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Law enforcement officers and gun policy
Fighting Guns With Graffiti In Honduras
13 June 2013
al Jazeera
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - It's almost sundown and a small sport utility vehicle glides through one of the most dangerous cities in the world which has been overrun by rival gangs and organised crime.
During the drive, dozens of Hondurans are seen making their way home, wary of the time to ensure they get there before dark. The SUV crosses a bridge and parks on the sidewalk, just two blocks away from the capital Tegucigalpa's red-light district.
It is here where Urban... (GunPolicy.org)
US Democrats Quietly Renew Push for Gun Measures
13 June 2013
New York Times
WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders in Congress and the White House renewed their push for gun legislation on Thursday, just months after it was defeated in the Senate, amid delicate talks on a new background-check measure that advocates hope could change enough votes from no to yes.
But those negotiations met a warning from Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, who said he would not accept any bill that is substantially weaker than the one defeated in... (GunPolicy.org)
Report: UK Police Failures May Be Allowing Gun Crimes to Go Unsolved
11 June 2013
Telegraph (UK)
Gun crimes may be going unsolved because police forces are failing to update a national database, a watchdog has found.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found gaps in the way forces in England and Wales are entering records about firearms and ammunition which are found at crime scenes.
Very few forces are properly updating intelligence reports on gun crime in the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (Nabis) database, said the report.
In one case... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Security Guards Arrested Over Fake Gun Licences, Law Breaches
7 June 2013
DNA India
Rajkot police have arrested six security guards working in three different private security agencies for possessing firearms using fake licences on Thursday. Police have also seized 14 rifles and 48 live cartridges from them. After getting specific information, Special Operations Group (SOG) of the city raided the premises of three private security agencies in Rajkot and have ordered all other private security agencies to submit the details to the police.
"Preliminary... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Passes New Gun Law Including Compensation for Victims
5 June 2013
Venezuela Analysis
Venezuela's National Assembly (AN) has approved a new law that restricts access to firearms and provides an amnesty for owners of illegal firearms to surrender their weapons.
The Law for the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Disarmament was passed by the AN on Tuesday, and is set to be enacted into law next week, on June 11.
According to the chairperson of the parliamentary committee on domestic policy, Elvis Amoroso, the law is "guaranteed" to save lives.
"Every... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada Not Yet Among 60 Countries Signing Arms Trade Treaty
3 June 2013
CBC News (Canada)
Canada isn't saying whether it will join more than 60 other countries in signing a landmark treaty to regulate the multibillion-dollar global arms trade.
The federal government hasn't decided whether it agrees with the UN's arms trade treaty, despite having voted to move it ahead in the first place, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Monday.
"We believe that any treaty regarding the sale of munitions that helps move the international community closer to... (GunPolicy.org)
Greek Politician's Airport Gun Gaffe Prompts Gun License Review
31 May 2013
Washington Post / Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece — A Greek extreme far-right lawmaker who wanted to travel with his licensed handgun on a domestic flight drew unwanted attention after the firearm accidentally went off during check-in procedures Thursday. Police said nobody was hurt in the incident in a secluded area of Athens International Airport.
But the gaffe drew broad condemnation from mainstream parties and prompted a quick government decision to review all gun licenses granted to members of... (GunPolicy.org)
Jordan Govt Endorses New Firearms Draft Law to Curb Violence
30 May 2013
Jordan Times / Zawya
AMMAN - A new draft firearms and ammunition law places further restrictions on the acquisition of automatic weapons, a top official said on Thursday, amid a significant increase in the use of guns and violence across the Kingdom over the past few years.
Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammed Momani told The Jordan Times on Thursday that the government will move to have the bill enacted by Parliament as soon as possible.
According to the draft... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabia,Libya,Mexico,Germany
Weapons Exports Reveal Faults in German System
30 May 2013
Deutsche Welle
Germany prides itself on having "strict, even restrictive regulations" for the export of weapons of war. All the same, German weapons regularly show up in regions they should not be in.
For years, every single government coalition in Germany has stated that the country has particularly strict regulations for sales of weapons of war to foreign countries. Regularly, however, weapons used abroad but "made in Germany" get into the news. People are outraged when assault... (GunPolicy.org)
Bangladeshi Election Talk Results in Huge Influx of Smuggled Guns
24 May 2013
Daily Prime News (Dhaka)
Dhaka - The underworld of capital Dhaka is turning vibrant following election talk over the bifurcated Dhaka City Corporations – North and South.
So to make hay ahead of the crucial capital city polls, arms smuggling gangs and arms dealers are bringing in illegal small arms, most popular small ones, from across the border keeping an eye on the electioneering when small arms are on huge demands among cadres of most political wings and criminals-turned political... (GunPolicy.org)
Greek Speaker Reminds MPs No Guns in Govt
20 May 2013
Ekathimerini (Greece)
Parliamentary speaker Evangelos Meimarakis has spoken to the representatives of all parties to remind them that no MPs should carry guns in the House, it emerged on Monday.
Meimarakis acted after receiving a letter of complaint from New Democracy MP Fotini Pipili, who said that some lawmakers are armed when they enter Parliament.
There have been reports in the past of Golden Dawn MPs being stopped for carrying guns into the House and an Eleftherotypia report on Monday... (GunPolicy.org)
Namibia Police Issued 15,000 Gun Licenses in Two Years
17 May 2013
Namibian (Windhoek)
Police issued close to 15,000 licenses for guns to civilians in the past two years, according to figures The Namibian obtained yesterday. One licensee can have up to four firearms.
