Top of PageGun Policy News
Firearm disposal to reduce gun violence
Canadian Amnesty Nets 32 Guns at Halfway Point
18 June 2013
Vancouver Sun (British Columbia)
A handgun with a laser sight was among 32 firearms turned over to the Vancouver police department during the first half of the province's firearms amnesty program.
At the halfway point of the amnesty, residents of Vancouver have turned in 22 rifles, six handguns, and four shotguns. As well, six replica guns and / or pellet or air guns along with almost 700 rounds of ammunition have been collected.
"The idea of the program is to provide an opportunity for the general... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Signs Gun Control Bill
16 June 2013
al Jazeera
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro signed a gun control bill into law in a bid to rein in the country's runaway violent crime.
"I hereby sign into law this gun control law, for peace in our nation," Maduro said on Friday in an address in Vargas state.
The bill will allow sentences of up to 20 years in prison for any civilian convicted of illegally carrying or selling a firearm.
It also restricts the sale of ammunition to civilians, and bans weapons from being shown... (GunPolicy.org)
St Kitts Gets UN Help, Training to Destroy Almost 400 Seized Weapons
6 June 2013
ZIZ Radio (St Kitts)
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - From 27 to 31 May 2013, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) supported the destruction of close to 400 seized and obsolete weapons and 0.67 tonnes of small arms ammunition and time-expired CS gas in Basseterre. All weapons and ammunition destroyed were documented in accordance with international standards and UNLIREC's standard operating procedures. UNLIREC also... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 4,000 Guns Destroyed in South Africa
5 June 2013
Citizen (South Africa)
The destruction of thousands of confiscated and surrendered firearms and knives is aimed at making society safer, Gauteng police said yesterday.
Speaking at a briefing at ArcelorMittal in Vereeniging, Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Mzwandile Petros said he was happy that the weapons had been permanently removed from the public.
"The confiscations were largely due to the community who provided tip-offs to police," he said. More than 4,000 firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 280 Weapons Collected in English County Amnesty
5 June 2013
BBC News
More than 280 weapons have been handed in at police stations in Derby during a month-long amnesty.
A Derbyshire Police spokesman said the weapon amnesty will help to make the city's streets safer.
Among the weapons recovered were illegal handguns, a World War II firearm and a crossbow.
All of the weapons will be destroyed, police said, except the World War II weapon which will be offered to a museum.
Fourteen swords, eight machetes and 230 knives were surrendered at... (GunPolicy.org)
Trinidad & Tobago,Caribbean,Barbados,Jamaica
Barbados Authorities Trace, Destroy Guns in Fight Against Crime
31 May 2013
Barbados Advocate
This island's top cop has revealed steps are being taken – not only on the local front, but regionally – to arrest the problem of gun crimes.
Speaking during the hand-over of a hydraulic shears at the Central Police Station from the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), Commissioner Darwin Dottin noted that there were countries in this region where more than 80 per cent of all homicides... (GunPolicy.org)
Caribbean,Barbados,Canada,Trinidad & Tobago,Jamaica
Barbados Authorities Tracing, Destroying Guns to Reduce Crime
31 May 2013
Barbados Advocate
This island's top cop has revealed steps are being taken – not only on the local front, but regionally – to arrest the problem of gun crimes.
Speaking during the hand-over of a hydraulic shears at the Central Police Station from the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), Commissioner Darwin Dottin noted that there were countries in this region where more than 80 per cent of all homicides... (GunPolicy.org)
Recovered Guns Form a Sea of Steel in US
29 May 2013
Washington Post
Every few hours, in a routine that is sometimes grim but more often mundane, local police take a gun off the streets. Since 2000, nearly 50,000 guns have been recovered by authorities in the District and Prince George's County. That is enough to arm every law enforcement officer in Maryland, the District and Virginia, with a couple of thousand guns to spare.
Police confiscate guns after drive-bys, drug raids and traffic stops. They find them tossed on roofs and thrown... (GunPolicy.org)
70 Guns Seized and Destroyed in Venezuela Town [Español]
22 May 2013
Entorno Inteligente (Venezuela)
[Translated summary: 70 guns were seized and destroyed in the parish of El Recreo, in accordance with Decree 9,194.]
Este procedimiento de inutilización consiste en el aplastado del cañón de cada arma.
70 armas de fuego, que fueron incautadas en diferentes procedimientos realizados por efectivos de la Policía del municipio Libertador, fueron inutilizadas este miércoles.
La actividad se realizó detrás de la Plaza Andrés Bello, en la parroquia El Recreo, y... (GunPolicy.org)
What is Gun Control Like in Ecuador?
8 May 2013
El Telégrafo
Most guns used by citizens Ecuador are still handmade.
Manufacturing guns in Ecuador has been illegal since Feb. 2012. However, most private security companies are still arming their guards with locally-made weapons acquired before February 2012.
In recent years, efforts to register and decommission guns that don't meet safety standards have increased. Last year, in most populated province Guayas, 9,958 guns were registered. In Pichincha in 2012: 9,145 guns. In... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 550 Kilos of Ammunition Surrendered in Australia for Destruction
8 May 2013
My Sunshine Coast (Australia), Media release
Queenslanders have surrendered more than 556 kilograms of sporting small arms ammunition during the first quarter of 2013.
Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps visited the Queensland Government explosives reserve at Helidon today to view the disposal of part of a large cache of unwanted ammunition handed in across the State.
"On average, approximately 500,000 rounds of sporting small arms ammunition is surrendered each year by the public as part of an... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 2.6 Million Ammo Rounds Destroyed in Republic of Congo
25 April 2013
Global Times (China)
More than 2.6 million rounds of unexploded ammunition have been neutralized by a non-governmental organization in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, to avoid a repetition of the deadly blast in the city last year.
