolver of its bullets and spinning the... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,United States,United Arab Emirates,Jordan
Former UK Gun Lobby Leader Nears Plea on US-Middle East Gun Running
27 March 2011
Tennessean (Nashville)
Illegally trafficked assault rifles and gun parts manufactured in Nashville ultimately found their way to Middle Eastern countries such as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, according to federal court documents unsealed Wednesday.
The documents — sworn statements written by federal agents in support of search warrants for facilities owned by Sabre Defence Industries — reveal many new details about an alleged conspiracy to skirt U.S. regulators and law enforcement... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Shows, Dealers Sold 45 Assault Weapons to Texas-Mexico Smugglers
24 January 2011
San Antonio Express-News (Texas)
Five people have been indicted as part of an investigation into a group accused of trying to smuggle at least 45 assault rifles from San Antonio to Mexico last summer.
In a joint operation that began Friday, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives took three of the five suspects into custody on indictments handed up by a federal grand jury in Del Rio. More arrests are expected.
The indictments... (GunPolicy.org)
America's Leaders Should Tone Down Rhetoric, Examine Our Gun Laws
19 January 2011
Oklahoma Daily, Column
The current political landscape is deeply disturbing. Politicians preach violence and toxic rhetoric; a trigger-happy populace seems eager to follow.
Unfortunately, it took an assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., the murders of six blameless people including a Federal Judge and a 9-year-old, and a dozen more injuries for this country to reopen a dialogue on decorum in public discourse and gun control laws.
As more evidence comes to light on the... (GunPolicy.org)
Violence Not Endemic to America, But Gun Violence Much More Common
11 January 2011
Bloomberg (USA), Letter
The tragic killings of a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl and the serious wounding of Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday underscored that reality. Gun murders occur in other developed countries, but not with anywhere near the frequency.
There are almost 300 million guns in America, a third of them handguns, and almost 100 million are owned by the public. This is the highest concentration of gun ownership in the world.
Not... (GunPolicy.org)
Unhealthy, Dangerous Gun Culture the 'Achilles Heel of American Society'
11 January 2011
Press (Christchurch), Editorial
The Tucson shooting, in which Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head, is another tragic commentary on the poisonous political climate which has developed in the United States, allied to the country's pervasive gun culture.
It is unclear why the 22-year-old opened fire with such deadly effect, slaying six bystanders, among them a federal judge and a nine-year-old girl, and wounding 14 others, including Giffords, but it does appear that the Democrat... (GunPolicy.org)
Arizona, a State Deeply in Love With Firearms, Promotes Hidden Handguns
10 January 2011
Sydney Morning Herald
BEAUTIFUL, vast, rugged and unforgiving, Arizona's postcard landscape is matched by the frontier mentality of many of its populace: not so much lawless, but deeply conservative, and wedded to the idea that happiness truly is a warm gun.
Its border with Mexico is porous, regularly and easily traversed. Phoenix, its largest city, has become a waypoint for drug and human trafficking.
The state has also been hit hard by the recession, which has helped make it a centre for... (GunPolicy.org)
Convicted Texas Arms Trafficker Helps Feds Trace US-Mexico Gun Running
4 January 2011
Houston Chronicle (Texas)
U.S. agents are armed with the secrets of a convicted Houston gunrunner, information that could lead them to top Mexican drug-cartel bosses and the Texas firearms dealers suppling high-powered weapons.
Christian Garza was sentenced to three years in federal prison as a result of a plea agreement that offered leniency in exchange for telling U.S. officials about his criminal contacts, according to court papers.
"Mr. Garza has also provided assistance and information... (GunPolicy.org)
India's New Gun Obsession 'Makes Charlton Heston Look Like Gandhi'
20 December 2010
Global Post (Boston)
NEW DELHI, India — Three years after two teenage boys allegedly gunned down his 14-year-old son, Abishek, over a playground spat, Gurgaon businessman Rajinder Tyagi is dry-eyed as he describes the boy's senseless murder. A veteran of hundreds of media interviews, he's made himself numb in an endeavor to shield his wife and daughter from the press.
"My son was walking down the stairs," recalls Tyagi, his face set with grim determination. "They shot him from the back.... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Shop Owner Gets 2mths for Dealing in Stolen US Military M16 Parts
14 December 2010
Coastal Courier (Georgia)
A Hinesville gun shop owner who pleaded guilty to dealing in stolen military equipment was sentenced earlier this week.
Joshua Works, 29, was sentenced to two months in prison and three years of supervised release (probation), said James D. Durham, first assistant U.S. attorney in an e-mail Friday. Works entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. in August.