Edwin Kanguatjivi, the head of the Public Relations Division of the Namibian Police confirmed that in 2011 police gave greenlight to just over 7,100 license applications and about 7,600 licenses were issued in 2012. Last year the police rejected 178 applications for licenses, a few more than... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Dealers in South Africa Investigated Over Possible Law Breaches
15 May 2013
Independent/IOL Daily News (South Africa)
JOHANNESBURG - An independent probe has been commissioned into alleged unscrupulous practices among firearms dealers, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Wednesday.
Concerns had recently been raised about firearm dealers not complying with the Firearms Control Act, Mthethwa said in a statement.
"In order to ensure that the provisions of the act are properly complied with… I have decided to set up an independent investigation into the practices complained of," he... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkey Plans Ban on Guns at Bars and Cafes, Safety Training for Owners
9 May 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
According to a new regulation, people carrying guns will not be allowed as a security measure to enter entertainment venues such as bars, cafés, night clubs and places where wedding ceremonies are held, Interior Minister Muammer Güler announced on Wednesday.
Under the regulation, Güler told reporters, people who want to buy guns will receive training on how to use them safely. Moreover, those carrying weapons will be denied entrance to entertainment venues such as... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Indian Gun Owner Shoots Son in Dispute
7 May 2013
Times of India
LUCKNOW - A man shot at his son in Alambagh area on Monday morning, reportedly after a heated argument. The injured youth was rushed to the Trauma Centre by family members for treatment and was under observation till late Monday night.
Surjeet Singh, an ex-defence personnel, was arrested by police and the licensed revolver with which he shot his 36-year-old son Jaspal recovered from his possession, said Shreekant Prasad, the sub-inspector who made the... (GunPolicy.org)
13 People Shot Dead Each Day in India says NGO
6 May 2013
Post Noon (Hyderabad)
Hardly any noise is made in India about increasing use of firearms among civilians and related violence. We tend to think that it is an issue that needs to be tackled in places like the United States, perhaps because of recurring incidents of mass murders. But not here, in the land of the non-violent freedom movement, we say. However, with a staggering 40 million civilians owning guns, second only to the United States, discourses, questions and debates on the topic... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Forces in English Region Share Information to Reduce Gun Crime
1 May 2013
Yorkshire Post (UK)
A new database will allow police forces across the region to share information about gun crime and the number of officers trained to use firearms.
The four forces have bought a single firearms deployment and training records system, known as Chronicle, so that they can work together more effectively. It means firearms officers across the region will be trained to the same standards to avoid confusion over procedure when two forces work together.
There will also be a... (GunPolicy.org)
Special Police Division Created in Peru to Combat Gun Crime [Español]
28 April 2013
RPP News (Peru)
[Translated summary: A new police division will be established to combat gun smuggling and the illegal gun market in Peru. A ballistics information system will record information about guns to identify those used in crimes. Around 150,000 guns in Peru are not registered and a long-barrelled Parabellum gun costs around $700 on the balck market.]
Una división especial que estará encargada de investigar los delitos de tráfico ilícito de armas de fuego, municiones y... (GunPolicy.org)
Antigua Gets Equipment to Destroy Surplus, Crime Guns
23 April 2013
Caribarena Antigua
ANTIGUA ST JOHN'S - Minister of National Security and labour Dr. Errol Cort issued a stern warning to persons in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
Cort made the threat on Monday as he addressed law men during a hand-over ceremony where representatives from the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace delivered two vital pieces of equipment over to the police.
The equipment, hydraulic shears and a burning tank, both integral in the reduction of illegal... (GunPolicy.org)
Support for Stricter Gun Control Falls Slightly in Philippines
23 April 2013
Sun Star (Philippines)
MANILA - Three out of four Filipinos back the implementation of strict gun licensing regulations to prevent or curb violence arising from the use of loose firearms, down seven points from 82 percent in October 2000.
In a survey conducted by Pulse Asia from March 16 to 20, levels of support for such policy range from 66 percent to 87 percent across geographic areas and from 72 percent to 81 percent across socio-economic classes.
Residents in Metro Manila, where a New... (GunPolicy.org)
Amid Gun Control Debate, US Asks How Bombing Suspects Got Guns
22 April 2013
Leader Post (Canada)
WASHINGTON - Just days after U.S. senators defeated a bid to expand background checks on potential gun buyers, Americans are asking how the Boston Marathon bombing suspects acquired a cache of firearms alongside their explosives.
Among the weapons officials have said were in the possession of Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were not only several bombs, but handguns, an M-4 carbine rifle and more than 250 rounds of ammunition.
Much of that arsenal was on fiery display... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada: 'Gun Shy' Govt Hushed Up Firearm Registry Destruction Bash
21 April 2013
Calgary Herald (Alberta) / Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Public servants spent a full month, at the "urgent" request of Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, preparing two splashy announcements heralding the destruction of the long-gun registry data — only to have the events cancelled at the last moment without explanation.
The final deletion of millions of registry records last October 31 could be seen as a crowning achievement for a Conservative government that had campaigned against the registry for more than a... (GunPolicy.org)
US Senate Blocks New Laws, Ignore Pleas from Gun Victims
18 April 2013
Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans backed by a small band of rural-state Democrats scuttled the most far-reaching gun control legislation in two decades Wednesday, rejecting tighter background checks for buyers and a ban on assault weapons as they spurned pleas from families of victims of last winter's school massacre in Newtown, Conn.
"This effort isn't over," President Barack Obama vowed at the White House moments after the defeat on one of his top domestic... (GunPolicy.org)
Opinion: US Gun Lobby Rhetoric, Not Money, Blocking Gun Control
17 April 2013
Guardian (UK), Opinion
Of all the senators who attempted Wednesday to rally support for the doomed Manchin-Toomey background check amendment, Connecticut's Democratic freshman representative, Chris Murphy, probably faced the greatest temptation to borrow the moral authority of the Newtown families. They are his constituents and many were present in the chamber.
