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Firearms Seizure in the Province of Bengo, Angola [Francais]
21 May 2012
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
[Translated summary: The National Police of Bengo, Angola, seized eight firearms that were held illegally by civilians.]
CAXITO, Angola - Le commandement provincial de la Police Nationale de Bengo, au nord de Luanda, a saisi huit armes, la semaine dernière, a appris l'Angop lundi de source policière.
Selon la source, ces armes étaient détenues illégalement par des citoyens.
Un communiqué parvenu lundi à l'Angop souligne que parmi les armes récupérées de... (GunPolicy.org)
UN Provides Small Arms Destruction Equipment to the Bahamas
21 May 2012
UN Dispatch (New York)
NEW YORK - In May, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, through its Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, provided a set of small arms destruction equipment to the Bahamas and trained national officers on the use of the equipment. These activities aim to strengthen the capacity of the Bahamas to combat the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons nationally, as well as in the Caribbean region.... (GunPolicy.org)
3 Swedish Journalists Guilty of Weapons Crimes
18 May 2012
Local (Sweden)
The editor-in-chief of Swedish tabloid Expressen and two other journalists with the paper have been convicted of weapons crimes related to a report about how easy it is to buy guns in Malmö in southern Sweden.
Expressen's editor Thomas Mattson was convicted of instigating a weapons crime, while former news editor Andreas Johansson was found guilty of being an accessory to a weapons crime.
Journalist Diamant Salihu, who actually purchased the gun, was convicted of a... (GunPolicy.org)
Black Market Handguns Advertised Openly in Remote Regions of China
17 May 2012
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
Black market explosives and pistols are advertised openly in the remote, mountainous Yunnan county where a mysterious suicide bomber killed three people and injured 16 last week, the South China Morning Post can reveal.
Most advertisers claim they can arrange delivery by car within an hour in central Kunming , the provincial capital, with guns handed over outside supermarkets and post offices.
Some advertisers also said they had delivery networks in remote counties.... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than 10,000 Firearms Destroyed by Argentina Govt [Espanol]
16 May 2012
United Press International
[Translated summary: In the framework of the National Programme of Voluntary Surrender of Firearms, Argentina Ministry of Justice proceeded to the destruction of 10,745 pieces. ]
BUENOS AIRES - En el marco de Programa Nacional de Entrega Voluntaria de Armas de Fuego, el Ministerio de Justicia procedió, por resolución publicada en el Boletín Oficial, a la destrucción de 10.745 piezas.
La cartera de Justicia, por Resolución 732/2012 publicada hoy en el Boletín... (GunPolicy.org)
In Response to 'Shadow' Gun Registry Allegations, Alberta Says No
16 May 2012
Edmonton Journal (Alberta)
EDMONTON - Solicitor General Jonathan Denis says Alberta "does not and will not" have a provincial gun registry, though questions remain about the type of data collected by gun shops in the province.
Denis was responding Wednesday to allegations the provincial government has allowed the creation of a "shadow" registry that will effectively replace the controversial federal long gun registry.
"Alberta does not have a gun registry, Alberta will not have a gun registry,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Who Began Smuggling 1,000 Guns to Egypt Arrested in Florida
16 May 2012
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)
Federal authorities arrested a man in Orlando this week who allegedly told an undercover agent that he wanted to smuggle up to 1,000 firearms to Egypt.
Gamel Saad was arrested following a sting Monday. According to a criminal complaint, Saad bought three handguns from an undercover agent, wrapped them in towels, and put them inside a shipment of car parts he was sending to Egypt.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began investigating... (GunPolicy.org)
Large Cache of Automatic AK-47, Handguns, Ammo Seized in Pakistan
15 May 2012
Pakistan Today
RAWALPINDI - Police and law enforcement agencies Tuesday have ceased costly weapons, which were being smuggled from lawless area to Punjab and arrested two outlaws.
Police received a tip off that heavy amount of weapons are being smuggled in a van registration number (LES-9070). However police stopped the van near Khamida check post for checking and found 10 Repeater guns, 10 automatic Kalashinkov, 50 pistols, five Revolver and 3500 bullets and arrested two persons.... (GunPolicy.org)
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)
US Marines Stole, Sold Nearly $2 Million in Guns to Gangs, China, Russia
15 May 2012
International Business Times (US)
U.S. Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C., stole and sold approximately $2 million in guns and combat equipment to streets gangs and to China and Russia, military officials confirmed. The stolen guns and combat gear included assault rifles, night-vision goggles and flashlights.
More than 60 people have been implicated in the incident, the Daily News in Jacksonville, N.C., reported. 47 service members and 21 civilians have been charged so far. Several of them have already... (GunPolicy.org)
Debate Over Disarmament Bill in Venezuela [Espanol]
14 May 2012
Prensa Latina (Havana)
[Translated summary: A debate over proposals for public policies, which address the situation of gun violence in Venezuela, was held in Caracas. During the meeting, members of the commission highlighted the importance of including people of varied social and religious sectors in formulating legislation for disarmament, after stating that in Venezuela, 98% of homicides are committed with firearms. The possibility of an amnesty was also mentionned.]
CARACAS - Periodistas... (GunPolicy.org)
Time to Expose Crime Gun Origins, Revisit Gun Control in Australia
14 May 2012
Australian (Sydney), Opinion
More than 16 years have passed since the massacre of 35 people at Port Arthur in Tasmania, on a Sunday afternoon in April still painfully vivid in our memories. In his second month in office, John Howard responded to the national mood with a gun buy-back scheme. More than 700,000 weapons were handed in and destroyed -- about 20 per cent of Australia's firearms. Encouraged by the commonwealth, state and territory ministers also agreed on tougher, uniform gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Ontario Ignores Federal Police Order to Stop Recording Gun Sales
11 May 2012
Globe & Mail (Toronto)
The head of the Mounties is warning chief firearms officers in the provinces and territories not to create their own lists of long-gun owners now that the federal government has scrapped its registry.
But the edict created confusion Friday, with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty saying he intends to ignore it until the federal government makes it clear whether the provinces can continue collecting their own information on firearms. The province's chief firearms officer.... (GunPolicy.org)
Is Bogota's Gun Ban Responsible for 31% Decline in Homicides?
11 May 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The city of Bogota has seen a significant reduction in homicides after passing a ban on carrying guns. If the two developments prove to be related, the ban could provide a model to other violence-plagued cities in the region.