Works was indicted by a grand jury on charges of willfully and knowingly... (GunPolicy.org)
Flesh and Blood Behind the AK-47: Bold History of Gun for Good and Bad
2 December 2010
New York Times, Book review
It is no accident that C. J. Chivers opens "The Gun," his bold history of the AK-47, not with the loud crack that is the report of the rifle but with the monstrous bang of the first detonation of a Soviet nuclear bomb. As Mr. Chivers's detailed history then skirts as far back as the United States Civil War and brings us right up to the current conflict in Afghanistan, the message of his prologue is clear: For all that the escalating cold war shaped the last 60 years, no... (GunPolicy.org)
The Gun That Made History: New Book About AK-47 'Succeeds Admirably'
29 October 2010
Washington Post, Book review
The Gun, By C.J. Chivers
Simon & Schuster. 481 pp. $28
It is indisputably the most produced and iconic firearm design in history. Its distinctive curved magazine and pistol grip are recognized even by those with little knowledge of guns. It is the Avtomat Kalashnikova designed in 1947 - the AK-47.
Although it bears Mikhail Kalashnikov's name, the AK's ubiquitous presence on the world stage more than six decades after its adoption as the standard Soviet-issue rifle can... (GunPolicy.org)
Remington Deny World's Most Popular Bolt-action Rifle Fires On Its Own
28 October 2010
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
PORTLAND - The Portland Police Department's special reaction team has stopped using its Remington 700 sniper rifles, because one of them started firing unpredictably and a network news report said similar problems elsewhere have caused injuries and prompted lawsuits.
A program on CNBC last week highlighted several reports that Remington 700 rifles -- a mainstay for the U.S. military, law enforcement and gun enthusiasts -- had fired when the trigger had not been... (GunPolicy.org)
'The Gun': How Automatic Weapons, AK-47 Changed the Way we Kill
26 October 2010
Salon (USA), Book review
Few common objects are as shrouded in mystery as the gun.
I don't mean to suggest large numbers of people are unfamiliar with guns, because in this country, that's not the case. The long tradition of routine, practical gun ownership in the United States continues to this day, in rural areas especially. According to a regular Gallup poll question, somewhere between 38 percent and 42 percent of U.S. households contain at least one firearm. I visited many a firing range... (GunPolicy.org)
Florida Democrat Touts Assault Weapon, Bullet Sound FX in Election Ads
21 October 2010
St Petersburg Times (Florida)
BROOKSVILLE — As Election Day nears, the two candidates running for the 5th Congressional District seat are pulling out the big guns. Literally.
Not only is Land O'Lakes Democrat Jim Piccillo sinking money into a television commercial, but the 30-second spot features a photo of Piccillo sporting jeans, rolled-up shirtsleeves, a stern expression — and holding a military issue M-4 rifle with a collapsible stock and laser sight.
Meanwhile, Hernando County Sheriff... (GunPolicy.org)
Everyman's Gun: Sheer Numbers Make AK-47 the World's Main Killing Tool
16 October 2010
Wall Street Journal, Book review
The AK-47 is the most numerous and widely distributed weapon in history, with a name and appearance that are instantly recognized worldwide. Designed in the late 1940s for the Soviet Army, the Avtomat Kalashnikova 47 ("Automatic of Kalashnikov 1947") became the universal weapon by the late 20th century, used by armies, militias and terrorists in practically every armed conflict, and by all sides in most of them. Even the United States has purchased mass quantities of... (GunPolicy.org)
'The Gun' Examines the AK-47's Global Success and the M-16's Faults
14 October 2010
Gun Reports (USA)
The upcoming issue of Esquire magazine, due to subscribers in about two weeks and due on newsstands several days later, carries an exclusive adaptation from The Gun, an examination of the origins of the world's most abundant weapon -- the Kalashnikov assault rifle -- and the consequences of its spread.
The Gun and the adaptation of the book in Esquire, entitled "How They Were Betrayed," are written by C.J. Chivers, a former Marine Corps infantry officer and now a... (GunPolicy.org)
Manila Mass Shooting, 9 Dead in Tourist Bus: 10 Things Police Got Wrong
24 August 2010
BBC News
A security analyst who has worked in counter-terrorism with the British Army and Scotland Yard, Charles Shoebridge, says the officers involved in Manila's bus siege showed great courage - but they were not properly trained or equipped for the task.
Here are 10 areas where, in his view, they could have done better.