He's young – the youngest sitting senator, actually – and an early Obama supporter, given to occasional bouts of... (GunPolicy.org)
Bermuda Govt Announces Gun Amnesty, Buyback to Cut Crime
15 April 2013
Global Post (Boston) / CANA News
Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley has announced that a cash for guns scheme is to be introduced next month in a fresh attack on violent crime in Bermuda.
The programme, run jointly with the independent Crime Stoppers group, will see cash rewards for information leading to the recovery of firearms or the arrest and prosecution of offenders.
Dunkley said an advertising blitz for the scheme will kick off this month after emphasising the independence and... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns of 15,000 Abusive Men Seized in Turkey
14 April 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Family and Social Policy Minister Fatma Şahin has announced that the weapons of 15,000 men found to have been involved in violence against women have been confiscated as a protective measure since the Law on the Prevention of Violence against Women came into effect 13 months ago.
Speaking to the Akşam daily during her visit to Helsinki, Şahin provided some details about the implementation of Law No. 6284 on the Prevention of Violence against Women and the Protection... (GunPolicy.org)
Syria,North Korea,Iran,United States
Expert Says Explaining Benefits of Arms Treaty will Boost US Support
11 April 2013
New York Times, Opinion
On April 2, the United States joined an overwhelming majority of countries at the United Nations in voting to adopt a treaty regulating the international trade in conventional weapons — a monumental achievement after seven years of diplomacy, lobbying and out-and-out arm-twisting.
The United States pushed for the General Assembly vote last week after securing, in a March conference, the treaty language its negotiators wanted.
Yet now, just days after the United... (GunPolicy.org)
Serbia Considers New Gun Law After Mass Shooting
10 April 2013
Balkan Insight (Sarajevo)
BELGRADE - Milorad Veljovic, head of Serbian Police, said police were working on a draft Law on Weapons and Ammunition that would provide greater control over people who possess guns. "The draft will be passed to the government in the coming days," Veljovic said.
The move comes after a 60-year-old man, named only as Ljubisa B., went on the rampage on Tuesday morning, killing six men, six women and a boy aged two in Velika Ivanca, 60 kilometres south of... (GunPolicy.org)
CDC Ban on Gun Research in US Caused Lasting Damage
9 April 2013
ABC News (USA)
President Obama may have ended the 17-year ban on gun violence research at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but even if Congress restores research funds, experts say the damage runs deeper than funding cuts.
Since the 1996 ban, many of the leading researchers of the 1980s and 1990s have moved on to other specialties, and some said they've even discouraged students from specializing in gun violence research because the work doesn't pay. The ban also... (GunPolicy.org)
Knife Crime Falls in British Region After Gun, Knife Crime Campaign
9 April 2013
BBC News
Knife crime in the West Midlands has fallen by a quarter, according to new police figures.
West Midlands Police said knife-related offences had fallen from 2,995 between April 2011 and 2012 to 2,237 during the following 12 month period.
It had received £1m from the government over two years to tackle the problem.
The force said incidents like the fatal stabbings of two Big Issue sellers and teenager Christina Edkins in Birmingham were "mercifully rare".
Assistant... (GunPolicy.org)
Bosnia & Herzegovina,Croatia,Montenegro,Slovenia,Serbia,Macedonia,Romania,Albania,Bulgaria
South East Europe Workshop Confirms Surplus Firearms a Regional Threat
8 April 2013
SEESAC (Belgrade)
On 3-5 April, the 6th Workshop of the Regional Approach to Stockpile Reduction (RASR) of Conventional Weapons and Munitions Initiative took place in Bled, Slovenia. The focus of the 6th RASR workshop were national legal frameworks regulating import, export and transit of weapons, ammunition and dual-use goods, particularly as they relate to the surplus weapons and munitions.
RASR is a regional initiative which aims to coordinate and support countries of South East... (GunPolicy.org)
Concerns About Influence of Canada's Gun Lobby on Arms Trade Treaty
4 April 2013
Toronto Star (Ontario)
The champagne was flowing Tuesday afternoon in the office of the Canadian charity Project Ploughshares.
Hours earlier, the United Nations in a 154-3 vote agreed to approve an arms trade treaty, a pact that has the promise to regulate the cross-border sale of conventional weapons. In theory, the treaty should stop arms makers from being able to sell so easily to countries with spotty human-rights records.
Tanks, combat aircraft, naval vessels, missiles and launchers,... (GunPolicy.org)
Guyana Cop Fined for Burning Gun Licence Books
2 April 2013
Demerara Waves (Guyana)
A policewoman has admitted to burning two firearm licence books with intent to defeat justice.
Lance Corporal Edon Greene pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $160,000 or 24 months imprisonment.
The prosecution told the court that the 44-year-old mother of three was attached to the registry of the Brickdam Police Station in the firearms section where she was in charge of issuing license books on behalf of the State.
The prosecutor said that checks revealed that... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Candidates Promise Action on Security, Disarmament Plan
2 April 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Venezuela's interim president and socialist party presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro has blamed the country's crime and violence problems on capitalism, and his rival Henrique Capriles led a march calling for improved security, as the country's security issues increasingly come to the fore in the presidential campaign.
United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) candidate Maduro echoed his predecessor, the recently deceased Hugo Chavez, in blaming the country's... (GunPolicy.org)
Jamaica Police Propose Tough New Laws to Address Gun Homicide Rate
1 April 2013
Gleaner (Jamaica)
Seeking to take the monster of crime by the scruff, the Jamaican police have proposed radical legislative changes that would provide, among other things, lengthy prison sentences for gun-related crimes.