The action was taken in Brazzaville's Mpila district, where an explosion occurred at an arms depot on March 4, 2012, the European Union (EU) said in a statement released here on Wednesday.
"The evaluation of the clearing and clean-up... (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)
Australia's Gun Controls a Political Template for US
3 April 2013
Reuters
Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard wore a bullet proof vest under his suit when he addressed an angry crowd of gun owners in 1996, telling them he was going to ban automatic and semi-automatic weapons for the safety of all Australians.
At other rallies, effigies of his deputy prime minister Tim Fischer were hanged by opponents of gun control.
The battle for gun control in Australia, after the country's worst massacre in which 35 people were shot dead, was... (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)
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)
Over 3500 Guns Collected, 700 Destroyed in Australian Amnesty
22 March 2013
Gladstone Observer (Australia)
More than 3500 firearms have been handed in as Queensland's gun amnesty reached the half-way mark.
Almost 700 have been surrendered for destruction with the remaining firearms registered.
The three-month amnesty, which ends on April 30, began as the government introduced new firearm laws involving mandatory jail terms, even a year for possessing an illegal firearm in a public place.
Police Minister Jack Dempsey is urging Queenslanders to take advantage of the... (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)
Sweden,Uruguay,Finland,Iraq,Saudi Arabia,Cyprus,Switzerland,Yemen,Serbia,United States
10 Nations with Highest Gun Ownership
12 March 2013
SiliconIndia
Bangalore: "Force and mind are opposites; morality ends where a gun begins," said novelist Ayn Rand. In an era where the misuse of guns and ammunitions are leading to massacres, it is no more a place of nonviolence. Arms and ammunitions leave bitter memories and scar the human race for ages to come. Here are the 10 countries with highest gun ownership, as listed by yahoo.com.
USA:
USA tops the list of countries with highest gun ownership and this no surprise! The... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun-Related Deaths: How Australia Stepped Off "The American Path"
12 March 2013
American College of Physicians - Annals of Internal Medicine
Australia and the United States share many characteristics. Both are English-speaking democracies of multicultural immigrants. The 2 nations have been allies for nearly a century. Australians and Americans consume similar diets of movies, video games, popular music, recreational drugs, and alcohol. Both have vast interiors, early histories of armed European settlers mistreating native populations, plenty of feral pests to shoot, and many firearm enthusiasts. Yet the 2... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: American College of Physicians - Annals of Internal Medicine
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
30 Percent of Costa Rican Crime Committed with Toy Guns
6 March 2013
Inside Costa Rica
At least three in ten armed robberies in Costa Rica are committed using a toy gun, according to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ). This week, authorities destroyed 487 such toy guns that were being held in evidence in the National Arsenal.
Among toy guns confiscated by officers are replicas of revolvers, shotguns, AK47's, and pistols of different calibers, according to authorities.
Costa Rican authorities also warned, "the use of replica toy guns is a... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Cop Illegally Sold Guns, Granted Licence for Killer With Abuse History
4 March 2013
BBC News
A police officer who illegally sold guns to the public played a part in granting a gun licence to a man who shot three members of his family.
Michael Atherton, 42, shot his partner Susan McGoldrick, Alison Turnbull, her daughter Tanya and then himself, in County Durham on New Year's Day 2012.
Former Durham PC Damien Cobain was convicted of misconduct in a public office in 2010 and left the force.
An inquest heard he was part of a team that dealt with Atherton's... (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)
Gun Crime Falls in South Africa After Tougher Laws Introduced
19 February 2013
South Africa Info
The arrest of Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius following the shooting of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, at Pistorius' home in Pretoria last week has focused considerable attention, in the local and international media, on gun laws and gun ownership in South Africa.
In 2004, new legislation came into force in South Africa, in the form of the Firearms Control Act of 2000, that brought in significantly tougher controls on the ownership, possession... (GunPolicy.org)
Tanzania Celebrates Gun Destruction in East Africa
17 February 2013
Tanzania Daily News (Dar Es Salaam)
The Vice-President, Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal, has said that recovery of more than 500,000 small arms and light weapons presently in wrong hands in the East African region would be possible through shared information among the member states.
Speaking at the destruction of illicit small arms and light weapons, the event held at Ukonga Prisons Ground on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, and witnessed by delegates to the East African Community (EAC) Joint Meeting of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexican Artist Turns Guns Into Musical Instruments
13 February 2013
New York Times / Associated Press
MEXICO CITY — The guns that have caused so many deaths in northern Mexico are now making music.
Mechanical hammers ping against ammunition magazines from assault rifles. Gun barrels cut to different lengths ring like marimbas. Pistol parts strike metal plates, like cymbals, to create rhythmic, syncopated sounds.
"It's important to consider that many lives were taken with these weapons, as if a sort of exorcism was taking place," sculptor Pedro Reyes said in a... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 300 Guns Surrendered in Australian Amnesty
13 February 2013
Australian (Sydney)
More than 300 guns have been handed in since a firearms amnesty began in Queensland two weeks ago.
When the three month amnesty ends in May, anyone caught with illegal weapons will face the toughest gun laws in Australia.
Queensland Police Minister Jack Dempsey says so far 310 illegally owned guns have been handed in to be surrendered or registered.
He expects that number to surge as the amnesty nears its end.
"The message is simple - please obey the amnesty or... (GunPolicy.org)
Switzerland Launches a Gun Collection [Francais]
7 February 2013
Le Figaro (France)
[Translated summary: Cantons of Vaud and Geneva, Switzerland, launched a campaign of voluntary surrender of firearms to reduce the number of firearms in circulation: 230,000 firearms in civilian hands in 2012.]