On February 1, newly-elected Bogota mayor Gustavo Petro introduced a three-month ban on carrying guns in public, saying that to carry a weapon represented "not a defense mechanism, but a risk." On April 30, Petro declared that the ban had been a... (GunPolicy.org)
Ottawa, Canada: Seized Firearms Help Solve Cold Cases
8 May 2012
Ottawa Sun (Ontario)
Every day at the downtown Ottawa police headquarters, a gun is fired.
Any firearm seized by police is tested with a ballistics tank at its indoor range.
It's a stainless steel secure box filled with water, to slow down the projectile.
Whether the gun is confiscated from a gangster or for another reason, police always need to shoot the gun as part of their investigation.
Besides determining whether the gun is in working order, its projectiles collected from the tank... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Permits Still Issued too Frequently in Indonesia
7 May 2012
Jakarta Globe
Indonesia's National Police will continue to grant civilians gun permits, despite calls from lawmakers for stricter gun regulations after a series of headline-grabbing reports cast doubt on public safety.
The National Police have issued more than 25,000 gun permits to civilians since 2009, not counting the 10,154 permits for guns that fire rubber bullets and 5,810 permits for airsoft guns, according to National Police spokesman Ins. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution.
Critics... (GunPolicy.org)
Iraq Legalises Civilian Possession of Guns Amid Security Handover
6 May 2012
CRI English (China)
The Iraqi government on Sunday legalized the possession of one gun in each house in the country, as Iraqi army soldiers started the gradual handover of security control to the police, government officials said.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh said in a statement that the Iraqi security authority "decided to license a rifle or a pistol in each house, on condition that the owner must register it (the gun) in the nearest police station."
Dabbagh warned that those... (GunPolicy.org)
Armed Civilians in Public Places Highlight Gun Misuse in Indonesia
5 May 2012
Jakarta Post
The House of Representatives plans to summon National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo in the near future in the wake of a series of incidents involving armed civilians in public places, a lawmaker has said.
A member of House's Commission III overseeing legal, human rights and security affairs, Sarifuddin Sudding, said the meeting would be carried out soon after the currently ongoing recess period ends on May 13.
"We will demand National Police chief explain why there... (GunPolicy.org)
Warn of Increase in Guns in Papua New Guinea Ahead of Elections
4 May 2012
Pacific Islands News Association (Fiji)
At least three current Members of Parliament from the Enga Province and their people have been amassing guns in preparation for the general elections, the head of the Gutnius Lutheran Church said yesterday.
The Gutnius Lutheran Church is based in the Enga Province. "I know them," he said. Bishop David Piso said supporters of the three MPs are saying they are gathering guns to use against their political opponents.
"This is very frightening and I am now thinking very... (GunPolicy.org)
Restriction on Gun Possession Curbs Street Homicides in Bogota [Espanol]
3 May 2012
Ultima Hora (Colombia)
[Translated Summary: The mayor of Bogotá Gustavo Petro, announced today that homicides in public places in the Colombian capital have diminished by 31% from February to April 2012, compared to those committed during the same period last year. This coincides with a recent measure of restriction regarding the possession of firearms.]
Bogotá, 3 may - Los homicidios en vía pública en la capital colombiana disminuyeron un 31 % en el trimestre febrero-abril de 2012,... (GunPolicy.org)
Restriction on Gun Possession Reduces Homicides in Bogota [Espanol]
3 May 2012
Ultima Hora (Colombia)
[Translated Summary: The mayor of Bogotá Gustavo Petro, announced today that homicides in public places in the Colombian capital have diminished by 31% from February to April 2012, compared to those committed during the same period last year. This coincides with a recent measure of restriction regarding the possession of firearms.]
Bogotá, 3 may - Los homicidios en vía pública en la capital colombiana disminuyeron un 31 % en el trimestre febrero-abril de 2012,... (GunPolicy.org)
Papua New Guinea MPs Urged to Set Example by Handing In Their Guns
2 May 2012
Pacific Islands News Association (Fiji)
Gun smuggling in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a multi-million kina business which police are powerless to deal with, Deputy Police Commissioner Simon Kauba says.
And he had suggested that parliament implement the recommendations of the guns summit committee to address the problem to some extent.
Parliamentarians raised concern last week over the serious issue of firearms build-up in the country, especially in the highlands provinces, on the eve of the national... (GunPolicy.org)
Untrained Police Caught by South Africa's Post-Apartheid Gun Rules
1 May 2012
Telegraph (UK)
Thousands of South African police officers face being stripped of their guns or kicked out of the force entirely after a leaked internal report revealed that one fifth of those with licenses were not qualified to use police-issue weapons.
A total of 27,400 officers failed to complete updated firearms training introduced last year, out of 129,713 armed staff in the nation's force. Following the revelation last month, several district commanders ordered officers who were... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany Compiling Firearms Register, Post Erfurt Massacre [Francais]
30 April 2012
Canoe.ca (Canada)
[Translated Summary: Germany is currently putting together its own firearms register, conform to a law to be respected by all E.U. Member States. The Bundestag made the decision following the 10th anniversary of the massacre that took place in the town of Erfurt.]
OTTAWA – L'Allemagne est en train de bâtir son propre registre des armes à feu, se conformant ainsi à une règle que devra respecter l'ensemble des pays de l'Union européenne.
La chaîne... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,France,China,Pakistan,Afghanistan,Sweden
Pakistan a 'Very Gun-friendly Society,' 9 in 10 Owners Unlicensed
30 April 2012
Dawn (Karachi)
On January 25 this year, 32-year-old Waqas, a garment factory employee was hit by a bullet in New Karachi and he died. The bullet was not fired from the gun of a target killer, but by friends of a bridegroom amidst late-night wedding celebrations.
Two children aged 10 and 12, died in Sialkot in a similar incident on February 20, when the jubilant brother of a bridegroom unleashed a burst of bullets.
Such accidents, almost an every-day affair in Pakistan, never make it... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Lobby Lawyer Protests 'Back Door' Firearm Registration in Ontario
30 April 2012
CNews (Canada)
OTTAWA – Ontario is telling sellers of shotguns and rifles to keep paper records of all the people who buy long guns at their stores — a move one firearms advocate is calling a "back-door" long-gun registry.
The province's chief firearms officer has gun sellers writing down buyers' names, numbers and addresses.