1. Determination
The first officers who tried to storm the bus were driven out by gunshots from the hostage taker, former policeman Rolando Mendoza. "They... (GunPolicy.org)
Sacked Police Officer Hijacks Bus with Assault Rifle, 9 Shot Dead in Manila
23 August 2010
Associated Press
MANILA, Philippines – It looked like a hostage rescue in slow motion: Police creeping up on the bus with sledgehammers and smashing first one window, then another, then trying and failing to rip open the door.
When they finally got inside, authorities said, they found nine bodies: eight Hong Kong tourists and the ex-policeman who had seized the bus to demand his job back.
The bloody denouement to the 12-hour drama in the heart of the Philippine capital, witnessed... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippine Gun Lovers Celebrate Newly Elected President as 'One of Us'
31 July 2010
Agence France Presse
MANILA — Standing amid an array of foreign assault rifles and local shotguns at one of the Philippines' largest shopping malls, firearms aficionados celebrated the rise of the nation's new president.
Benigno Aquino, who took office on June 30, is an avid sports shooter and clips on YouTube show him using a semi-automatic pistol with great skill at a target shooting competition.
"The feeling is that he is one of us. He also inhales gunpowder," said Johnmuel Mendoza,... (GunPolicy.org)
New Zealand Moves to Restrict Airgun Model Used to Kill Police Officer
15 July 2010
New Zealand Press Association
Police Minister Judith Collins says the Government is looking seriously at legislation to restrict the sale of powerful air rifles which are being blamed for two slayings in Auckland.
Police Sergeant Don Wilkinson died after he was shot with an FX Monsoon airgun while on an undercover drugs operation in 2008.
And now it has been revealed that the same type of weapon was used in the slaying of Keith Kahi, 44, in the eastern Auckland suburb of Botany Downs nine days... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Control Senator Champions Remington in US Army M4 Rifle Contract
28 June 2010
Observer-Dispatch (New York)
Remington Arms and other manufacturing companies are now eligible to compete for the U.S. Army's contracts for M4 rifles – a change that could lead to a boost in business at the Ilion plant, officials said Monday.
Jim Rabbia, the Ilion plant manager, said Remington Arms is interested in applying for the work. Such contracts could require the production of thousands of units per month and result in the company hiring new workers in Ilion to meet the demand, he... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Buybacks, Destruction Served Australia Well: Now It's Time to Do More
27 May 2010
Advertiser (Adelaide), Editorial
Isolated incidents in the past week could leave many with the impression that South Australia is wracked with mindless violence.
The raids carried out on the Agape cult provide yet another chapter in the wacky crimes catalogue for which the state has become known.
Just as right-minded South Australians recovered from that shock, on Tuesday two young policemen narrowly escaped death or serious injury when they were lured into a trap at Paralowie.
On the same day two... (GunPolicy.org)
Drive to Seize Another 50,000 Illegal Guns in Kenya Amid Talk of 'Abuse'
24 March 2010
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
NAIROBI — Kenya's pastoralists have spent Sh1.1 billion to arm themselves over the years, it was revealed on Wednesday.
The figure is tallied from the number of firearms confiscated from them during the recent disarmament.
The guns are used for cattle rustling in which many people are killed and livestock stolen.
Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia said this while the minister, Prof George Saitoti, pledged to have a law enacted, with stiffer... (GunPolicy.org)
Bigger Handguns for Security Guards Alarm Green Party in Australia
12 March 2010
Sydney Morning Herald
New regulations allowing security guards to carry high-calibre handguns and shotguns is a weakening of gun control that will see more firearms ending up in criminal hands, the NSW Greens say.
The amendment to state firearms legislation, quietly introduced by the Labor government before Christmas, gives the NSW Police Commissioner the power to authorise security guards to carry prohibited firearms.
This week the Greens MP Lee Rhiannon attempted to have the regulation... (GunPolicy.org)
Another Philippine Police Officer Charged with Election Gun Ban Breach
14 February 2010
Visayan Daily Star (Philippines)
Another Negrense policeman was arrested for violation of the Commission on Election gun ban in Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Feb. 14, the third in Western Visayas nabbed for the offense, police records show.
Chief Inspector Romeo Leyte, Isabela police chief, said the policeman identified as PO1 Generoso Ellera is now being restricted at the town police station.
Ellera who was believed to be under the influence of liquor and in civilian clothes, allegedly poked his... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed US Machine Gun Owner Loses 13 Firearms in Domestic Dispute
9 February 2010
Milford Daily News (Massachusetts)
MILFORD, Massachusetts - A Milford man was arrested and police seized more than a dozen of his guns, including an M16 and AK47, after officers went to his home Saturday for a report of a domestic dispute.
Paul A. Delaney, 45, of 48 Harvard Drive, assaulted his wife during an argument about the music being so loud that it might wake their kids in the middle of the night, police said.