Les cantons de Vaud et Genève lancent jeudi une campagne de dépôt volontaire afin de diminuer le nombre d'armes en circulation.
Sous le nom d'opération «Vercingétorix», les autorités de la métropole lémanique invitent les citoyens à se séparer de... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Police Destroy Over 3,000 Guns, Admit Losing 1,200
5 February 2013
Eyewitness News (South Africa)
JOHANNESBURG - At least 31,000 knives and more than 3,000 guns were destroyed by police in Vereeniging on Tuesday.
The weapons were seized from criminals in Gauteng over the past two years, as part of the Operation Duty Calls campaign.
The weapons were packed in white bags at the Arcelor Metal Plant in Vereeniging.
A giant electric magnate liftted the weapons up to the brim of a 10-metre tall smelter, into which they would later be thrown into.
Once the weapons have... (GunPolicy.org)
US Author: Australian Gun Deaths Fall After Ban, Buybacks
31 January 2013
PolitiFact
Author Stephen King once asked his publisher to pull one of his novels off the shelves.
Six people had died — in real life.
Four boys in 10 years brought guns to school. One killed a teacher and two students. Another shot five members of a prayer group, killing three. All four teenagers had read Rage, a book King wrote when he was a teen himself and published under another name.
King, in a blunt, impassioned essay, wrote that when he learned of the copycat crimes,... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 300,000 Guns Destroyed in Venezuela Since 2003 [Espanol]
27 January 2013
Agencia Venezolana de Noticias (Caracas)
[Translated summary: 303,000 firearms have been destroyed since 2003 in Venezuela, according to officials.]
CARACAS - 303.000 armas de fuego han sido destruidas desde el año 2003 hasta la fecha en Venezuela, lo que destaca como el primer país en el mundo con importantes logros en materia de destrucción de armas, informó el director de la Policía Nacional Bolivariana (PNB), Luis Fernández.
Las declaraciones las ofreció en la parroquia La Pastora, ubicada al... (GunPolicy.org)
Costa Rica to Tighten Gun Control, as Gun Crime Rises
25 January 2013
Tico Times (Costa Rica)
Two years ago, 32 women, 48 children and 172 men were killed by firearms in Costa Rica.
Those statistics glow from backlit posters on Avenida Escazú, southwest of the capital, and overlook highways in Curridabat, east of the city, emblazoned on giant billboards.
"The goal is to inform people that firearms in general have a negative effect," said Randal Arias, director of the governance and justice program at Costa Rica's Peace and Democracy Foundation and manager of... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Gun Death Rate Falls After Gun Buyback, Law Change Says MP
15 January 2013
Sydney Morning Herald, Opinion
Since the 1997 gun buyback, your chance of being a victim of gun violence has more than halved. Yet as Monday's Herald pointed out, the number of guns in Australia has increased by nearly one-fifth over the same period. What's going on?
The simplest answer is that the population is a fifth larger than it was in 1997. In reality, Australia has about as many guns per person as we did after the gun buyback. The only way to conclude the gun buyback has been undone is to... (GunPolicy.org)
Legal Gun Rate Up But Australian Police Say Problem is Illegal Guns
15 January 2013
Sydney Morning Herald
Police figures have revealed there are almost 790,000 registered firearms in NSW, but an average of five weapons are held by each licensed owner.
A University of Sydney study revealed this week that Australians now own as many guns as they did at the time of the Port Arthur massacre, despite more than 1 million firearms being handed in and destroyed nationally.
Philip Alpers, an adjunct associate professor at the university's school of public health, said the nation... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,France,United States,England & Wales,Switzerland,Australia
Editorial: Three Million Guns In Australia is More Than Enough
15 January 2013
Sydney Morning Herald, Editorial
It should be troubling to Australian governments that since 1988, after more than 1 million guns have been destroyed as a result of government buyback programs, numerous amnesties, voluntary returns, the banning of semi-automatic weapons and the tightening of gun import controls, the number of guns in private hands in Australia is as large as it has ever been.
It's not hard to see why. Since 1988, while governments have been running
a variety of gun control programs,... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Re-Stocks Private Arsenal to Pre-Buyback Gun Numbers
13 January 2013
Sydney Morning Herald
Australians own as many guns now as they did at the time of the Port Arthur massacre, despite more than 1 million firearms being handed in and destroyed, new research reveals.
A University of Sydney study has shown there has been a steady increase in guns imported into the country over the past decade, with the number of privately owned guns now at the same level as 1996.
Estimates suggest there were 3.2 million firearms in Australia at the time of the Tasmanian... (GunPolicy.org)
Colombia,Venezuela,Mexico,Chile,Brazil,Argentina
Gun Laws in Six Latin American Nations Explained
11 January 2013
Americas Society/Council of the Americas
Following a mass school shooting in Connecticut in December 2012, policymakers in the United States began engaging in a renewed debate about gun control. AS/COA Online looks at gun-related legislation in Latin America's six largest economies, identifying regulations for arms licensing. In Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela, gun possession is legal for civilians, though restrictions tend to be stringent. …
Argentina: Gun ownership in Argentina... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Fondness for Guns Under Scrutiny after Shooting Tragedy
5 January 2013
Sydney Morning Herald
As much as Americans, the Swiss love their guns, seeing them as integral to their national traditions of self-reliance, independence and international neutrality, with a trained and equipped citizen-army capable of deterring any foolish invader.
Many Swiss, after serving in the army, keep their service weapons at home, and the country has no national register for firearms. In February 2011, the Swiss handily rejected restrictions on gun ownership in a national... (GunPolicy.org)
Experts Suggest US Can Learn From Australia's Post-Port Arthur Laws
30 December 2012
Sky News (UK)
When Martin Bryant massacred 35 people with semi-automatic weapons at a tourist spot in Tasmania in 1996, then-Australian prime minister John Howard reacted swiftly by pushing for tough new national gun laws.