"The long-gun registry was used to target gun owners and confiscate their firearms. That was one of the reasons for scrapping it in the first place,"said... (GunPolicy.org)
Unlicensed, 'Delinquent' Philippine Gun Owners Threatened with Arrest
29 April 2012
Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines — On the heels of a crackdown on loose firearms, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reminded yesterday all gun owners to make sure that their firearm licenses are renewed or face charges and arrest.
Director General Nicanor Bartolome, PNP chief said, an operational plan on the campaign against loose firearms is already being finalized as part of the security measures for the 2013 elections.
He warned all delinquent gun owners of the prospect of... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Justice Minister Admits Gaps in Gun Laws, Tracing, Registration
27 April 2012
ABC News (Australia), Audio
Justice and Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare says there are weaknesses in the nation's gun control laws. He says he is drafting some proposals to take to the next meeting of his state and territory counterparts in June, which include closing loopholes in the national firearms database.
TRANSCRIPT: On the eve of the 16th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre the Federal Government has announced it intends to reform Australia's gun laws.
The Minister for Justice and... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Temporarily Halts Police Firearm Withdrawal
26 April 2012
BuaNews (Tshwane)
Pretoria — Police management on Thursday said they had halted the process of withdrawal of firearms from police officers.
Briefing the media on what has been erroneously dubbed in some reports as police "disarmament", acting National Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said the move to take the firearms from the officers was informed by an internal audit report, which was subsequently leaked to the press.
"Such a document was meant to assist the management of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Ten Years After School Massacre, Germany Plans National Gun Registry
26 April 2012
Deutsche Welle
Ten years after Germany's worst school shooting, in which a former pupil killed 16 people before committing suicide, politicians are set to lay the foundations for a national gun-owners' register.
The church bells in Erfurt rang out on Thursday shortly before 11am – the time a decade ago when 19-year-old Robert Steinhäuser started shooting at his former school there. A day of commemoration was planned in the Thuringian city.
It was April 26 when Steinhäuser took... (GunPolicy.org)
Feds Say 68,000 Guns Seized in Mexico Were Traced Back to US [Espanol]
26 April 2012
El Correo (Spain)
[Translated Summary: Washington says 68,000 guns recovered by Mexican authorities in the past five years have been traced back to the United States. An official report by the The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says that during this period, the Mexican authorities submitted more than 99,000 arms for tracing.]
WASHINGTON - El Gobierno de México ha recuperado más de 99.000 armas de fuego entre 2007 y 2011, de las cuales más de 68.000 procedían de... (GunPolicy.org)
Washington Says 68,000 Guns Seized in Mexico Were Traced Back to US
26 April 2012
Seattle Times / AP
WASHINGTON — The government said Thursday that 68,000 guns recovered by Mexican authorities in the past five years have been traced back to the United States.
The flood of tens of thousands of weapons underscores complaints from Mexico that the U.S. is responsible for arming the drug cartels plaguing its southern neighbor. Six years of violence between warring cartels have killed more than 47,000 people in Mexico.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and... (GunPolicy.org)
Liberia,Sierra Leone,Côte d'Ivoire,Ghana
Of 230,000 Guns Made in Ghana, 56% Are Unlicensed, in Unknown Hands
26 April 2012
Ghanaian Chronicle (Ghana), Editorial
It is not at the alarm state yet. But, the disclosure that 56 percent of a total of 230,000 small arms manufactured in the country remains unlicensed, and in hands that could not be identified, pose a threat to the security of the state. It means that as many as 125,000 illicit guns are in the system without any means of tracking them.
In addition, there are other light weapons which might have trickled down from conflict areas like Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone and... (GunPolicy.org)
Only Danish Police, Gun Clubs, Hunters May Own Big-bore Airguns [Dansk]
25 April 2012
Berlingske (Denmark)
[Translated Summary: As of June 1st, ownership of airguns over 4.5mm cal will be restricted in Denmark. More than 240,000 Danes currently own larger-calibre airguns, and authorities are anxious to avoid US-style weapon availability.]
Fra 1. juni er det ikke længere lovligt at eje og bruge luftvåben af en særlig kaliber uden at være politimand, medlem af en skytteforening eller jæger.
Danmark må ikke ende med amerikanske våbentilstande, hvor stort set alle med... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Destroys 264,000 Guns in Effort to Curb Gun Crime [Espanol]
25 April 2012
Prensa Latina (Havana)
[Translated Summary: Edwin Rojas, Vice-Minister for Justice and Internal Relations, has confirmed that since 2003, the Venezuelan Government has destroyed 264,607 firearms seized during police operations.]
CARACAS - Desde el 2003 hasta hoy, el gobierno venezolano ha destruido 264 mil 607 armas de fuego decomisadas en operaciones policiales, afirmó Edwin Rojas, viceministro de Relaciones Interiores y Justicia.
El funcionario fue uno de los principales oradores durante... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Major Transit Point for Arms Trafficking in East Africa
25 April 2012
Star (Kenya)
Kenya is a major transit point for illegal weapons destined to war torn countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the East Africa Legislative Assembly has said. EALA speaker Abdirahin Abdi said this is due to Kenya's strategic position through its port of Mombasa and other long porous borders with her neighbours.
Abdi was speaking in Mombasa when he officially opened a two day sensitisation forum on the need to support Small Arms And Light Weapons for parliamentary security,... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghanaian Police to Crackdown on Illegal Possession of Firearms
25 April 2012
Ghanaian Chronicle (Ghana)
The Head of Small Arms Division at the Police Headquarters in Accra, Chief Superintendent Aboagye Yeboah, has hinted The Chronicle that his outfit would soon embark on an exercise to randomly search all individuals suspected of owning small firearms in the country. The decision, according to him, is to control the proliferation of small arms in the country.
Aboagye Yeboah further told The Chronicle that in collaboration with the Small Arms Commission they (police) had... (GunPolicy.org)
700 Guns, 20,000 Replica Guns, 500,000 Bullets Seized in Guangdong
25 April 2012
Shenzhen Daily (China)
GuangdongG police seized more than 700 guns, 20,000 replica weapons, 500,000 bullets and 6,000 knives in a campaign which took place from March 1 to April 15 targeting gun-related crimes.
Police also confiscated more than 300 kilograms of explosives, 200 meters of fuse and 600 detonators during the campaign, according to Zhang Yongqiang, deputy director general of Guangdong Provincial Department of Public Security.