The recommendation forms the linchpin of the Jamaica Gun Project, an initiative conceptualised by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to stem the hundreds of gun-related crimes the island records each year.
"Gun offenders give us the equivalent in Jamaica of one 9/11... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Citizens Reluctant to Give Up Illegal, Unlicensed Guns in Amnesty
31 March 2013
República (Kathmandu)
RAUTAHAT - Even as the 35-days deadline given by District Police Office, Rautahat ended on Saturday, no one in the district handed over illegal arms in their possession to the police.
DPO, while issuing the deadline, had even told the locals that they would not face action if they submit illegal arms in their possession within the given deadline.
"We are aware that many locals possess illegal arms in the district but they are reluctant to hand them over to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Bosnia Plans Firearms Collection, Destruction Campaign
29 March 2013
SEESAC (Belgrade)
On 26 and 27 March, at Vlašić, UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) hosted a meeting of the representatives of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) of Republika Srpska, MoI of Sarajevo Canton, MoI of the Central Bosnia Canton, MoI of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, MoI of the Bosnian Podrinje Canton, MoI of the Canton 10, MoI of the County of West Herzegovina, Police of Brčko District, MoI of the Hercegovacko-Neretvanski Canton, and the representatives of the international... (GunPolicy.org)
US President Uses Executive Power to Advance Gun Control Agenda
29 March 2013
The Hill (Washington DC)
President Obama is quietly moving forward on gun control.
The president has used his executive powers to bolster the national background check system, jumpstart government research on the causes of gun violence and create a million-dollar ad campaign aimed at safe gun ownership.
The executive steps will give federal law enforcement officials access to more data about guns and their owners, help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill, and lay the... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Arrest Almost 2,000 for Breaches of Election Gun Ban
29 March 2013
Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - Authorities have apprehended almost 2,000 violators of the ongoing Commission on Elections gun ban, the Philippine National Police said on Friday.
In its latest count since the poll gun ban started last Jan. 13, the PNP has recorded 1,980 people arrested for illegally carrying firearms, bladed weapons and ammunitions [sic].
The PNP said that among those arrested were 13 soldiers, 23 policemen, 26 government officials, a fireman and 99 security... (GunPolicy.org)
England & Wales,Germany,Guyana
Politicians Block Guyana Gun Control Laws Despite Arms Trade Treaty
28 March 2013
Guyana Times International
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has lamented that while critical steps are being taken in the international arena to hammer out an Arms Trade Treaty, locally the opposition has voted down a bill that seeks to strengthen this country's fight against illicit arms.
Negotiators from around 150 countries gathered in New York at the United Nations for a final push to hammer out a binding international treaty to end unregulated conventional arms sales, a pact that a... (GunPolicy.org)
Trinidad Says Handguns are Their Weapons of Mass Destruction
27 March 2013
Trinidad and Tobago Express
Small arms, including handguns and rifles, are weapons of mass destruction in this country, said Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran.
Dookeran made the statement on Tuesday night as he delivered the opening remarks at a town meeting held by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) at his constituency office in Tunapuna.
Dookeran is the Member of Parliament for Tunapuna.
"Small arms are an important part of the armoury of the criminal industry and the region has... (GunPolicy.org)
Irish Police Chief Rejects Reissue of Machine Guns After Cop Shooting
27 March 2013
BBC News
The Commissioner of the Irish police has rejected calls for detectives to be reissued with Uzi submachine guns.
Martin Callinan said it "would not have made the slightest bit of difference" if a murdered detective had been armed with an Uzi.
Detective Adrian Donohoe was shot during a robbery on 25 January 2013.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) passed a motion calling for the reissue of the Israeli-made weapons at its conference.
The guns,... (GunPolicy.org)
Kyrgyzstan Officials Consider Ban on Carrying Guns at Govt
26 March 2013
24 News Agency (Kyrgyzstan)
BISHKEK - At least 58 MPs have firearms in the amount of 164 units. Irina Karamushkina, member of SDPK faction stated today at a meeting of the Committee on Ethics and Regulations referring to the Interior Ministry's data.
According to her, four of them are women. "These are honorary and hunting weapons. But I think we should ban carrying of guns in the Parliament building. This object is guarded by officers of the 9th detachment of the State Committee for National... (GunPolicy.org)
Central Africa,East Africa,Ghana
Over 2,500 Firerms Destroyed Since 2001 in Ghana
26 March 2013
Spy Ghana (Ghana)
Ghana has played a major role in stopping the illicit trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and has destroyed over 2,500 weapons since 2001, according to the Member of Parliament for Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
Addressing Parliamentarians from 12 countries in Africa on the strides Ghana has made in dealing with the illegal trade in guns, Hon. Bagbin stated that Ghana is an active member of the global efforts to control illicit... (GunPolicy.org)
New US Research Proves Guns in Homes are Health Hazard
25 March 2013
New York Daily News
According to a poll released this month by the Pew Research Center, nearly half of American gun owners report that their main reason for having a gun is protection; fewer than a third own a gun primarily for hunting. This is a striking change from 1999, when nearly half of gun owners kept firearms mainly for hunting and only about one quarter cited protection as their most important reason.
Pew's results might make sense if violent crime were surging. But it's not.... (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)
US Begins to Notice Scandal of Federal Ban on Gun Control Research
23 March 2013
Los Angeles Times, Opinion
Like a lot of people who follow the gun debate, I was surprised to learn earlier this year that for more than a decade, Congress has made it nearly impossible for our premier federal health research institutions to study gun violence.