Just 12 days after the shootings at Port Arthur, legislation was agreed which banned most people from owning rapid fire rifles and shotguns.
In a government buyback scheme more than 600,000 weapons were handed in and destroyed.
There have been no mass killings... (GunPolicy.org)
Norway,Switzerland,Finland,Germany,Canada,Australia,United Kingdom,United States
Around the World, Gun Massacres Spurred Gun Control, Public Safety
18 December 2012
ABC News (USA) / AP
If there's anywhere that understands the pain of Newtown, it's Dunblane, the town whose grief became a catalyst for changes to Britain's gun laws.
In March 1996, a 43-year-old man named Thomas Hamilton walked into a primary school in this central Scotland town of 8,000 people and shot to death 16 kindergarten-age children and their teacher with four legally held handguns. In the weeks that followed, people in the town formed the Snowdrop campaign — named for the... (GunPolicy.org)
One Leader of a Democracy Reversed His Nation's Gun Laws in 12 Days
17 December 2012
CNN, Opinion
Editor's note: Philip Alpers is Adjunct Associate Professor at the Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney. A policy analyst in the public health effects of gun violence and small arms proliferation, his web site GunPolicy.org compares armed violence and gun laws, country by country.
SYDNEY, Australia - Could the leader of a democracy reverse his nation's slide toward the ever more permissive use of firearms and mandate stringent new gun control laws in... (GunPolicy.org)
Angola Police Seize Over 4,000 Weapons in Disarmament Process
14 December 2012
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
CAXITO — At least 4.351 weapons were seized in the northern Bengo province by the Police, under the disarming process of the population illegally owning firearms, which started in April, 2008, Angop has learnt.
A press note from the corporation says that the Police also seized 22.362 ammunitions, 1.342 magazines, 202 explosive devices and 26 projectiles.
Meanwhile the police destroyed 1.450 weapons, 776 magazines, 3.000 ammunitions and 888 explosive devices.
Under... (GunPolicy.org)
Thousands of Weapons, Guns Handed to Australia Police in State Amnesty
13 December 2012
Herald Sun (Melbourne)
Thousands of weapons including handguns, high-powered rifles and double-edged knives are off the streets after a two-month "no questions asked" statewide police amnesty.
A total of 2450 firearms and other weapons were handed in by the public without fear of legal reprisals. Bendigo topped the list of places with the most weapons handed in with 164, followed by Warrnambool with 87.
Licensing and Regulation Division Superintendent Russell Barrett said he was pleased 128... (GunPolicy.org)
Caribbean Officials to Increase Efforts Against Drug, Gun Trafficking
6 December 2012
Jamaica Gleaner
PORT-OF-SPAIN - A senior official of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) has described as "disturbing" the illicit trafficking of small arms and the growth of gangs in the region.
"Our borders are targets for drug traffickers, people trafficking and, most disturbing, illicit trafficking in small arms and ammunition. Our homicide rates are notorious and often defy logic, except when placed alongside the high number of... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Civilians Lose Compensation Appeal for Destroyed Guns
4 December 2012
iAfrica (South Africa)
Firearm owners who voluntarily surrendered their guns to police for destruction will not be compensated by the State, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has ruled.
It dismissed an appeal on Friday by two non-profit voluntary associations, the Justice Alliance of South Africa and the False Bay Gun Club, against a Western Cape High Court judgment.
The high court had held that the minister did not overstep his legal capacity in published guidelines which provided that gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Congo (DRC),United States,Burkina Faso,Tanzania
US Entrepreneurs Turning Thousands of African AK-47s into Jewellery
26 November 2012
New York Times
NEW YORK — As icons go, few things communicate global menace more effectively than the stark silhouette of an AK-47. Designed more than six decades ago by Mikhail Kalashnikov, a former Soviet tank commander, the assault rifle boasts the dubious distinction of being the most abundant and reliable killing device in history.
"In much of the world they are everyman's gun," the New York Times foreign correspondent C.J. Chivers wrote in "The Gun," his 2010 social history... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Plans New Gun Laws, Hotline to Combat Illegal Gun Availability
25 November 2012
Sunday Telegraph (Sydney)
A new national campaign targeting gun-toting criminals will be launched encouraging people to phone-in anonymous tip-offs about illegal guns.
The initiative, run by Crime Stoppers, will start next year. It is hoped the move will encourage people, who may be reluctant to speak to police, to come forward with information. The Australian Crime Commission has confirmed there are at least 250,000 illegal guns on the black market.
It's suspected most have been stolen from... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Gun Market Booming in India
25 November 2012
Economic Times (India)
The details are still fuzzy as to who shot who, but the rivalry between liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother Hardeep ended in bloodbath at their Chattarpur farmhouse last week. Not just the brazenness of the act but also the wanton display of firepower stunned the entire country, forcing the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance and question the national gun-control norms. Clearly, the market for illegal weapons is booming in India. But where are the guns... (GunPolicy.org)
Cote D'Ivoire 'Football for Peace' Effort to Teach Weapons Disarmament
29 October 2012
Radio Netherlands Worldwide
ABIDJAN — It's been over a year since the post-electoral crisis in Ivory Coast, but thousands of ex-combatants still hold onto weapons and ammunition. Tired of waiting for various disarmament operations to unburden their compatriots, some young Ivoirians have gotten the ball rolling themselves - on the football field. Two Sundays ago saw the official kick-off of Football for Peace.