"Most of the guns and replica weapons that have been... (GunPolicy.org)
New Obama Gun Rule Sparks 123 Gun Trafficking Probes in Texas Alone
25 April 2012
Houston Chronicle (Texas)
Federal agents in South Texas have opened 123 criminal investigations as a result of a new requirement that border-state gun stores report customers who buy two or more large caliber rifles in the same week, especially those preferred by Mexican drug cartels.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Wednesday that it is not looking at everyone who makes multiple purchases, but those who draw suspicion for other reasons, such as repeatedly... (GunPolicy.org)
Fourfold Rise in Guns, Parts Smuggled to Australia, Most from USA
25 April 2012
Gympie Times (Queensland)
Firearm seizures at Australian borders have exploded four-fold over the past five years with most failed import attempts coming from the United States.
Australian Customs and Border Protection figures provided to APN Newsdesk show firearm, firearm parts, magazine or accessory detections in Australia increased from 225 in the 2006-07 financial year to 977 in the last financial year.
The biggest year for detections was in 2009-10 when Australian Customs discovered... (GunPolicy.org)
Improved Gun Tracing, Registration Needed in Ghana, Says Commission
25 April 2012
Ghana web (Ghana)
The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCSALW) says there are approximately 30 arms importers licensed in Ghana, with mostly no credible database on their activities.
State institutions do not have exact statistics on the number of arms these licensed arms dealers import annually, or who they sell these weapons to because current State legislations lack the capacity to ensure the effective monitoring of their activities.
There are varied statistics... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Vow to Strip Celebratory Shooters of Licence in Uttar Pradesh, India
25 April 2012
Indian Express
After several incidents of celebratory firings during victory processions of SP leaders and weddings, DGP AC Sharma has issued a circular to book gun licence holders involved in such incidents. The circular also said their licences will be cancelled within a month of the occurrence of such incidents.
The DGP has said that local police station officers will be accountable for such incidents taking place in their areas. The district police chiefs will ensure penal action... (GunPolicy.org)
Poor Records Allow Government Guns to Leak into Ghana Black Market
24 April 2012
Spy Ghana (Ghana)
The Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has raised grave concerns about arms in circulation indicating that about 20 percent of illegally manufactured weapons in circulation are from the nation's security services. According to the Commission, the porous nature of the record keeping and data management systems by the security services has led to the phenomenon, adding that per the records over 200,000 small arms are in the custody of civilians.
Analysts have... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Armourer Accused of Siphoning Ammo to Indian Militants for 7 Years
23 April 2012
Times of India
DIMAPUR - In a development that will shock the Nagaland police department, a recent raid conducted by 29 Assam Rifles and Dimapur Police has exposed a possible nexus between a police constable and militants. Identified as Enyimi Chakhesang, the constable has allegedly been supplying ammunition from the Police Centre Store, Chumukedima to members of NSCN (IM)
Security forces had information that the militants were stocking ammunition at the Sukhovi area and they raided... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghanaian Police Urged to Educate Public: There's No Need to Carry Guns
23 April 2012
Joy Online (Ghana)
A Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Cape Coast, Mr Takyi Akonnor, has charged security institutions in the country to 'step up their game' to convince the citizenry of their safety. Doing so, he said, will assure people that there is no need for them to acquire small arms to protect themselves.
Mr Akonnor was speaking in an interview with Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on Joy FM's Super Morning Show Monday. He was commenting on reports suggesting... (GunPolicy.org)
Increase in Number of Illegal Arms Circulating in Ghana
23 April 2012
Joy Online (Ghana)
One hundred and twenty-five thousand illicit guns are in circulation in the country without any form of data or record indicating where and who owns them, according to a baseline study in 2004.
According to the report, about 400,000 small arms are in circulation in the country. A little over half of the number 220,000 is in civilian hands. Only 95,000, representing 43.2 per cent, are registered, leaving a significant 56.8 per cent or 125,000 unaccounted for.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
South African Police Battle Over Removal of Firearms from Unfit Officers
23 April 2012
Times (South Africa)
The SA Police Service is locked in a battle with a union over the removal of firearms from more than 27000 officers found unfit to carry them and the placing of seasoned policemen as security guards.
The SA Policing Union made a successful urgent application late last week for an interdict prohibiting Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and acting national police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi from disarming policemen in all nine provinces who have been declared unfit to handle... (GunPolicy.org)
Amnesty Recovers More Than 100 Unlawfully Held Guns in Angola
22 April 2012
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
CAXITO — At least 119 firearms of assorted calibres unlawfully in the hands of civilians in northern Bengo province were freely surrendered to the National Police from January 1 to April 22 this year, Angop learned.
The information was released by the Provincial Command of the National Police director for Public Order, Marcos Domingos.
According to the officer, 4,294 firearms have so far been surrendered in Bengo province since the nationwide operation started in... (GunPolicy.org)
Mass Shootings Not Tightening US Gun Control Laws Anymore - Expert
22 April 2012
Agence France Presse
CHICAGO — The statistics are staggering, the stories heartbreaking, yet there is little chance that any amount of bloodshed will lead to stiffer gun controls in the United States in the foreseeable future.
"It's not something that any politician thinks is winnable," said Kristin Goss, a politics professor at Duke University and author of "Disarmed: The Missing Movement for Gun Control in America."
Five years after the worst school shooting in US history left 32... (GunPolicy.org)
Quebec Court Backs Gun Registry, Sets Stage for Federal Legal Battle
21 April 2012
National Post (Toronto)
MONTREAL — The province's gun-control advocates were buoyed Friday by a strongly worded Quebec Superior Court judgment that recognized the recently abolished long-gun registry as an effective and economical crime prevention tool, laying the groundwork for a long legal battle with Ottawa.
The federal government reacted quickly and decisively, in what will no doubt lead to a Supreme Court showdown over the future of the divisive national registry. It said the ruling... (GunPolicy.org)
East African Community Passes Bill to Reduce Small Arms Trafficking
21 April 2012
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
A trade bill passed by the East African Community (EAC) Parliament to reduce the proliferation of small arms, narcotic drugs and other illegal goods could result in an improved economic climate for the region.
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) last Thursday passed the East African Community Customs Management (Amendment) Bill, 2012, a modification of the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004.