One of the children ended up trying to call 911 during the fight and Delaney stopped... (GunPolicy.org)
Jamaica Police Sergeant, 10 Others Arrested in Theft of 19 Police Guns
5 February 2010
Jamaica Observer
A police sergeant was among 11 persons detained following yesterday's seizure of 19 high-powered weapons and close to 10,000 rounds of ammunition at a house in East Kingston.
But amidst the shock and shame that the sergeant's arrest brought on the constabulary, police also felt a sense of pride that his plea for his colleagues not to arrest him was ignored by the five cops who smashed what was obviously a large gun-running operation.
The guns and ammunition were... (GunPolicy.org)
Israeli Soldier's Sentence Doubled for Selling Stolen Army M-16
12 January 2010
Israel News
The Military Court of Appeals decided to aggravate the sentence of a navy soldier convicted of steeling a weapon from his comrade. The soldier was initially sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, but the appeals court doubled his sentence to five years following comments the soldier made to a police agent in prison, stating that he tried to sell the weapon to criminal Zeev Rosenstein.
In the summer of 2008, the soldier stole an M-16 rifle from his comrade. The... (GunPolicy.org)
No Right to Bear Unlicensed Machine Guns, Says US Federal Court
30 December 2009
Christian Science Monitor
A former commander in the Tennessee State Guard has lost an appeal to overturn his conviction for trying to provide his soldiers with homemade machine guns for possible use in defending the state.
On Wednesday, a federal appeals court in Cincinnati threw the case out of court.
“Whatever the individual right to keep and bear arms might entail, it does not authorize an unlicensed individual to possess unregistered machine guns for personal use,” said the three-judge... (GunPolicy.org)
Maguindanao Arms Seizure Recovers Number of Police-Issued M16s
28 December 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Several high-powered firearms seized in a series of raids in Maguindanao province over the past weeks were police-issued firearms, Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa said on Monday.
In an interview, Verzosa said that of the more than 800 firearms seized throughout the province of Maguindanao during and after the declaration of martial law there, more than 20 were PNP-issued.
He said most of those that were PNP-issued were... (GunPolicy.org)
Civilians, Reservists Surrender Assault Weapons in Kenya Gun Ban Drive
21 December 2009
Kenyan Broadcasting Service
Residents of Iisiolo district have surrendered 177 assault rifles to the government in a bid to beat the amnesty period deadline.
Security personnel have in the past two weeks also recovered 7,939 rounds of ammunition from civilians while Kenya police reservists have handed back 217 guns issued to them by the government.
Isiolo DC Mr. James Mwaura commended the residents for surrendering illegal firearms and expressed optimism that those in possession of illegal... (GunPolicy.org)
Race to Smuggle, Buy Assault Weapons as Kenya Pastoralists Re-arm
20 December 2009
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
NAIROBI, Kenya — The demand for automatic weapons in Turkana, Samburu and Pokot has created a huge market and this could explain the recent arms seizures in the country.
Fuelled by persistent droughts, the arms race among the pastoral communities in Northern Kenya has intensified in the last decade with almost 95 per cent of households said to own a firearm.
A two-decade study of the three communities says that by the early 1990s, most households had a... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Rifle Maker Applauds Bill, Utahns 'Entitled to Any Gun They Want'
19 December 2009
Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
Alex Robinson wants his assault rifles on foreign battlefields and Utah gun racks alike, so a proposed Firearms Freedom Act exempting local-only sales from federal regulation isn't a game changer at his Salt Lake City machine shop.
Then again, Utah is gun country. Armed self-defense true believers see life and death in every constitutional affront. Many applaud a message bill that would preclude federal regulation of any guns made, sold and kept within state lines --... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippine Businessman Misses Licensing Deadline, Police Seize Guns
16 December 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer
TAGUM CITY, Philippines — A businessman has been arrested for possessing several firearms with allegedly expired licenses and over a hundred rounds of ammunition in New Corella town, Davao del Norte, police said Wednesday.
Senior Superintendent Jose Pante, Davao del Norte police director said Ernesto Hechanova, owner of vast rice and fruit farms was arrested after police raided his home in Barangay Mesaoy at 4 p.m. Tuesday,
Pante said the raid was carried out by... (GunPolicy.org)
Malaysia Escapes UN Censure After Officials Scrap Arms Sale to Burundi
10 December 2009
Malay Mail (Malaysia)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - An attempt by a local company to export some 30,000 assault rifles to Burundi, worth more than RM200 million, nearly caused Malaysia to be censured by the United Nations Security Council, if not for the prompt action by Malaysian officials at the UN body.