On 21 October, under the blazing sun, male and female footballers perspire profusely.... (GunPolicy.org)
30,000 Guns Destroyed in Croatia in Battle Against Illegal Trafficking
19 October 2012
SEESAC (Belgrade)
On 19 October 2012, less than two years after the Croatian President Ivo Josipovic symbolically destroyed the first rifle marked for destruction, the last of 30,000 small arms and light weapons were disposed of, as a part of the EU supported SEESAC Arms Control Activities in the Western Balkans. The final, public destruction took place in Varazdin and was attended by Evelin Tonkovic - Deputy Minister of Interior (MoI) of the Republic of Croatia, Louisa Vinton - the UN... (GunPolicy.org)
Authorities to Destroy 28,000 Weapons in El Salvador [Espanol]
10 October 2012
La Prensa Gráfica (El Salvador)
[Translated Summary - El Salvador military to destroy stockpile of 28,000 weapons collected by authorities, after a court order.]
El ministro de Seguridad, David Munguía Payés, aseguró ayer que más de 28,000 armas de fuego de diferente calibre se encuentran en los almacenes de la Fuerza Armada de El Salvador (FAES) a la espera de que los juzgados ordenen su destrucción, como lo establecen los artículos 75 y 76 de la Ley de Control y Regulación de Armas,... (GunPolicy.org)
4,773 Firearms Symbolically Destroyed In Sierra Leone
25 September 2012
Awoko (Sierra Leone)
The national secretariat of Sierra Leone National Commission on Small Arms (SLeNCSA) have symbolically burned Four Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy three (4,773) Firearms that was collected by the UNDP Supported Arms for Development project which marked the climax of a process that started some 8 years ago. The ceremony took place at the Makeni Mena police field and drew the attention of all paramount chiefs in the North, government officials, military personnel, the... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Authorities Destroy 12,000 Guns After Civilian Amnesty
19 September 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The Venezuelan government announced that it has destroyed more than 16,000 firearms so far this year, but despite this apparent success, concerns remain about the widespread availability of firearms in the country.
An official from the Venezuelan Commission for Arms Control and Disarmament also praised the recent handover of 1,418 weapons seized in various operations in the state of Aragua, saying it was "clear and convincing proof" that the government is fulfilling... (GunPolicy.org)
Rwanda Police Call on Public to Join Voluntary Gun Amnesty
11 September 2012
News of Rwanda
The Police have in the past conducted various campaigns to get firearm weapons from the public, but the rate at which they are causing harm shows that they are still scattered around the country.
Last week, September 5, a 12-year old boy died following a grenade explosion at their home in Nyarurama cell, Ntongwe sector, Ruhango District. The blast took place right in their store.
According to ACP Sam Karemera, the National Focal Point Coordinator on small arms and... (GunPolicy.org)
New Zealand Police Say Illegal Imported Guns Intended for Crime
8 September 2012
Stuff (New Zealand)
Thousands of illegal and restricted weapons, including machine guns, swords and "stun gun knuckle dusters", are being seized at the New Zealand border every year.
Figures given to The Dominion Post show 13,801 items classified as weapons were intercepted by the New Zealand Customs Service between January 2010 and July 2012 - an average of more than 14 a day.
The detailed breakdown of items, discovered at airports, seaports, mail centres and during raids, revealed... (GunPolicy.org)
Chile Authorities Undertake New Gun Amnesty Campaign
20 August 2012
Infosurhoy (Chile)
SANTIAGO, Chile – Neighbor, be conscientious.
That's the motto of the campaign the Carabineros de Chile police force is carrying out to reduce the number of firearms in the hands of Chileans in response to the growing number of robberies and murders involving guns.
There were 11,783 robberies and 93 murders involving firearms last year. In 2010 there were 12,987 armed robberies, but that number should plummet this year, as there were 4,699 armed robberies committed... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Urge Media to Steer Fight Against Illegal Guns in Rwanda
8 August 2012
Rwanda National Police News, Media release
On 06 Aug 2012, the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) in collaboration with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the National Focal Point Coordination met the local media in a bid to assess its role in creating awareness towards fighting trafficking of illicit and proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the country.
Media as a form of communication which is accessible to nearly every Rwandan is being relied on to sensitize and advice the... (GunPolicy.org)
North Korea Firearm Legislation Bans All 'Non-official' Guns
6 August 2012
Korea Times / Yonhap
North Korea has had a gun control law since 2009, recently obtained data showed Monday, in what was seen as an effort to tighten control over the society at a time of power succession.
North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un was groomed as the successor to his ailing father Kim Jong-il, with the hereditary succession plan becoming official for the first time in 2010 when the young Kim was named as a four-star general in the military.
Kim Jong-un took the helm of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Sierra Leone Lifts Ban On Guns, Plans to Regulate Ownership
2 August 2012
News24 (Cape Town)
Freetown - Sierra Leone lawmakers have lifted a ban on small arms in new legislation which seeks to regulate ownership of weapons in a country ravaged by a decade-long civil war, an official said on Wednesday.
"The act will regulate the private ownership of guns and other weapons in the country to control the proliferation nationwide," said deputy Internal Affairs Minister Raymond Kabia, who piloted the bill.