The Bill anchors into law the need for regulatory... (GunPolicy.org)
Temporary Injunction Preserves Canada Long-Gun Registry
20 April 2012
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
MONTREAL - The province's gun-control advocates were buoyed Friday by a strongly worded Quebec Superior Court judgment that recognized the recently abolished long-gun registry as an effective and economical crime prevention tool, laying the groundwork for a long legal battle with Ottawa.
The federal government reacted quickly and decisively, in what will no doubt lead to a Supreme Court show-down over the future of the divisive national registry. It said the ruling... (GunPolicy.org)
West Africa,Ghana,Mali,Liberia
African Media Tasked to Assist Security Agencies Fight Arms Trafficking
20 April 2012
Ghana News Agency
Mr Jones Applerh, Executive Secretary, Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission, (SALW), on Friday appealed to the media to help security agencies control small arms proliferation in the country, especially before, during and after the December polls.
He urged the media to use the power of mass communication to expose the dangers of illicit proliferation of small arms into Ghana and other West African States.
Mr Applerh was addressing a three-day capacity building... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Police Fear Criminals Stockpiling Stolen Guns for Gang Warfare
20 April 2012
Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
Police fear criminals are stockpiling hundreds of firearms stolen in Queensland each year and plan to use them in violent confrontations and possible gang warfare.
The LNP Government yesterday announced a crackdown on illegal firearms after The Courier-Mail revealed gun theft had soared in Queensland, with hundreds stolen in the past year.
In the wake of two recent fatal shootings in Brisbane, Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said police feared the weapons would be... (GunPolicy.org)
Senegal,Tunisia,Latvia,France,Romania,Mali,Guinea,Ghana,Europe,Africa,Côte d'Ivoire,Belarus
Belarus FM Denies Reports of Illegal Arms Transfers to Côte d'Ivoire
20 April 2012
Telegraf (Belarus)
Spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Andrei Savinykh denied reports of arms shipments to Côte d'Ivoire in violation of the UN sanctions. "It's not even an accusation; it's a clumsy attempt of individual journalists to muddy the waters, as the proverb says," he said.
"The Belarusian side has been always cooperating openly with experts from the UN Security Council Committee on Côte d'Ivoire, whose reports these pseudo-journalists referred to. If they really... (GunPolicy.org)
Proposal to Allow the Right to Carry Hidden Handguns in Mexico [Espanol]
19 April 2012
Milenio (Mexico)
[Translated Summary: University Professor and lawyer Ernesto Villanueva suggests allowing the free carrying of firearms in Mexico, under administrative regulations and ensuring prior technical qualification of the carriers.]
El catedrático y jurista Ernesto Villanueva aseguró que con ello se erradicará el tráfico ilegal y los delitos; además mencionó "pareciera que hay dos cárteles, uno operado por el presidente Calderón y otro operado por las bandas... (GunPolicy.org)
States 'Should Unite' to Combat Spread of Illegal Guns - S. Australian AG
19 April 2012
Australian (Sydney)
States should adopt a nationally consistent approach to deal with criminal organisations to combat the spread of illegal firearms, South Australian Attorney-General John Rau said yesterday.
Mr Rau's call came as NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione warned that gangs were moving towards an American criminal culture of resolving disputes "at the end of a handgun".
Gun-related violence has risen to national prominence after the Tuesday night shooting of a Hell's Angel... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Dip in Gun Licence Applications Due to Improved Law and Order?
18 April 2012
Telegraph (India)
Firearms are losing their spark in Patna or so it seems from the decline in the number of people seeking arms licences over the past five years.
Till a few years ago, public display of firearms was common on the roads of the state capital. This trend, however, has taken a beating since 2007 (see chart).
A source in the arms magistrate office said: "From 1990 to 2005, the annual number of applications for arms licences was almost 2,000 on an average but after 2006, the... (GunPolicy.org)
Ukraine to Destroy Ammo, Small Arms under Partnership for Peace Project
18 April 2012
Interfax (Ukraine)
Ukraine and NATO will continue cooperation in scrapping ammunition under the NATO Partnership for Peace Trust Fund project.
A relevant framework agreement was signed between the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) in Kyiv on Tuesday, Interfax-Ukraine learned at the Defense Ministry's press service.
According to the agreement, 76,000 tons of ammunition, 366,000 units of light weapons and small arms and three million... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico Seizes 268,000 Rounds of Ammunition from US Truck at Border
18 April 2012
Washington Post / AP
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Mexican customs inspectors seized 268,000 rounds of assault rifle ammunition found in a U.S. truck at a border crossing in Ciudad Juarez, authorities reported Wednesday.
Angel Torres, a spokesman for federal prosecutors in northern Chihuahua state, said a 37-year-old man from Dallas, Texas, was detained for trying to drive the truck across the border from El Paso, Texas.
Torres said the driver, who is being held pending investigation on... (GunPolicy.org)
Record Number of Gun Permits in Hawaii, More Women Taking Gun Classes
18 April 2012
News Now (Hawaii)
HONOLULU – Numbers released by the Department of the Attorney General show a record number of permits were issued for firearms and a record number of firearms were registered in Hawaii in 2011.
Last year 14,460 permits were issued statewide compared to 12,214 in 2010. And 36,804 firearms were registered in Hawaii in 2011 compared to 31,390 the year before.
"Most of the folks we get are acquiring firearms for the purposes of protection," said Bill Richter, President... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigerian Customs Import 5,000 AK-47 Rifles to Tackle Gun Smuggling
18 April 2012
Leadership (Abuja)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it has imported about 5,000 AK-47 assault rifles and two helicopters to be used in tackling proliferation of small arms by smugglers across the country's porous borders.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, who disclosed this while speaking to State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday also said that Customs had purchase 400 units of Toyota Hilux vehicles approved by... (GunPolicy.org)
Cattle Herders Avoiding Disarmament in South Sudan for Fear of Attacks
17 April 2012
Sudan Tribune (France)
JUBA — South Sudan's army (SPLA) says that some Murle cattle herders are avoiding handing over their weapons to the military as part of a statewide disarmament campaign in Jonglei following severe violence earlier this year.
The SPLA captain responsible for disarmament in the Anyidi area, Philip Bol Akuei, said that reports of Murle raiders were reaching his forces but poor roads and the distances involved means that they are not mobile enough to respond.
