Find Gun Policy Facts

Armed violence prevention, gun control laws and the small arms trade:

Gun Policy News

Firearm violence, gun control and small arms

Hong Kong,Italy,Germany,Israel,Austria,Bulgaria,Russia,India

Over 29,000 Russian AK-47s Imported by Indian Paramilitary Forces

20 May 2012

Times of India

NEW DELHI - AK-47s continue to be the preferred assault weapon for the country's paramilitary forces deployed to neutralise terrorists and Maoists at the frontiers and in the hinterland. Over 29,000 pieces of this Russian-origin rifle were imported by forces like CRPF, BSF and NSG over the last three years, leaving behind, by a large margin, other sophisticated assault weapons procured from the US and Israel. The inventory of the assault weapons procured for security... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Times of India

Belgium,Morocco

Morocco Breaks Up Terrorist Cell, Stops Related Gun Trafficking [Francais]

13 May 2012

Le Matin (Morocco)

[Translated summary: On Saturday, the chief of the national police brigade during the presentation of seized firearms, said to the press that the dismantling last saturday of a terrorist cell that was active in several cities of the Kingdom, directed by an influential member of the terrorist organisation called "movement of the moudjahidines in Morocco, led to the arrest of 15 people and the seizure of several firearms. He further indicated that these firearms had been... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Matin (Morocco)

Arms Trafficking in French Prison: 6 Men Sentenced [Francais]

11 May 2012

Europe 1 (France)

[Translated Summary: Sentences ranging from 18 months to 4 years of prison were requested on Friday in front of the Pontoise Correctional Tribunal, to six men judged for trafficking weapons of war. Two of the men were accused of organising these transactions from their prison cells using a mobile phone.] Des peines de 18 mois à 4 ans de prison ont été requises vendredi devant le tribunal correctionnel de Pontoise contre six hommes jugés pour un trafic d'armes de... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Europe 1 (France)

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)

Read More: Canoe.ca (Canada)

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)

Read More: Dawn (Karachi)

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)

Read More: Deutsche Welle

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)

Read More: Telegraf (Belarus)

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)

Read More: RTL (Belgium)

Somalia,Germany

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)

Read More: Spiegel (Germany)

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)

Read More: L'Express (France) / AFP

9-yr Old Boy Accidentally Shot Dead by 13-yr Old in France [Francais]

5 April 2012

Europe 1 (France)

[Translated summary: It is in his father's arms collection that a 13 years old teenager has found the rifle used in the unintentional shooting that killed a 9 years old this week in France. Europe 1 parses French regulations on possession of firearms: categories, storage, conditions for lawful possession and latest amendments.] C'est dans la collection d'armes à feu de son père que l'adolescent de 13 ans aurait trouvé le fusil qui a tué un enfant de 9 ans mercredi... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Europe 1 (France)

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)

Read More: New York Times

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)

Read More: Local (Germany)

Important 'Organised Crime' Gun Cache Found Near Lyon [Francais]

27 March 2012

Le Parisien (France) / AFP

[Translated summary: An important stockpile of arms and explosives, believed to be linked to 'organised crime', was found near Lyon, France. Amongst the arms: shotguns, handguns and rifles including 'Kalashnikovs'.] Un important stock d'armes et d'explosifs, vraisemblablement "lié au grand banditisme", a été découvert près de Lyon, conduisant à l'interpellation de deux personnes présentées mardi à la justice, a-t-on appris de source judiciaire. Une brigade... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Parisien (France) / AFP

Eastern Europe,France

Multiple Shootings Highlight Growing Illegal Gun Trade in France

27 March 2012

Christian Science Monitor

France's strict gun laws sharply limit legal ownership. But illegal trafficking is on the rise – at prices that people like Toulouse gunman Mohamed Merah can afford. PARIS - As the prosecutor listed the weapons gunman Mohamed Merah amassed before going on a shooting rampage in Toulouse, French citizens received a stark reminder that gun trafficking doesn't only affect unstable countries. It's happening in France, too – a nation that is anything but gun-friendly.... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Christian Science Monitor

French Public Amazed at Toulouse Mass Killer's Arsenal of Illegal Guns

23 March 2012

Reuters

PARIS - As France asks itself whether it could have done more to prevent Islamist gunman Mohamed Merah shooting dead seven people in a killing spree that shook the nation, there is one question that refuses to go away: how did he obtain so many guns. The size and nature of the arsenal amassed by Merah - who stockpiled at least eight guns including a Kalashnikov assault rifle and an Uzi machine pistol - has focused attention on the easy availability of illegal weapons... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Reuters

French Motorcycle Gunman Used Same Pistol in School, Army Shootings

20 March 2012

Washington Post / AP

TOULOUSE, France — Hundreds of police blanketed southern France on Tuesday, searching for a gunman — possibly a racist, anti-Semitic serial killer — who killed four people at a Jewish school and may have filmed his attack. Authorities suspect the same killer was behind attacks last week on French paratroopers of North African and French Caribbean origin. France was reeling Tuesday after Monday's shooting in the southern city of Toulouse, the deadliest school... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Washington Post / AP

Eastern Europe,France

France 'Awash' with Illegal Firearms Imported Across Porous EU Borders

20 March 2012

Press Association (UK)

France is awash with illegal firearms transported into the country across porous European borders, it was claimed. While gun laws are strict, it is not difficult for unauthorised members of the public to get their hands on weapons, according to the president of the Union Francaise des Amateurs d'Armes, a French gun society. Jean-Jacques Buigne suggested the killer responsible for the attacks outside a school in Toulouse most likely did not have a licence for the heavy... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Press Association (UK)