That became evident when President Obama announced his series of executive orders in response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
In one of those orders, he directed the Centers for Disease Control and... (GunPolicy.org)
Child-Proof Medicine Bottles Save Lives. So Could Child-Proof Guns
22 March 2013
New York Times, Opinion
For nearly two months, my assistant, Jennifer Mascia, and I have been publishing a daily blog in which we aggregate articles about shootings from the previous day. Of all the stories we link to, the ones I find hardest to read are those about young children who accidentally shoot themselves or another child. They just break my heart. Yet Jennifer and I find new examples almost every day.
Partly, I react by thinking, "How can anyone be so stupid as to leave a loaded gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Sudan Authorities Give Citizens a Week to Register Guns or Face Jail
22 March 2013
Sudan Tribune (France)
Rumbek — Lakes state's caretaker military governor, Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol, has given owners of guns in Rumbek town seven days to register their firearms or face three years in prison.
The governor first announced the policy in February shortly after he was appointed, but until Friday he had not announced a deadline for the process.
Dhuol's initial call for registration was ignored by the majority of officials carrying arms in Rumbek.
Governor Dhuol registered... (GunPolicy.org)
School Shooting 'Likely' in Sweden - Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency
21 March 2013
Local (Sweden)
There will likely be a school shooting in Sweden sometime in the foreseeable future, according to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, which warned that local authorities are woefully unprepared to deal with such an event.
"Many people have access to hunting weapons, even if you can't go to just any store and buy a gun, access to them is nevertheless pretty wide," MSB risk analyst Magnus Winehal told the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper.
In a report looking at... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico Gun Trafficking Benefits Nearly 50% US Dealers - Study
20 March 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
A new study found that nearly half of United States firearms dealers are economically dependent on demand from Mexico, while under 15 percent of illicitly trafficked arms are seized at the border, highlighting the US role in Mexican gun violence.
The study, titled "The Way of the Gun: Estimating Firearms Traffic Across the U.S.-Mexico Border," aimed to quantify the US role in feeding Mexico's gun violence, which continues to rise despite tight gun control policies and... (GunPolicy.org)
3,100 Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons Destroyed in Tanzania
20 March 2013
IPP Media
German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Tanzanian Police have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the fight against organised crime and international terrorism.
"The fight against international terrorism, piracy, organized crime and also everyday crime remains the essential task of the security authorities throughout the world … therefore, international cooperation is crucial …," stated the German Ambassador Klaus-Peter Brandes.
He emphasised... (GunPolicy.org)
Romania,Burkina Faso,Poland,Russia,Latvia,Tunisia,Guinea,Senegal,Bulgaria,China,Africa,Europe,Côte d'Ivoire
Arms Proliferation and Abuse Shatter Communities in Côte d'Ivoire - AI
20 March 2013
Amnesty International (London)
Reckless and illegal arms supplies from Europe, Africa and China to the warring parties in Côte d'Ivoire over the past decade continue to fuel grave human rights abuses and violent crime in the country, Amnesty International said in a detailed report launched at the United Nations (UN) headquarters.
The 33-page report, Communities shattered by arms proliferation and abuse in Côte d'Ivoire, documents how a handful of states and a network of multinational arms... (GunPolicy.org)
Activist Urges Nigeria Federal Govt to Commence Small Arms Buyback
20 March 2013
Daily Times (Nigeria)
An Onitsha-based activist, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, has urged the Federal Government to commence arms and ammunition buy-back in the country.
Umeagbalasi, Chairman, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, made the call in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Tuesday.
He said that the Federal Government should come out with a policy to exchange these small arms surrendered by anyone with money.
Umeagbalasi was reacting to the alleged proliferation of small... (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)
Somalia: Unlicensed Guns Outlawed, Owners Required to Register
19 March 2013
Sabahi (Washington, DC)
Galgadud regional authorities on Monday (March 18th) arrested nine people for illegal possession of firearms, UN-funded Radio Bar-Kulan reported.
The suspects were arrested in the Marer Gur, Ina Mad and Gadon villages and will soon be charged in court with breaking regional regulations, said Dusamareb security boss Farhan Moalim Ali.
Ali said the crackdown on illegal gun ownership will continue and urged locals to support the administration's security mission by... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than 250,000 Guns a Year Illegally Smuggled into Mexico - Study
19 March 2013
Fox News Latino
The Fast and Furious gun-running scandal that continues to haunt the U.S. Department of Justice highlighted a frightening fact: Illegal firearms are flowing into Mexico from the U.S. at an alarming rate.
More than two percent of all firearms bought in the United States -- about 253,000 -- end up south of the border, up from 1.75 percent in 1990, according to a binational report by the Trans-Border Institute in San Diego and the Igarape Institute, a research center in... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,Americas,Asia,Europe,Oceania,United States,Russia,Italy,Germany,Brazil,Switzerland,Israel,Austria,South Korea,Belgium,Spain,Turkey,Norway,Canada,United Kingdom,Australia,France,Pakistan,Yemen,Honduras,El Salvador,Jamaica
Fact and Figures: Global Trade in Small Arms
18 March 2013
al Jazeera
Diplomats from around the world have gathered at the UN for talks on an international arms trade treaty, in an effort to stop the sale of illegal conventional arms.
Similar talks held last July failed, mainly due to the objections of the US and Russia, the world's two largest arms exporters.
Al Jazeera has compiled a list of facts related to the global production and trading of small arms.
1. Authorised international transfers of small arms, light weapons, their... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Gun Advocates Want Provincial Firearms Officers Scrapped
18 March 2013
CBC News (Canada), Canadian Press
A pro-gun advocacy group that has two representatives on a federal firearms advisory panel wants the Conservative government to eliminate all provincial firearms offices, saying they have "poked the lion" once too often.
The Canadian Sports Shooting Association has launched a national petition that asks Ottawa to establish a single "civilian agency" in place of provincial and territorial firearms officers that oversee licensing and other gun regulations.