Some... (GunPolicy.org)
Netherlands,Germany,Austria,Hungary,Serbia,Eastern Europe,Belgium
Belgian Authorities Disband International Gun Trafficking Ring [Français]
17 April 2012
RTL (Belgium)
[Translated summary: Brussels Police and the Federal Prosecutor have dismantled an international gun trafficking network in cooperation with Serbian, Austrian, Hungarian and German authorities.]
La police judiciaire fédérale de Bruxelles et le parquet fédéral ont démantelé un réseau international de trafic d'armes. Huit personnes ont été arrêtées en Belgique et des armes à feu ont été saisies, des kalachnikovs et des explosifs destinés à... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia & New Zealand,Australia
Australia's PM Should Follow Her Predecessor and Ban Handguns Now
17 April 2012
Australian (Sydney) / AAP
Prime Minister Julia Gillard needs to step in and work with the states to ban semi-automatic handguns in response to Sydney's plague of drive-by shootings, a gun control group says.
The guns are the weapon of choice for criminals terrorising western Sydney because they are lightweight and easy to handle, says Samantha Lee, chair of the National Coalition for Gun Control.
"Sydney is drowning in drive-by shootings," she told reporters today.
"It is actually time for... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Under Fire for Renting Guns to Criminals in Trinidad & Tobago
17 April 2012
Guardian (Trinidad and Tobago)
Law enforcement officers will be placed under greater scrutiny as Government moves to clamp down on those who sell or rent state-issued weapons to criminals. Minister of National Security John Sandy made the announcement at the Police Academy, St James, yesterday while delivering the feature address at the opening of a sub-regional inter-training course on combating the illicit trafficking in firearms and explosives for the Caribbean states. "Let me state categorically... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Customs Should Be Embedded with Police to Tackle Gun Crisis
17 April 2012
Australian (Sydney) / AAP
Customs agents should be embedded within the NSW Police Force to tackle Sydney's escalating gun crisis, says Federal Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare.
In a five hour shooting spree last night, two tattoo parlours and three homes were sprayed with bullets.
Over four days there have been eight shootings across Sydney and 19 so far this month.
Mr Clare said a new firearms intelligence unit was needed to collect the intelligence gathered by Customs, and federal and... (GunPolicy.org)
Escalating Gun War in Sydney, Five Drive-by Shootings Overnight
17 April 2012
Agence France Presse
SYDNEY — An escalating gun war in Sydney saw five overnight drive-by shooting attacks, Australian police said Tuesday, as they struggled to bring the gangland violence under control.
There have been eight shootings across the city in four days and 19 so far this month, mostly in Sydney's west and southwest.
Three homes and two tattoo parlours were sprayed with bullets in the latest attacks. No one was hurt but five young children were lucky to escape injury in one... (GunPolicy.org)
Disarmament of Guns in Civilians' Possession Intensified in Angola
16 April 2012
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
LUANDA — The National Commission for Disarmament of Civilians will intensify its actions of coercive disarmament of citizens in possession of weapons throughout the country.
It was announced on Monday, by the spokesman of the committee, chief commissioner Paulo Gaspar de Almeida, at the end of a meeting held in Luanda, with the provincial and ministerial coordinators.
According to Paulo Gaspar de Almeida, actions will be implemented in all provinces, especially in... (GunPolicy.org)
America's Deadly Devotion to Guns: A British Columnist Meets the NRA
16 April 2012
Guardian (UK)
There are around 90 guns for every 100 Americans yet, despite 85 fatal shootings a day, the mighty US gun lobby is as powerful as ever. In the wake of Trayvon Martin's killing, Gary Younge reports on the country's deadly attachment to firearms
At an organising breakfast for National Rifle Association (NRA) grassroots activists, Samuel Richardson, a man with whom I have not exchanged a word, passes me a note. "Please read the book Injustice by Adams," it reads. "He was... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Owner Smuggled Assault Weapon Parts from US to Australia - Cops
14 April 2012
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
Gun parts which could be assembled to make a military assault rifle similar to that used in the Port Arthur massacre have been removed from the streets of Sydney in the latest police raid and crackdown on illegal weapons.
The illegally imported parts, which slipped into the country through Australia Post, were uncovered on Thursday when detectives raided a property near Port Macquarie and another owned by the same man in Sydney's south.
Among the large cache of... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,United States
US Presidential Hopeful: Enshrine 'Right to Bear Arms' in UN Treaty
13 April 2012
C-Span / YouTube (USA), Video
Newt Gingrich, presidential candidate and former US House speaker (1995-99), speaks at the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting.
Right To Bear Arms Is A Human Right (Newt Gingrich)
Play video:... (GunPolicy.org)
Private Guards with Semi-automatic Guns to Defend German Ships from Pirates
13 April 2012
Spiegel (Germany)
Using private security firms to protect ships from Somali pirates has long been a legal gray area in Germany. Conceding that it doesn't have enough soldiers to do the job, the German government is considering a draft law allowing shipowners to deploy private armed guards. But there's one caveat: Security personnel would be limited to using semi-automatic firearms.
Shipping companies and Western governments have been struggling with the problem of piracy off the Horn of... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghanaians Called Upon to Rise Against Gun Violence
13 April 2012
Public Agenda (Accra)
The Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has noted with grave concern the recent incidence of gun violence reported in the media.
According to the Commission, the growing impact of Small Arms in the country especially as we approach the elections is worrying and must not be ignored by all peace loving Ghanaians.
It therefore reminded all and sundry that the proliferation and misuse of small arms was a threat to the security of people and nations... (GunPolicy.org)
Most Americans Back Gun Lobby, Right to Use Deadly Force, Shoot to Kill
13 April 2012
Reuters
WASHINGTON - Most Americans support the right to use deadly force to protect themselves - even in public places - and have a favorable view of the National Rifle Association, the main gun-lobby group, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.
The online survey showed that 68 percent, or two out of three respondents, had a favorable opinion of the NRA, which starts its annual convention in St. Louis, Missouri, on Friday.
Eighty-two percent of Republicans saw the gun lobbying group... (GunPolicy.org)
Peace Council Imposes Gun Ban in Philippine Autonomous Region
13 April 2012
Philippine Information Agency
COTABATO CITY -- The members of the Regional Peace and Order Council has decided to impose a gun ban and regulate the issuance of firearms in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
ARMM governor officer-in-charge regional governor Mujiv Hataman said that the council has unanimously agreed to pass a resolution proposing the imposition of gun ban in the areas under the autonomous region not only during the election period but also during voters'... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Gun Dealers Faking Gun Licences 'Security Threat' to India
12 April 2012
Nagaland Post (India)
GUWAHATI - Several armed private security guards and criminals of Assam possess firearms bought using fraudulent arms licences procured from Kangpokpi in Manipur and Dimapur in Nagaland.