The Malay Mail learnt that officials from the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the UN in New York had managed to assure the world body that the Malaysian government had not sanctioned the deal... (GunPolicy.org)
Buried Philippine Massacre Guns Were Traced to Army, Police
8 December 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer
AMPATUAN, Maguindanao — Five of the 16 assault rifles that soldiers dug up at the back of the town hall here late Monday afternoon belonged to militiamen, the Philippine Army disclosed Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Edgardo de Leon, 73rd Infantry Battalion commander, said a document recovered from the town’s old treasury office showed that three M16 rifles and one M14 armalite were purchased by the local government.
The other M16 rifle, he said, came from the armory of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Maguindanao Town Hall Yields Cache of Guns After Massacre
8 December 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines -- Authorities continue to recover several high-powered firearms scattered throughout the province of Maguindanao which are believed to have been stashed by rebel forces linked with the influential Ampatuan clan.
On Monday’s search, authorities unearthed an arms cache right at the back of the Ampatuan municipal hall, said Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa on Tuesday.
The firearms unearthed consisted of 14 M16 rifles, an... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Seized in Maguindanao Massacre Raids Marked 'Dept of Defence'
7 December 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer (Mindanao)
DATU HOFFER AMPATUAN, Maguindanao — Using sniffer dogs and shovels, troops dug up another arms cache on Sunday in a crackdown on suspects in the massacre of 57 people after the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao that has led to 62 arrests.
The seizure of 39 high-powered firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition came a day after police and military units uncovered 340,000 bullets for M-16 assault rifles in a warehouse reportedly owned by the Ampatuan clan,... (GunPolicy.org)
More Leaked Military Guns Found in Maguindanao Massacre Probe
4 December 2009
Manila Bulletin
The noose further tightened on neck of the embattled Ampatuan clan as authorities discovered on Thursday a cache of high-powered firearms and ammunition near the family residence in Maguindanao which officials said is enough to arm a battalion of security forces.
Director General Jesus Verzosa of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said subsequent raids conducted Friday on the houses of four members of the Ampatuan family, including that of Maguindanao Gov. Andal... (GunPolicy.org)
Fear Drives Hawaiians to Buy, Register Guns at Record Pace
4 December 2009
Honolulu Advertiser
Hawai'i residents have registered guns at a record pace for each of the past four years, and appear headed for a new high again this year, preliminary figures show.
Nearly 26,000 firearms — an annual record — were registered with the four county police departments during 2008.
Yearly gun registrations in Hawai'i have marched steadily upward for most of the past decade — from about 13,600 in 2000 to 25,996 in 2008 — said Paul Perrone, chief of research and... (GunPolicy.org)
Heckler & Koch Leads Race for US Marines' New Automatic Rifle
3 December 2009
Defense News (USA)
The U.S. Marine Corps has selected the infantry automatic rifle made by Heckler & Koch as the weapon that will likely replace many M249 Squad Automatic Weapons in the rifle squad, and could begin fielding the IAR by next summer, a senior service official said.
The H&K IAR beat out three other models in the competition, which was launched in 2006 and narrowed to four finalists made by three companies in December 2008, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeffrey Eby, the Corps'... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun, Ammo Tracing Pinpoints Killers Who Shot 57 Dead in Philippines
3 December 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – Police are still looking for at least seven more firearms used in the mass killing of 57 people in Maguindanao province, after only one firearm tested positive in the ballistics examination to date, authorities said on Thursday.
Chief Superintendent Arturo Cacdac, Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory chide, said in a press conference that they are in the process of testing 21 more firearms, consisting of two M16 rifles, one shotgun, four... (GunPolicy.org)
Mass Police Sacking After Mayor, Private Army Shot 57 in Philippines
2 December 2009
Business World (Manila) / AFP
KORONADAL CITY — Probers of a mass murder yesterday established a link between the perpetrators and the principal suspect through confiscated weapons that tested positive and were among those allegedly used in the crime.
The two firearms were taken from civilian volunteer organization (CVO) elements, a paramilitary group, allegedly under the Ampatuan clan, a police official said yesterday.
Senior Superintendent Willie M. Dangane, Cotabato City police chief who... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Gizmo Counts Shots Fired, Detects Stoppages, Reports on Shooter
16 November 2009
CNet News, Web page
Firearms manufacturer FN Herstal has designed and built a Black Box that, when attached to a weapon, counts rounds fired, measures burst rate, and detects stoppages — information it then stores to facilitate more effective maintenance.