"The act will also ensure that stockpiles of small arms and... (GunPolicy.org)
US Needs to Get Rid of Its Guns - John Howard, Former Australian PM
1 August 2012
Sydney Morning Herald, Opinion
Early in 2008 Janette and I were guests of the former president, George H. W. Bush or "41", as he is affectionately known, at his Presidential Library in College Station, Texas. I spoke to a warm and friendly audience of more than 300 who enthusiastically reacted until, in answer to a request to nominate the proudest actions of the Australian government I had led for almost 12 years, I included the national gun control laws enacted after the Port Arthur massacre in... (GunPolicy.org)
Asia,United States,Philippines
Call for 'Gunless Society', Tougher Penalties in Philippines
30 July 2012
Philippine Star, Opinion
The Colorado Movie Theater shooting tragedy where 12 people were killed and 58 were injured during a sold-out midnight premier of the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" brought chills to many around the world. Imagine a 24-year-old man named James Holmes unloaded four weapons' full of ammunition into the unsuspecting crowd without any fear whatsoever. And here we are in our neck of the woods selling ammunition like hotcakes to any Tom, Dick or Harry.
Many... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya,East Africa,Syria,Uganda
Stemming Gun Violence in Uganda
28 July 2012
The Independent (Kampala)
United Nations diplomats from over 190 countries, including Uganda, are at the organisation's headquarters in New York discussing a pact to regulate the global arms trade.
The Global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) would especially check the illicit trade in arms in a global arms industry that, while amounting to US$60 billion, remains unregulated. Advocates for the treaty say this lack of regulation of the arms industry is catastrophic, as it fuels conflicts that claim... (GunPolicy.org)
Serbian Expert Calls for Gun Amnesty, Destruction by Authorities
27 July 2012
RTS (Belgrade) /, SEESAC (Belgrade)
The recent raid in Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia, during which authorities found and seized a significant amount of weapons in the house of a man suspected of producing and selling weapons and explosive materials, provides yet another opportunity to reflect on the widespread presence of illegal weapons in Serbia.
In a recent interview for Radio Television Serbia (RTS), Mr. Ivan Cvijovic from the Belgrade Police Department pointed out that in 2011 alone, the Belgrade Police... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada,United States,Australia
Australian Academic Says Gun Culture a Risk Factor for Shooting Sprees
25 July 2012
Sydney Morning Herald, Opinion
The number of victims in the Colorado cinema shooting would undoubtedly have been much higher than 12 killed and 58 wounded had the AR-15 assault rifle used by the alleged offender, James Holmes, not jammed. According to police, the jammed weapon was capable of firing 50-60 rounds a minute. Police say Holmes also had two Glock pistols, a shotgun and 6000 rounds of ammunition.
Shock, dismay and surprise are always expressed after such killings - and questioning of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 6500 Guns Destroyed in Tasmania Since 2007, Crime Rate Down
21 July 2012
Hobart Mercury (Tasmania)
Police are crushing more than 100 guns a month 1400 a year in an effort to keep the community safe. These weapons are seized during criminal investigations, or handed in for various reasons such as property from a deceased estate, unwanted, or unregistered.
Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said the permanent amnesty under the Firearms Act allowed any unauthorised firearms to be handed in to a police station and no action would be taken in relation to their... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 280,000 Firearms Destroyed in Venezuela Since 2003 [Espanol]
19 July 2012
Prensa Latina (Havana)
[Translated summary: 287,838 firearms have been destroyed since 2003 by the Venezuelan government. During the same period, an estimated 600,000 weapons have entered the country.]
CARACAS - El gobierno venezolano ha destruido más de 280 mil armas de fuego desde el 2003 hasta la fecha y continúa este proceso en combate contra la inseguridad, afirmó hoy el miembro de la Comisión Presidencial de Desarme Reinaldo Hidalgo.
En los últimos nueve años se han destruido en... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearms, Ammo Marking to Control Illicit Gun Possession in Uganda
13 July 2012
New Vision (Kampala)
The Commissioner of Police and national coordinator of Focal Point on Small Arms, Ahmed Wafuba has advised regional governments to put in place measures that will help curb illicit possession of fire arms.
According to the Nairobi Protocol, the Great Lakes regions and the Horn of Africa agreed to control as well as regulate the transfer, possession, storage, disposal plus destruction of small arms and light weapons.
Despite the agreement, the region is challenged with... (GunPolicy.org)
Côte d'Ivoire Starts Small Arms Destruction, Still 3 Million Arms in Circulation
12 July 2012
Washington Post / AP
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — An official says authorities in Ivory Coast are starting to destroy hundreds of small arms collected since the end of the postelection violence that claimed some 3,000 lives.
Spokeswoman Laetitia Dia Allou of the West African nation's commission against arms proliferation said the destruction of some 600 weapons started Thursday.
She says a total of about 2,000 weapons were collected from former militants and civilians since October 2011.
It... (GunPolicy.org)
Deaths Show Guns Remain Available Despite Chinese Police Crack Down
11 July 2012
Global Times (China)
Early on July 1, a 48-year-old factory boss surnamed Nan was shot through the head while on the way to do his morning exercise in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. He later died in hospital. Police later announced that they found the murderer surnamed Lin who was found dead with a gun beside his body. The two were involved in a dispute over money that resulted in the murder.
The case sparked fresh concerns on gun use in China, coming so shortly after the country launched an... (GunPolicy.org)
East African Community Observes Week of Action Against Gun Violence
24 June 2012
New Times (Rwanda)
The Global Week of Action against Gun Violence in East Africa kicked off in Kampala, Uganda on June, 18 with a series of activities to raise awareness of how gun violence occurs, its impact on people's lives and what should be done to stop the "Gun-Culture".
The event is coordinated by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Uganda-based Eastern Africa Action Network on Small Arms (EAANSA) and the German International Cooperation agency (GIZ).
The week will... (GunPolicy.org)
East African Community Experts to Craft Common Position for Arms Treaty
20 June 2012
Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
ARUSHA - Security experts from partner States of the East African Community (EAC) are finalising plans to craft a common position that the region will present next month at the UN ArmsTrade Treaty (ATT) in New York.