The group is... (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)
Nigeria Police Arrest Alleged Arms Supplier in Delta
15 March 2013
Vanguard (Lagos)
WARRI — Police have arrested a community leader, who allegedly armed youths from Orugbene community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State with weapons, including guns and cutlasses, to attack villagers in Asenkiri, a neighbouring community, and forcefully seized their motor-saws and other equipment, penultimate week.
The alleged arms supplier was nabbed following investigations by security agencies into the incident.
An Oborotu community leader, Chief Evans... (GunPolicy.org)
London Gun Murder Investigation Unit to Be Realigned, Merged
14 March 2013
Guardian (UK)
Police confirmation that they had moved the central core of Operation Trident – its dedicated murder investigation unit – to the homicide and serious crime command, effectively signals the end of Trident, the London-based organisation I founded with other community activists in the mid-1990s.
Back then, while the culture of gun crime affected whole communities and neighbourhoods, 90% of homicide victims were black, mainly black men. The police response was woeful,... (GunPolicy.org)
Strict Gun Control Is Long Overdue in Uganda
14 March 2013
Observer (Kampala), Editorial
The minister of Defence, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, has promised stricter gun control in the aftermath of a shooting incident in Bombo town council in which 10 people were killed.
Kiyonga told Parliament on Wednesday that security organs are to review their discipline and gun control measures in a bid to achieve institutional tight control on firearms. This is long overdue as there have been far too many shooting incidents in Uganda involving armed security officers over the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun, Ammo and Drugs Seized in Malaysia
14 March 2013
Malay Mail (Kuala Lumpur)
GEORGE TOWN - A 61-year-old man and his son and daughter-in-law have been detained by police for suspected involvement in using their pre-war house as a drug processing laboratory and for possession of firearms.
A gun, handgrenade and several rounds of ammunition were seized together with drug processing apparatus and an assortment of drugs from the colonial shophouse in Jalan Patani.
The man and his son and daughter-in-law, both in their 30s, were said to have used... (GunPolicy.org)
Dangerous Weapons Bill Adopted in South Africa to Curb Violence
13 March 2013
Global Times (China), Xinhua
The Portfolio Committee on Police on Tuesday adopted the Dangerous Weapons Bill as South Africa is moving to curb rising violence.
The bill will repeal all legislation dealing with dangerous weapons. There are currently five different pieces of legislation that deal with dangerous weapons, including the Dangerous Weapons Act of 1982.
The committee called on police to effectively implement the Dangerous Weapons Bill, which will also give powers to the police to arrest... (GunPolicy.org)
In US Around 88 People Die Every Day to Gun Violence
12 March 2013
Mother Jones (USA)
LF: What do you say to people who argue that these kinds of regulations don't work, that criminals will always find some way to get guns?
GW: All of the research evidence shows that increasing regulation of firearms—whether the firearms themselves, the people who are allowed to have them, or the conditions under which they are bought and sold—makes a difference. I think it can be hard to prove that any one law makes a difference because laws are enacted in groups,... (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)
More Than 1,500 People Violated Election Gun Ban Law in Philippines
12 March 2013
Manila Channel
MANILA, Philippines — As of Tuesday morning (March 12), at least 1, 551 violators of the election gun ban law were arrested since January 13, this year.
Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP), said 1,582 firearms were also seized from those arrested suspects.
Cerbo said among the violators are 1,403 civilians, 93 security guards, 20 policemen, 11 AFP personnel, 20 government officials, two from CAFGU, and one each... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Government Dumps Gun Enthusiasts from Firearms Committee
11 March 2013
CBC News (Canada)
The government has shaken up a committee that advises the public safety minister on firearms legislation in Canada, dumping three gun enthusiasts in favour of a trio of police leaders.
The Harper government had faced sharp criticism from gun control groups for allowing firearms experts and dealers on its Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee (CFAC).
On Monday, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews issued a news release stating Linda Baggaley, a firearms expert and dealer... (GunPolicy.org)
Sandy Hook Shooting May Make almost No Difference in US Gun Control Laws
11 March 2013
Time (USA)
Here's a hard truth: all the emotion and outrage and sadness that followed the Dec. 14 shooting of 20 children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook elementary school may make almost no difference in federal gun control laws. How little is the Hill going to do on gun control? As things stand, Congress may not even pass two gun control measures that even some elements of the powerful gun lobby have suggested they could support. But if post-Sandy Hook gun control measures are badly... (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)
South Africa: Port Elizabeth Police Destroy Over 2,000 Guns
9 March 2013
News24 (Cape Town), South African Press Association
PORT ELIZABETH - A total of 2 065 firearms were destroyed in Port Elizabeth on Saturday morning, Eastern Cape police said.
"At least 848 of these have been voluntarily surrendered. The other 1 217 were confiscated by the state and had been used in criminal activities," said Lieutenant-Colonel Sibongile Soci.
The firearms included rifles, shotguns and handguns.
Nearly 40 000 firearms have been destroyed by police in the province since 2004, said... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: News24 (Cape Town), South African Press Association
Africa,Asia,Oceania,Europe,Canada,Americas
Canadian Gun-Control Groups Question Inclusion of Gun Advocate in Arms-Trade Talks
9 March 2013
Edmonton Journal (Alberta)
OTTAWA — Gun-control advocates and opposition parties want to know why the Harper government has consistently included a prominent firearms advocate in Canadian delegations at international arms-control talks in recent years.
They believe Canadian Shooting Sports Association (CSSA) president Steve Torino's presence alongside Canadian diplomats is tied to what they say are Canadian efforts to weaken a new Arms Trade Treaty being negotiated at the United... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Coroner Calls for Radical Overhaul of Gun Licensing
8 March 2013
Guardian (UK), Press Association (UK)
A coroner has called for radical overhaul of gun licensing at the conclusion of an inquest into a taxi driver who shot dead three members of his family before killing himself.