The device is housed in a module that can be molded to fit any weapon, according to FN. It comes with a non-replaceable 10-year battery, allowing the unit to record up to 100,000 rounds.
"The FN Black Box detects, discriminates,... (GunPolicy.org)
M-16 Assault Rifle Debate Heats Up Non-soldiers More Than US Military
3 November 2009
New York Times / At War: Notes From the Front Lines, Blog
A post here yesterday explored some of the background to controversies surrounding the performance of M-16 and M-4 assault rifles in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The latest controversy followed the leak of an Army historian's study that described weapons overheating and jamming in a July 2008 battle in Wanat, Afghanistan. Nine American soldiers died in that fight, at a remote post that insurgents almost overran.
Similar reports of malfunctions, and concerns that the M-16 and... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: New York Times / At War: Notes From the Front Lines
How Reliable Are the US M-16 and M-4 Rifles and Their Ammunition?
2 November 2009
New York Times / At War: Notes From the Front Lines, Blog
Few issues are more personal to soldiers than the question of whether they can trust their rifles. And few rifles in history have generated more controversy over their reliability than the American M-16 assault rifle and its carbine version, the M-4.
In recent weeks, a fresh round of complaints about weapon malfunctions in Afghanistan, mentioned in an Army historian's report that documented small-arms jamming during the fierce battle in Wanat last year, has rekindled... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: New York Times / At War: Notes From the Front Lines
Kenya 'A Nation on a Timebomb' of Illegal Guns, Death Penalty Mooted
1 November 2009
Standard (Nairobi)
More than 130,000 guns are in the wrongs hands. The Government and experts are unanimous the country is sitting on a time bomb, which could explode any time.
Head of the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons David Kimaiyo warns the problem could reach unmanageable levels.
"We have to address this issue once and for all, otherwise it might end up causing a serious social, economic and political problem," he warns.
Past efforts to mop up and burn... (GunPolicy.org)
Kalashnikov, 90, Decries "Criminal" Use of Rifle, Russia's Loss of Profits
26 October 2009
Reuters
KLIMOVSK, Russia — Approaching 90, the inventor of the Kalashnikov assault rifle has one big regret:
The almost unstoppable Kalashnikov, designed in 1947, has become the weapon of choice for militants and rebels from Liberia to Afghanistan as well as gangsters and drug traffickers.
"It is painful for me to see when criminal elements of all kinds fire from my weapon," Mikhail Kalashnikov said in a videotaped address to a conference of Russian arms traders and... (GunPolicy.org)
India,China,Myanmar,Laos,Cambodia,Thailand
China Small Arms Bazaar Fuelling North East Indian Insurgents, Maoists
19 October 2009
Hueiyen Lanpao (India)
DIMAPUR — Small arms wielded by Northeast militants and Maoists invariably find their way in from Yunan province of southern China through the Chin people in Myanmar. But forces handling security this side of the India-Myanmar border have "no reasons yet"
to suspect Beijing's official involvement in the gun-running racket.
Chinese copies of weapons such as the American M-16 rifles and Russian Kalashnikovs — AK-47s and AK-56s — are cheaper but almost as... (GunPolicy.org)
Dutch, American Diplomats Caught Carrying Guns Illegal in Pakistan
9 October 2009
News International (Karachi)
ISLAMABAD — The government has categorically said that no foreign diplomat, whether American, Dutch or from any other country, is permitted to carry weapons within the territorial limits of Pakistan. However, recent incidents show the US diplomats in particular have been violating the law of the land frequently.
Although, in case of two Dutch diplomats who were caught red-handed on Tuesday while carrying weapons, including hand-grenades, a formal complaint has been... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Minnesota Gun Dealer Loses 21 Rifles, Handguns to Thieves
28 September 2009
Mankato Free Press (Minnesota)
MANKATO — Investigators are still searching for 18 of the 21 rifles and handguns stolen from a Lake Crystal federally licensed arms dealer more than a week ago.
Many of the weapons were military quality and Capt. Rich Murry of the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Department said deputies are hoping to find them before they leave the area.
Two people have been arrested for stealing the guns, but leads those suspects provided about where the guns went have not panned... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Guns Flood Mindanao, Fuel Insecurity, Promote Armed Violence
23 September 2009
IRIN (UN News)
DAPIAWAN, Philippines — A .45 calibre pistol is tucked into the waistband of a tricycle driver as he speeds along a desolate stretch of highway that cuts through a Muslim rebel stronghold in the southern Philippine town of Datu Piang in Mindanao.
"I can get attacked by bandits, rebels or my enemies, and my gun spells the difference between life and death," he told IRIN.