Ahmed Wafuba, the coordinator of Uganda's National Focal Point (NFP) on Small Arms, says that the move will enhance efforts aimed at ridding the region of illegal firearms that have led to loss of innocent lives.
"We have come up with a position and it... (GunPolicy.org)
China Intensifies Effort to Eliminate Illegal Firearms
13 June 2012
International Business Times (USA)
In China, gun ownership as a percentage of the total population is very low, and urban shootings are rarely ever heard of. But authorities there are making efforts to combat illegal firearm ownership. That reveals a concern about the flow of weapons and arms to criminal organizations largely unknown to the country in the 1980s and 1990s.
Chinese authorities have stepped up efforts to combat organized crime, illicit trade, drug trafficking and border-area lawlessness... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than 100,000 Illegal Guns Destroyed in 150 Chinese Cities
13 June 2012
China Daily
Police in 150 Chinese cities destroyed more than 100,000 illegal guns on Tuesday, as part of an ongoing crackdown that officials say is dramatically reducing gun-related crime across the country.
As Ministry of Public Security officials also prepared to dispose of a further 250 tons of illegal explosives in the next few days, Vice-Minister of Public Security Huang Ming said the incidence of both crimes has been declining rapidly.
Gun-related crime has fallen 46... (GunPolicy.org)
China Announces 23 Arrests in Joint US-China Gun Smuggling Scheme
12 June 2012
CBS News (USA)
BEIJING — Chinese police on Tuesday announced the arrests of 23 people as part of a joint U.S.-Chinese investigation into a gun trafficking ring that smuggled dozens of firearms into the country.
The arrests announced by the Ministry of Public Security follow the detention of three men in the United States last month in connection with the scheme. They included Joseph Debose of North Carolina, a staff sergeant in a U.S. National Guard special forces unit, along with... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Caribbean,Grenada,St Vincent & Grenadines,St Lucia
UN Provides Equipment, Training for Small Arms Destruction in Caribbean
8 June 2012
Caribbean360.com (Barbados)
NEW YORK, USA – St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada will benefit from a United Nation's (UN) assistance package aimed at strengthening their capacity to combat the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons nationally, as well as in the Caribbean region.
The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, through its Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), has provided the island... (GunPolicy.org)
Rwanda: Call for Tougher Penalties in Case of Illegal Possession of Guns
5 June 2012
New Times (Rwanda)
The Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) has called for a maximum punishment for any person convicted on illegal possession of fire arms.
RECSA brings together countries in the Great Lakes, the Horn of African and bordering states.
The suggestion was made, yesterday, by Dr. Francis K. Sang, the Executive Secretary of RECSA, in an interview with The New Times at the sidelines of a meeting that brought together law enforcement agencies from 15 countries in... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Owners Lose Weapons to Australian Thieves, Blame Firearm Registry
1 June 2012
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
Fifty firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition have been stolen from registered NSW gun owners in the past 16 days, prompting fears the firearms registry has been compromised.
Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and Police Minister Mike Gallacher on Wednesday made a public show of overseeing the destruction of 142 weapons seized in recent months.
But it has taken little over two weeks for criminals to steal more than a third of that number and put them back on... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela: 270,000 Illegal Firearms Destroyed Since 2003 [Espanol]
31 May 2012
El Nacional (Venezuela) / AVN
[Translated summary: Venezuela Vice Minister of Public Safety said that they have seized and destroyed about 270,000 illegal firearms between 2003 and 2012.]
Edwin Rojas, viceministro de Seguridad Ciudadana, destacó este jueves que se han incautado y destruido unas 270 mil armas de fuego, desde el año 2003 al 2012, que estaban en manos criminales.
"Se tiene un registro de las armas de los respectivos cuerpos policiales y se están serializando las municiones, por... (GunPolicy.org)
Sydney, NSW Gun Seizures Soar, But Only 10% Are Handguns
30 May 2012
Australian Associated Press
A spike in gun seizures in NSW has intensified calls for a national ballistics testing system to help authorities link weapons to crimes.
The latest police figures show nearly 4500 firearms have been seized in NSW since January 2011, with more than a third of those located in the past two months.
Police Minister Michael Gallacher on Wednesday watched the destruction of 142 of these weapons, including a "Dirty Harry" style .45 calibre revolver, an Uzi submachine gun, a... (GunPolicy.org)
European Organisation Reviews Plan of Action to Control Small Arms
24 May 2012
Financial (Georgia)
The 56 OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] participating States and 12 Partners for Co-operation concluded a review of the OSCE Plan of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons that aims to counter the spread and accumulation of illicit SALW.
An estimated 875 million small arms are in circulation around the world, killing up to half a million people every year and posing serious threats to safety and security in the OSCE region and globally. The... (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)
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)
Stricter Gun Control Strategy in Bahamas to Counter Rise in Gun Trafficking
14 May 2012
Eleutheran (Bahamas)
NASSAU -- The Government of The Bahamas will introduce a National Firearms
Control Strategy to counter the proliferation of illegal firearms within the country, Minister of
National Security Dr. the Hon. Bernard B.J. Nottage said Monday.
Dr. Nottage said violence associated with the use of those firearms will be reduced as a result of the Strategy. Dr. Nottage said the National Strategy, along with an improved gun registry, the marking and tracing of weapons, improved... (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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
United States,Mexico,Central America,Honduras,Guatemala,El Salvador
El Salvador Soldiers Accused of Selling Guns to Guatemala, Honduras Gangs
2 April 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Prosecutors in El Salvador ordered the arrest of eight soldiers and one civilian linked to an arms trafficking network that may have supplied thousands of weapons to drug gangs in Guatemala and Honduras.