Andrew Tweddle described the current system as flawed, adding that it was fortuitous there had not been more incidents like the one in Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham, on New Year's Day 2012.
Michael Atherton, 42, killed his partner, Susan McGoldrick, 47, her sister, 44-year-old Alison... (GunPolicy.org)
How Brazil Exploited Sexual Insecurity to Curb Guns
8 March 2013
Bloomberg (USA)
Brazil has a gun culture, a gun industry and a gun problem -- much like the U.S. In fact, more Brazilians than Americans died of gunfire in 2010.
Yet Brazil's 2010 tally, 34,300 deaths, was significantly lower than its gun fatalities in 2003 (39,284), when the government enacted major gun-control regulation. I asked Brazilian political scientist Antonio Bandeira, who coordinates the arms-control program of Viva Rio, a nongovernmental organization in Rio De Janeiro, how... (GunPolicy.org)
How the White House Silenced US Gun Control Groups
7 March 2013
Politico (Washington DC)
President Barack Obama's gun control agenda is looking more doomed by the day, but gun control advocates still haven't said a word to complain.
That's no accident.
The White House knew its post-Newtown effort would require bringing key gun control groups into the fold. So the White House offered a simple arrangement: the groups could have access and involvement, but they'd have to offer silence and support in exchange.
The implied rules, according to conversations... (GunPolicy.org)
US Senate Panel Backs Tougher Penalties for Illegal Gun Trafficking
7 March 2013
Bloomberg (USA)
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved tougher penalties for illegal gun-trafficking in the first congressional vote on gun restrictions since the December shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.
Still, California Democrat Dianne Feinstein said her proposed assault-weapon ban is on a "very hard road."
The 11-7, almost party-line vote on the trafficking measure today emphasized the hurdles to passing gun legislation even after the Dec. 14 mass killing of 20 children... (GunPolicy.org)
US Senate Approves Bill to Prevent Straw Gun Purchases, Gun Trafficking
7 March 2013
New York Times
WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved a measure that would make the practice of illegally buying a gun for someone else a felony, and increase penalties for the crime.
The measure, which addresses a practice known as straw purchasing, passed the committee by 11 to 7; the only Republican to vote in favor was Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa. Mr. Grassley's nod on the measure, which already had two Republican co-sponsors, was significant... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Shooters Caught Drunk, On Drugs While Hunting
6 March 2013
Sydney Morning Herald
Licensed shooters have been caught with prohibited firearms, using drugs and alcohol, and trespassing on restricted land, official reports reveal, as the NSW government prepares to expand amateur hunting of feral animals into national parks.
Documents released under freedom of information laws describe almost a dozen examples of serious transgressions last year that were considered by the Game Council NSW, which is responsible for issuing hunting licences.
In one case... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada's Top Concern at UN Arms Trade Treaty: 'Protecting Gun Owners'
5 March 2013
Ottawa Citizen (Ontario)
OTTAWA — For nearly two weeks last year, diplomats from Canada and the rest of the world gathered at the United Nations in New York to discuss ways to crack down on the illicit trade in small arms and ammunition.
But rather than working to strengthen those efforts, newly released documents show Canadian officials were instructed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government to "play a low-key, minimal role" — and that their main objective was safeguarding Canadian... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than 100 Firearms Seized in Kuando Kubango, Angola [Francais]
4 March 2013
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
[Translated summary: 104 firearms and 750 ammunition seized in 2012 in the framework of the Disarmament Programme in the province of Kuando Kubango, Angola.]
MENONGUE (Angola) - 104 armes à feu et 750 munitions diverses ont été récupérées en 2012 dans la province de Kuando Kubango (extrême-sud-est) dans le cadre du programme de désarmement de la population.
Le bilan annuel rendu public jeudi à l'occasion des 37 ans de la police angolaise indique que... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuelan Government Recognizes Record Murder Rate
4 March 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The Venezuelan government has confirmed that over 16,000 people were killed in 2012, while over 2,000 were murdered during the first two months of 2013, pointing to little letup in the ongoing violence.
As EL Universal reports, figures released by national police agency the CICPC counted 2,576 murders in Venezuela during January and February 2013.
Meanwhile, Vice President Nicolas Maduro told Venezuela's National Assembly last week that there had been 16,072 recorded... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Control Fight in Danger of Being Lost
3 March 2013
United Press International
WASHINGTON - As the images of 20 first-graders massacred in Connecticut, of the horrific attack on former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and others in Arizona, of the slaughter of movie-goers in Aurora, Colo., and of numerous other mass killings in the United States fade in the national memory, the fervor to restrict access to some types of weapons and magazines appears to be abating.
The debate on gun control itself has largely been subsumed in recent weeks by concern over... (GunPolicy.org)
Sudanese Officials Call for Citizens to Disarm Voluntarily
2 March 2013
Sudan Tribune (France)
Bentiu — Local leaders in Unity state called for a new round of voluntarily civilian disarmament at a two-day conference in Bentiu last week to address the issue of violent crime and cattle raiding.
The conference, facilitated by the Conflict Mitigation and Stabilization Initiative (CMSI) brought chiefs, executives directors, civil society groups and police officers from Unity state's nine counties together to discuss how to persuade civilians to handover illegal... (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)
Honduras New Gun Law Could Allow Only One Gun Per Person [Espanol]
1 March 2013
El Heraldo (Honduras)
[Translated summary: The right for a person to be licensed to carry up to five guns will be reversed in the new Firearms Control Act and is to be debated in Honduras Congress.]