Similar scenarios are played out across this strife-torn, southern island, where violence borne... (GunPolicy.org)
To Curb Gun Violence in South, Thailand Gives 30,000 Guns to Civilians
18 September 2009
Inter Press Service News Agency
YALA, Thailand — With an insurgency threatening to worsen, Thailand's military is turning to civilians like Nipa Waya to return fire in the three southern provinces close to the Malaysian border.
Nipa, a single mother, maintains a vigil through the night armed with a shotgun at the entrance to a Buddhist village on the outskirts of this southern city. With her, on a recent night, were 15 other men and women, similarly armed, who are part of a civilian-defence force.... (GunPolicy.org)
Domestic Dispute Exposes Former Gun Dealer's Illegal Assault Rifles
10 September 2009
Sydney Morning Herald
Police say they found grenade launchers, assault rifles and other firearms at an industrial site in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
The "military-style" weapons were found in a safe in the strong room of an industrial site in Rothschild Avenue, Rosebery, about 2pm yesterday.
They included a M16 and 9mm Colt assault rifles, handgunds, grenade launchers and ammunition, police said.
Police say they were tipped off about the weapons while investigating a domestic dispute at a... (GunPolicy.org)
Pakistan,United States,Afghanistan
Flood of Stolen US Assault Rifles, Handguns Arms Taliban in Pakistan
9 September 2009
Islam Online (Qatar)
PESHAWAR — Sophisticated US-made arms, either snatched from foreign troops in neighboring Afghanistan, or sold out by cash-strapped Afghan soldiers, have flooded the arms markets in Pakistan's northern tribal belt and are in high demand too.
"We have various kinds of US-made arms, which we procure from Afghan arms smugglers," an arms dealer from the town of Darra Adamkhel in Pakistan's western frontier province (NWFP) told IslamOnline.net.
Darra Adamkhel, virtually... (GunPolicy.org)
Theft of 300 Army Guns Began 5-year Killing Spree in Southern Thailand
6 September 2009
Bangkok Post
There isn't a single shop in the South of Thailand where a gun can be bought legally, but statistics revealing the number of people killed or injured by small arms point to the rise of a gun culture, especially in the three southernmost provinces, driven in part by the basic instinct of self protection.
The prevalence of small arms — weapons which can be easily carried by an individual — has been the trigger point of so much chaos and violence in recent years. It... (GunPolicy.org)
Taliban Moving from AK-47 to AK-74 to Penetrate NATO Body Armour?
2 September 2009
Wired (USA), Web page
One way of finding out what sort of weapons the Taliban favor is to go the usual military route: examine captured arsenals and look for shell casings after a firefight. Or you could just go and talk to the man who apparently sells them their weapons, as Guardian reporter Ghaith Abdul-Ahad recently did. The results were highly instructive.
Abdul-Ahab talked to a man named Hekmat, formerly a shopkeeper but now a wealthy smuggler. Hekmat made his fortune ferrying arms... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Mexico,Central America,United Nations
Gun Treaty for the Americas Erodes US Sovereignty, Says Lobby Group
22 August 2009
Green Bay Gazette (Wisconsin), Opinion
DALLAS — CIFTA — the 1997 small-arms trafficking treaty drafted with the help of the Clinton administration — is bad as a matter of principle and policy.
When the United Nations tried to get the Bush administration to push the treaty through the Senate, it refused. John Bolton, then undersecretary of state for arms control, said the United States would reject any effort to regulate trade in non-military arms or any treaty that would "abrogate the constitutional... (GunPolicy.org)
Chilling Sight: 'Thugs' Toting 'Weapons of Mass Murder' to Obama Events
21 August 2009
Los Angeles Times, Editorial
Outside the convention center in Phoenix where President Obama was discussing healthcare reform earlier this week, about a dozen protesters were openly displaying their guns — including one man with an AR-15 rifle slung over his shoulder. Police monitoring the situation reported that no threats, physical or verbal, were made by or toward the armed demonstrators.
Big surprise. Who's going to argue about the merits of the public insurance option with a wing-nut... (GunPolicy.org)
South Ossetia Tries to Disarm Its Citizens with Amnesty, Buyback
15 August 2009
New York Times
TSKHINVALI, Georgia — For years, there was not much difference between a civilian and a soldier in South Ossetia, which was embroiled in a long struggle to separate from Georgia.
David G. Sanakoyev, for example, wore a tie during the day. As South Ossetia's ombudsman for human rights, he handled complaints about prison conditions or unlawful firings. Three times a week, after work, he changed into camouflage and took up a position at the territory's border, rotating... (GunPolicy.org)
Battle Rages Over Move in US Congress to Close Gun Show Loophole
18 July 2009
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)
FORT WORTH — Paul Smith loves guns, and he loves to collect them.