Sources in the criminal investigation department (CID) of police, which is investigating the matter, said the arms and ammunition procured by using these licences, many of which were fake, had become a threat to public safety and a major concern for security forces.
"If anybody... (GunPolicy.org)
Majority of Illegal Guns in Australia Sourced Locally, Not Smuggled
12 April 2012
ABC News (Australia)
NSW Police say progress is being made in the operation to crackdown on gang related gun violence in Sydney, despite ten reported shootings in as many days.
The head of Operation Spartan, Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli says officers have seen some success however remain frustrated by the wall of silence around victims and witnesses.
Operation Spartan has seen 36 firearms seized since January with 314 people arrested and more than 515 charges laid by... (GunPolicy.org)
New York Mayor Launches Campaign Against 'Shoot First' US Gun Laws
12 April 2012
Washington Post / AP
WASHINGTON — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a national campaign against gun laws that he said "justify civilian gun play."
Bloomberg was joined by the leaders from the NAACP, National Urban League and other groups Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., as he announced "Second Chance on Shoot First."
The campaign aims to repeal or reform the laws that eliminated a person's duty to retreat when threatened with serious bodily harm or... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Launches New Firearm Intelligence Team to Trace Crime Guns
12 April 2012
Australian (Sydney) / AAP
A new Firearms Intelligence and Targeting Team is to be established to link all available information on illicit firearms in a move to tackle rising gun crime.
Home Affairs and Justice Minister Jason Clare said this was the same model used by Customs and Border Protection and other law enforcement agencies for counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation activities and illegal drug importation and it had proved highly effective.
Mr Clare said work would start immediately... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada Police Say Scrapping of Long-gun Registry 'Challenges' Tracing
12 April 2012
Winnipeg Free Press (Manitoba) / Canadian Press
OTTAWA - As it prepares to destroy millions of long-gun records, the RCMP says the Conservative government's decision to scrap the registry will make it tougher to trace firearms used to commit crimes.
The process that will lead to deletion of rifle and shotgun records in the registry is under way — with the exception of Quebec files at the centre of a court action, said Cpl. Laurence Trottier, an RCMP spokeswoman.
"It is a complex IT project involving the... (GunPolicy.org)
Qatar,East Africa,Russia,North Korea,China,West Asia,North Africa,Syria,Mali,Libya,Belgium,West Africa
Small Arms Manufactured in Belgium Proliferate in Libya, Mali [Francais]
11 April 2012
L'Express (France) / AFP
[Translated summary: Notwithstanding risks of proliferation, small arms manufactured in Belgium circulate in Libya, Mali, and maybe tomorrow in Syria? Belgium is the biggest european exporter of small arms: in 2010, 32% of european exports of small arms to Middle East and North Africa came from this country.]
Malgré les mises en garde à Bruxelles sur les risques de prolifération, les armes légères fabriquées en Belgique circulent de la Libye au Mali. Et demain,... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda Soldiers, Officers Found Selling Guns to Be Subject to Firing Squad
11 April 2012
New Vision (Kampala)
Any UPDF soldier or officer found selling firearms or ammunitions to criminals will be subjected to firing squad in full public view, a General in the army warned on Tuesday.
Speaking at a pipping ceremony of recently propmoted officers, a visibly riled Brig. Hussein Adda, the camp commandant Bombo said the firing squad which is provided for under the UPDF Act is better as compared to incarcerating the culprits in Luzira "because imprisoning will not solve the... (GunPolicy.org)
What a Nerve: Mexican President Suggests a US Role in Gun Running
10 April 2012
The Hill (Washington DC)
The nerve of President Calderon of Mexico. How dare he come to the United States and utter two words Americans are no longer allowed to speak? I heard them myself in the Rose Garden last week: gun control.
Calderon's comments came in response to a reporter's question about the ongoing drug wars in Mexico, in which 11,000 people were killed in 2010 alone. What are you doing about the guns?
He began by noting that the level of gun violence in Mexico began to escalate in... (GunPolicy.org)
Weeklong Gun Ban in Masbate, Philippines Starts Monday
9 April 2012
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Starting Monday, only soldiers and law enforcers will be allowed to carry firearms in the island-province of Masbate.
Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome, in a memorandum on Saturday, ordered the suspension of gun-carrying privileges in Masbate from April 9 to 14, when the annual Rodeo Masbateño Festival is celebrated in the province as a tribute to its cattle industry.
He said that due to the event "all permits to carry firearms outside of... (GunPolicy.org)
Lebanese Dealer Describes Flourishing Business of Gun Smuggling into Syria
8 April 2012
Ya Libnan (Lebanon)
Wearing dark glasses as he sat in a fashionable Beirut cafe, Abu Abode, a Lebanese arms dealer, did not mince his words as he described the flourishing business of smuggling weapons into neighbouring Syria.
"Small arms and automatic rifles are in high demand by the Syrian rebels," Abu Abode, not his real name, told dpa.
Peaceful pro-democracy protests, which started in Syria in March 2011, have turned into an armed conflict between the government of President Bashar... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda Government Asked to Expedite the Process of Small Arms Collection
8 April 2012
Uganda Pulse
Gulu Resident District Commissioner Chrissy Owori Odoi has called on government to expedite the process of collecting small arms which are still in circulation among people in Uganda.
Owori says small arms still pose a big threat to this country and may retard development if it is look at carefully.
Owori says the current peace which the northern region has achieved still stands in threat if small arms are in abundance on the wrong hands.
Speaking during a... (GunPolicy.org)
11,000 Licensed Guns 'Missing' in South Australia
7 April 2012
Advertiser (Adelaide)
Almost 11,000 licensed firearms have reportedly gone "missing" in South Australia over the past decade.
Among the 10,879 weapons are semi-automatic rifles, pump-action shotguns, pistols and antique guns, SA Police figures reveal.
Firearms classified as missing include those that are lost, unaccounted for from deceased estates, where the licence holder can't be located, firearms destroyed by the owner, or destroyed by other means such as flood and fire.