La propuesta de reducir a un arma por persona es una recomendación de las Naciones Unidas. ¿Está de acuerdo?
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - La tendencia de que una persona puede obtener licencia para portar hasta cinco armas será revertida en la nueva Ley de Control de Armas que está por... (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)
Growing Rate of 'Suicide by Cop' Shootings in Canada
27 February 2013
CBC News (Canada)
On the evening of Jul. 17, 2010, the RCMP in Okotoks, Alta., received a report of a domestic assault, and about six hours after the initial call, with the emergency response team deployed around his house, 39-year-old Corey Lewis stepped out the door.
"He took up a kneeling stance and raised an object to his shoulder and pointed it at the loudspeaker. The object he was holding appeared to have a silver tip and was dark in colour," according to Cliff Purvis, the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Homicide Rate Rising in Argentina as Drug War Heats Up
26 February 2013
Independent (UK)
ROSARIO - The events of that evening in January are etched into Vilma Jaime's memory. The sun had set, but it was still oppressively hot and neighbours were outside in the street, chatting and drinking traditional mate tea. Then the gunshots began.
Ms Jaime ran into her house, and watched through the keyhole of the front door as the blood started to spill. Three people were shot that night – miraculously, no one was killed. But many others have not been so lucky.
Ms... (GunPolicy.org)
Pakistan Passes New Gun Law But Critics Fear Poor Implementation
24 February 2013
International News (Karachi), Editorial
In an effort to limit arms proliferation the Sindh Assembly passed legislation on Thursday increasing the term of imprisonment for possession of an illegal weapon from three to 14 years. Pakistan is a country awash with guns, both legal and illegal, with the latter probably outnumbering the former. There are entire communities regarded as 'armed.' Politicians have been behind much of the perfectly legal proliferation of guns in our society as they have a 'quota' of... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Maker Threatens to Stop Police Sales if Gun Rights 'Infringed'
23 February 2013
Christian Science Monitor
ATLANTA - A growing number of firearms firms in the United States are vowing to reverse-boycott local and state governments that enact any new infringements on the Second Amendment.
Vowing to close what they're calling "the police loophole," at least 50 US companies, ranging from gun machinists to gun shops, are now saying publicly they'll refuse to sell weapons and gear to police in places where governments have banned the use of the same gear by civilians.
Quality... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 700 Guns Destroyed in Dominican Republic [Espanol]
22 February 2013
El Nuevo Diario (Dominican Republic)
[Translated summary: The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Interior and Police, with the help of the United Nations, has destroyed 706 guns to combat trafficking. Many of the weapons were not registered or their markings had been altered.]
El Ministerio de Interior y Policía (MIP), por disposición del ministro José Ramón Fadul y con la colaboración del Programa de Acción de Desarme de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU), destruyó 706 armas de fuego de... (GunPolicy.org)
Peruvians Feel Unsafe as Gun Crime Rises, Gangs Proliferate
22 February 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
A new government survey highlights how there are far more Peruvians afraid of falling victim to crime than actual crime victims, even as the country continues to struggle with thousands of urban street gangs.
A recently released survey by government statistics institute the INEI found that 38 percent of those surveyed said they had been a crime victim, with robbery the most common offense. Another 87 percent said they were afraid of falling victim to crime in the near... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghana Officials say Guns from Cote D'Ivoire, Offer Rewards
21 February 2013
Ghanaian Chronicle
The Bawku Divisional Police Commander, ACP Kweku Buadu-Pepra, says most the sophisticated weapons in Bawku came from neighbouring Cote d' Ivoire during the election conflict that erupted in that country in 2002.
The Bawku Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) recently announced a monetary reward package of GHA¢3,000 for anyone with credible information that could lead to the security agencies retrieving weapons from civilians in the area.
The package also included... (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)
Ballistic Network Shrinks as US Police Don't Bother Tracing Crime Guns
20 February 2013
KING 5 News
Detectives from 31 police agencies packed a seminar this week at the Washington Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien to learn how ballistics testing can reveal links between guns in their evidence lockers to crimes that may have been committed in their jurisdiction or across the country.
"Is the gun from your murder case hiding in the evidence vault of a neighboring police department?" firearms expert Pete Gagliardi asked the group of detectives and personnel... (GunPolicy.org)
Honduras to Give Seized Guns to Security Forces
20 February 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Honduran officials have announced that confiscated firearms will be redistributed among the security forces, boosting ill-equipped agencies, and diverting the arms away from the black market.
Officials estimate the police currently have 4,000 weapons stored as evidence. Those that are legal in Honduras, for the most part handguns, will be distributed to police, military and Justice Department officials. The illegal guns, including AK-47s and carbines, will be... (GunPolicy.org)
US Proposes Compulsory Reporting of Stolen Guns, Lobby Objects
20 February 2013
Delaware Online
Gov. Jack Markell and Attorney General Beau Biden laid out details Wednesday of the first of several gun control proposals, and offered a concession on another with public opposition mounting.
Flanked by photos of assault-style rifles they're seeking to ban, Markell, Biden and Lt. Gov. Matt Denn gathered with law enforcement officials at Delaware State Police Troop 2 in Glasgow to promote a measure that would require mandatory reporting of lost and stolen... (GunPolicy.org)
US Govt Under Pressure from Both Sides on Arms Trade Treaty
20 February 2013
The Hill (Washington DC), Blog
President Obama is coming under renewed pressure to back a worldwide arms trade treaty at the United Nations after backing off ahead of last year's elections.
Human rights groups are demanding that the United States take the lead in creating international standards for cross-border weapons sales when the U.N. starts a second round of talks March 18.
Last year's talks came to a screeching halt after the Obama administration asked for more time following intense... (GunPolicy.org)