Always working to update his collection, he took a Ruger .357 Magnum revolver and headed to a gun show last weekend, hoping to get $400 and find something better.
"I like to trade and collect," said Smith, 68, a farmer from Loving who went to the Texas Gun & Knife Show at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.
What he doesn't like is a bill in Congress that he believes could curtail the way he expands his... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Thai Farmers Killed for Their Guns, Carried for Self Defence
9 July 2009
Bangkok Post
PHATTHALUNG — The slaying of a rubber tapper and the theft of his pistol has highlighted concerns the province is developing a thriving black market for stolen firearms.
Police identified the latest victim as Thawee Phromboonkaew, 36, of Khao Chaison district. He was killed early yesterday while on his way to his plantation.
Police said Mr Thawee was shot by two gunmen about 4.30am just 300 metres from his home.
The attackers, on a motorcycle with no licence... (GunPolicy.org)
Submachine Gun Cache Found in Malaysia Included Unused Weapons
8 July 2009
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
IPOH — Some of the firearms recovered by police near the North-South Expressway in Bercham have never been used, said Perak police chief Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah.
To date, police believe that the cache of weapons and ammunition had not been used in any crime, he said after the monthly assembly at the state police contingent headquarters yesterday.
On May 24, workers of a cement factory found two bags in the bushes near the factory, containing six submachine guns,... (GunPolicy.org)
Colt Loses Monopoly on M4 Assault Rifle, US Army Takes Design Rights
6 July 2009
Army Times (USA)
As of July 1, the Army has taken control of the design rights to the M4 carbine from its sole maker, Colt Defense LLC. Translation: With an uncertain budget looming, the service is free to give other gun companies a crack at a carbine contract.
The transition of ownership of the M4 technical data package marks the end of an era and Colt's exclusive status as the only manufacturer of the M4 for the U.S. military for the past 15 years.
In late November, Army senior... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun-running Police Officer Arrested Selling Assault Rifles in Philippines
25 June 2009
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
MANILA — A Philippine police officer who allegedly led a gun-running syndicate was arrested by colleagues in an operation in the capital, a police report said Friday.
Four accomplices of Police Inspector Ruben Ballera were also arrested while selling guns to undercover police operatives on Thursday outside the main police headquarters in Manila suburb Quezon City.
The report said officers seized four M16 assault rifles, two pistols, a silencer, magazines and... (GunPolicy.org)
Youths Said Trading Drugs for Assault Rifles in PNG Logging Camp
17 June 2009
Post-Courier (Port Moresby)
Youths allegedly crazed by drugs in Pindiu are selling their illicit cargo to logging camps near Finschhafen on the Morobe Coast to get high powered firearms.
To date, they have obtained a M16 rifle, a pistol and 30 home made guns, Burum Kuat Local Level Government president Dicks Iwong reported yesterday.
Mr Iwong, who is in Lae to plead with authorities to send a police task force to his LLG, said his councillors had told him the youths were gathering a powerful... (GunPolicy.org)
Afghan Security Guards Secretly Armed with Canadian Assault Rifles
17 June 2009
Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Canada's military secretly armed Afghan civilians hired as security guards at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, federal documents show.
The unidentified "guard force" was also provided with uniforms so they would not be "mistaken for Canadian soldiers or for that matter members of the Afghan National Army," says a briefing note obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.
All Canadian bases in southern Afghanistan have some... (GunPolicy.org)
Quiet-town US Police Get Free Army Machine Guns, Grenade Launchers
15 June 2009
Boston Globe
Police in Wellfleet, a community known for stunning beaches and succulent oysters, scored three military assault rifles. At Salem State College, where recent police calls have included false fire alarms and a goat roaming the campus, school police got two M-16s. In West Springfield, police acquired even more powerful weaponry: two military-issue M-79 grenade launchers.
Some 82 local police departments in Massachusetts have obtained more than 1,000 weapons over the last... (GunPolicy.org)
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)
Despite Official Denials, Gun Running, Trafficking Unchecked in Pakistan
3 June 2009
News International (Karachi)
ISLAMABAD — A new and a possibly serious security crisis is in the making in the vicinity of the sprawling temporary dwellings of the IDPs in District Mardan where sophisticated weaponry is being bought and smuggled in from the AJK area through agents and carriers in Sakhakot and Shergarh located on the Swat-Mardan Highway.
The local police authorities have expressed complete ignorance about any such stockpiling of arms and ammunition. Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, DIG... (GunPolicy.org)