The figures -... (GunPolicy.org)
West Asia,North Africa,South America,Africa,United States,Russia
Russian Arms Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison by US Judge
5 April 2012
New York Times / Reuters
NEW YORK - Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer caught in an undercover sting by U.S. agents posing as Colombian guerrillas seeking weapons, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Thursday by a U.S. judge in New York.
Bout, who was the subject of a book titled "Merchant of Death," asserted his innocence during the sentencing, telling the judge through a Russian interpreter, "I never intended to kill anyone. I never intended to sell arms to anyone. God knows this... (GunPolicy.org)
Rise in Justifiable Homicides Linked to Weak US Gun Control Laws
5 April 2012
Guardian (UK)
NEW YORK - Rising numbers of civilian justifiable homicides across the US are closely linked to states with both weak gun controls and stand-your-ground laws, according to a Guardian analysis of FBI and other data, which show a 25% increase in such killings since the controversial self-defence laws started being introduced around 2005.
Stand-your-ground (SYG) measures, which have attracted increasing scrutiny since the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon... (GunPolicy.org)
Hoodlums Attack Police Station in Nigeria, Steal 14 AK-47 Rifles
5 April 2012
Vanguard (Lagos)
AWKA — Gunmen,numbering seven yesterday, attacked Amichi police station in Nnewi South Local Government Area and injured a police officer in the process. About 10 vehicles packed within and around the police premises were also riddled with bullets.
The hoodlums were said to have stormed the police station at about 2.30 am and after sporadic shooting, released two suspects believed to be their members and also allegedly made away with 14 AK-47 riffles belonging to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe,East Africa,Ireland,Palestine,Africa,West Asia,North Africa,Syria,Libya,Belgium
Special Report on Belgian Arms Exports in Middle East and North Africa - Blog
5 April 2012
New York Times, Blog
The uprisings in Libya and Syria have cast the Belgian small arms industry as a case study of the difficult balances within a Western arms-manufacturing community that seeks exports to preserve revenue and local jobs, but risks compromising European policies and human rights values.
Belgium is one of Europe's busiest exporters of small arms and light weapons. As late as 2010, the last year for which publicly released data is available, 32 percent of the small-arms... (GunPolicy.org)
Art and Photo Show Focuses on Trade in Firearms, Deadly Effects in Mexico
5 April 2012
Huffington Post (USA) / AP
MEXICO CITY — An art and photo show focusing on the trade in firearms and their deadly effects in Mexico may soon be going to the United States, the same place where many of the weapons come from.
The show, "A Farewell to Arms. Contraband on the Border," uses photos and artwork to illustrate how the illegal weapons trade has affected Mexico, where more than 47,000 people have died in drug-related violence since late 2006.
The non-governmental groups Global Exchange... (GunPolicy.org)
Quebec Court Injunction Delays Destruction of Long-gun Registry Data
5 April 2012
CBC News (Canada)
Just as the Harper government's bill to end the long-gun registry becomes law, a Quebec Superior Court judge has granted a five-day injunction against destroying the data about Quebec gun owners found in the registry.
The Quebec government sought the injunction in court in Montreal Thursday, in anticipation of royal assent for C-19, the Harper government's legislation to fulfil a longtime campaign promise to scrap the registry.
The injunction granted Thursday applies... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Pleads Guilty in Botched 'Fast and Furious' US Gun-running Sting
5 April 2012
Reuters
PHOENIX - A man pleaded guilty on Thursday to two felony counts of purchasing and running high-powered rifles to Mexico from Arizona under the botched "Fast and Furious" federal sting operation tied to the murder of a U.S. federal agent.
Jaime Avila Jr. was among a ring of 20 defendants charged with buying high-powered firearms including Kalashnikov type assault rifles and Barrett sniper rifles to run to the Mexican cartels.
The purchases were made in the Phoenix area... (GunPolicy.org)
Bogota Mayor Requests that Ban on Gun Carrying Be Extended [Espanol]
5 April 2012
El Universal (Colombia)
[Translated summary: The Mayor of Bogota requested that the restriction on the carrying of firearms be extended until the first of May 2012. This request has been motivated by a 6% homicide reduction in the capital.]
BOGOTÁ - El Secretario de Gobierno (e) de Bogotá, Jorge Rojas Rodríguez, solicitará a la Brigada número 13 del Ejército que se amplíe la medida de restricción de armas de fuego hasta el primero de mayo del 2012.
Esto con motivo de una reducción... (GunPolicy.org)
Berlin, Germany: Gunman Kills One, Injures Two
5 April 2012
Local (Germany)
Berlin police are hunting a gunman who walked up to a group of young people on Wednesday night, and opened fire, killing a 22-year-old and seriously wounding two others, before fleeing on foot.
The attacker, who remains on the run, approached the group of five people at around 1 am near a hospital in the southern Neukölln area of the city and shot three of them from close range. The other two escaped unharmed.
The 22-year-old, died shortly afterwards in hospital,... (GunPolicy.org)
Number of Gun-related Crimes Is Dropping Rapidly in China - Police
5 April 2012
China Daily
The number of gun-related crimes is dropping rapidly nationwide, despite a recent spate of armed robberies, police say.
In 2000, police dealt with about 5,000 gun-related crimes across the country. The number dropped to about 500 in 2011, down 46 percent from 2010, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Public Security.
The decrease is mainly due to China's strict policy on gun control and tougher policing measures, said Yan Zhengbin, deputy director of... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe,Asia,South East Asia,China,United States
Gun Runners 'Using Internet and Express Delivery' in China – Police
5 April 2012
China Daily
Police success at border checkpoints forces arms traffickers to change
Gun smugglers are using the Internet and express delivery networks for trafficking arms into China, a police officer said.
Police broke up 69 gun-smuggling rings nationally last year, and smashed 20 gangs, Yan Zhengbin, deputy director at the public security management bureau under the Ministry of Public Security, told China Daily.
Nineteen cases involved fully assembled guns, while the remainder... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Owners in Canada Alarmed by Ammunition Rules, Storage Requirements
4 April 2012
Calgary Herald (Alberta)
Hunters and shooters are up in arms about the federal government's proposed new explosives regulations, which they say will interfere with everything from big-game hunting and ammunition storage, to re-enacting historic battles.
The changes require - for the first time in Canada - gun owners to lock away all ammunition. At present, guns must be locked, but not ammunition. The proposed rules will require all gun owners to install a locking box or safe in their... (GunPolicy.org)