On March 30, the office of El Salvador's Attorney General (FGR) ordered the arrest of the nine suspects, alleging that they had participated in a scheme which involved siphoning off weapons that were slated to be destroyed, and selling them to drug trafficking... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda Govt Marks Police, Army, Civilians Firearms to Reduce Crime
27 March 2012
Observer (Kampala)
As part of this year's mission to create a pro-people justice system, the Justice Law and Order Sector, based at the ministry of Internal Affairs, last week labeled guns before the general public at the Railway grounds.
Anthony Nahaima, legal officer for the National Focal Point on Arms and Light Weapons — the department that handles the gun labeling process — says to date, they have labeled 80 percent of police guns and 50 percent of the army's. The labeling... (GunPolicy.org)
Caracas, Venezuela: Police Officers Murdered for Their Guns - Report
16 March 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Some 26 Caracas police officers have been murdered so far this year, and analysts warn that they may be being targeted by criminals who want to steal their weapons.
The assassination of Reinaldo Jose Mata Malave outside his home earlier this week brought the number of police officers murdered in greater Caracas in 2012 to 26. According to El Nacional, Mata was killed for his police-issued weapon, a Beretta pistol.
Criminologist Javier Gorriño told El Universal that... (GunPolicy.org)
East African Regional Cooperation Key to Fight Against Illicit Arms
3 March 2012
New Times (Rwanda)
Rwanda has made tremendous progress in the fight against the proliferation of small arms.
So far, over 32,000 illegal arms have been destroyed since 2008. Last year, 40 tonnes of ammunition was destroyed at the Gabiro military barracks; all small arms in the hands of the police, the armed forces and private security companies have been given serial numbers by the newly acquired firearms marking machine.
In 2007, Rwanda established the Central Firearms Registry to... (GunPolicy.org)
Italy,Philippines,United States,Russia,Germany,Czech Republic,China,Botswana,Oceania,Americas,Africa,Asia,Europe,Central Africa,Caribbean,South America,Central America,Zimbabwe,Namibia,Mozambique,Congo (DRC),Angola,Swaziland,South Africa,Southern Africa
High Gun Death Risk for Young African Men, Women at Home - UN Study
19 February 2012
Southern Times (Southern Africa)
WINDHOEK - Young men in Southern Africa are at the greatest risk of cold-blooded murder, while women in the region are more likely than others from around the world to be killed in domestic violence, a UN agency says.
The statistics from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) come as the region battles to contain the proliferation of gun-related crimes.
Experts have said gun-related crime is a major problem in South Africa and Swaziland, and is on the rise in... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexican President Unveils 'No More Weapons!' Billboard on US Border
17 February 2012
Washington Post / AP
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — President Felipe Calderon on Thursday unveiled a "No More Weapons!" billboard made with crushed firearms and placed near the U.S. border. He urged the United States to stop the flow of weapons into Mexico.
The billboard, which is in English and weighs 3 tons, was placed near an international bridge in Ciudad Juarez and can be seen from the United States.
Calderon said the billboard's letters were made with weapons seized by local, state and... (GunPolicy.org)
Aceh Elections Prompt 'Stern Action' to Curb Private Gun Possession
15 February 2012
Jakarta Post
Widespread armed violence in Aceh ahead of the province's upcoming gubernatorial election has prompted police to take stern actions to curb the possession of illegal arms by civilians.
The arms in question are believed to be remnants of Aceh's era of conflict, which have not been handed over in an apparent defiance of the peace pact in the province.
In a bid to anticipate armed attacks ahead of the Aceh gubernatorial election, police have issued an ultimatum running... (GunPolicy.org)
Alarmed by Spate of Gun Crime, China Vows to Clamp Down on Firearms
10 February 2012
China Daily
BEIJING - The government is to crack down on the illegal possession of guns and explosives following a recent spate of armed robberies nationwide.
"We will concentrate on tackling crimes involving serious violence and other prominent criminal activities in order to strengthen security in cities and maintain social order and overall stability," said Huang Ming, deputy minister of public security, announcing the campaign against gun crime.
There has been a series of... (GunPolicy.org)
Buy a Gun Online in the US, No Questions Asked - Investigation
9 February 2012
NBC News (USA), Report
Today marks the debut of Rossen Reports, a new unit led by national investigative correspondent Jeff Rossen. First out of the gate: A hidden camera investigation exposing how easy it is for anyone – even criminals – to buy dangerous weapons.
Some say it's a major loophole in the law. At gun stores, you have to get a background check before you can buy a weapon. But online in most states, anyone from law-abiding citizens to dangerous criminals – even terrorists... (GunPolicy.org)
Haiti,Caribbean,United States,Jamaica
Jamaica Destroys Thousands of Guns to Combat Trafficking and Crime
7 February 2012
Chicago Tribune / AP
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Roughly 2,000 firearms were melted down in a blazing furnace Tuesday as part of an effort designed to combat gun trafficking and corruption in Jamaica while reducing violent crime.
Police, government and U.N. officials destroyed pistols and revolvers by pitching them into a kiln glowing bright orange at a cement factory in the capital of Kingston. Most of the guns were decommissioned or seized in police operations over the years.
National... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil: 4.3 Million Guns Sold in 5yrs, 40,000 Gun Deaths in 2009 [Portugues]
27 January 2012
Publica (Brazil)
[Translated summary: domestic manufacturers alone sold 4.3 million guns in Brazil over the past five years. Nearly 40,000 people died in 2009 in episodes involving firearms, including homicides, suicides and accidents, according to latest figures provided by the Ministry of Health. A study by Pablo Dreyfuss, who was a leading expert on the subject, showed that 90% of these deaths are the result of crimes and the risk of dying from injuries caused by firearms in Brazil... (GunPolicy.org)