Toulouse Mass Shootings: What Is an 11.43mm (.45cal) Pistol? [Francais]

19 March 2012

Le Point (France) / AFP

[Translated summary: The handgun used in the Toulouse school shooting and in the shooting of military officers was an 11.43mm (.45cal) pistol, known to be a weapon for settling scores.] Le pistolet utilisé pour la fusillade de Toulouse et les meurtres de militaires est connu comme étant l'arme des règlements de comptes. Le pistolet de calibre 11,43 mm, utilisé pour tuer trois parachutistes à Toulouse et Montauban et employé dans la fusillade lundi devant une... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Point (France) / AFP

3 Children, Teacher Killed in Jewish School Shooting - Third in France

19 March 2012

Local (France) / AFP

A gunman burst into a Jewish school in France on Monday, shooting dead three children and a teacher in the third deadly gun attack in a week by a man who made his escape on a motorbike. The children, aged three, six and 10, and a 30-year-old religious education teacher were mowed down as they arrived for class at the Ozar Hatorah school in the southwestern city of Toulouse, officials said. Israel said it was "horrified" by the attack and a European rabbis' group... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Local (France) / AFP

Gunman Riding a Scooter Shot Dead 2 French Soldiers in South of France

16 March 2012

Local (France) / AFP

A gunman riding a scooter shot dead two French soldiers and seriously wounded another in a hail of bullets on a street in the southwestern city of Montauban on Thursday, officials said. The motive was not immediately clear but officials said they believed the shooter had acted alone and described the attack as a "criminal act". It followed a similar shooting on Sunday in the nearby city of Toulouse when an off-duty soldier was shot dead by an assailant on a... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Local (France) / AFP

United States,Germany,Europe,Australia

In Wake of Glock Seizure, Australian Minister Defends Gun Control Efforts

15 March 2012

ABC News (Australia), Transcript

TONY EASTLEY: According to Tony Abbott Sydneysiders this morning not only face peak hour traffic but a reign of terror on the streets because of the illegal importation of hundreds of handguns from Europe and he puts it down to the Federal Government's lack of border control. The Opposition Leader says it can all be sheeted home to the Government. On Tuesday police and other Federal and state authorities arrested alleged members of a gun smuggling syndicate who'd... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: ABC News (Australia)

Austria,Germany,Australia

Post Office Owner Smuggled German Glocks to Sydney Gangs - Police

14 March 2012

Daily Telegraph (Sydney)

It began at a firearms manufacturing factory in Austria - and ended at a suburban Sydney post office. Police yesterday cracked an elaborate gun-smuggling operation that spanned the globe, putting hundreds of illegal firearms into the hands of Sydney's underworld. In the small township of Remscheid, Germany, up to 300 brand new Austrian-made Glock handguns were disassembled, packed in boxes with inconspicuous labels such as "plastic" and "metal", and shipped to... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Daily Telegraph (Sydney)

Germany,Europe,Australia

German-Australian Gun Smuggling Network Broken in Police Raids

13 March 2012

Sydney Morning Herald

Police have smashed a criminal syndicate allegedly importing illegal handguns from Europe into Australia via a Sydney post office. The joint Australian German investigation, launched last month, resulted in three arrests today. The NSW Firearms and Organised Crime Squad led raids earlier today to stop the importation of illegal firearms from Germany to Australia. Three men have been arrested in Sydney and are assisting police with their inquiries after a number of... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Sydney Morning Herald

Palestine,Israel,European Union,France

France and Arms Trade Control: an Opaque System - Opinion [Francais]

9 March 2012

Le Monde (France), Opinion

[Translated summary: Today, the French system on arms export control remains opaque: unlike neighboring countries such as United Kingdom and Netherlands. For example, it is impossible to know exactly what France sells, to whom, for what use or … if it refuses to sell to third countries. The last five years have not allowed significant advances. Instead, with the easing in spring 2011 of arms transfer controls inside and outside the European Union, or the refusal to... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Monde (France)

Nepal,Myanmar,Sri Lanka,Bangladesh,Mauritius,Libya,Morocco,Saudi Arabia,Iran,Turkey,Thailand,Indonesia,Malaysia,France,China,United States,Pakistan

Pakistan Has Achieved Self Sufficiency in Small Arms and Ammunition

5 March 2012

Indian Defence Review

After partition, Pakistan did not inherit any military production facilities. In 1951, the Pakistan Ordnance Factory was established at Wah cantonment to produce small arms, ammunition and explosives. After 1965, Pakistan, apart from shifting its overwhelming arms supplies reliance from the US to China and other western countries like France; also began to concentrate on expanding its defence production facilities. In this, it received effusive assistance from... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Indian Defence Review

Belgium Government Puts an End to Unrestricted Sale of Firearms [Francais]

1 March 2012

Le Vif (Belgium)

[Translate summary: The sale of antique, folk and decorative firearms is now subject to prior authorisation in Belgium.] Le gouvernement a décidé jeudi de soumettre dorénavant à autorisation préalable la vente d'armes à feu historiques, folkloriques et décorative, mettant ainsi fin aux dernières possibilités d'acquérir librement des armes à feu sur le marché belge. "Il n'y aura plus d'armes à feu en vente libre en Belgique", a assuré jeudi la ministre... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Vif (Belgium)

Eastern Europe,Russia,United States,Belgium

Important Arms Cache Revealed by Belgium Police [Francais]

29 February 2012

RTL (Belgium)

[Translated summary: Explosives and weapons of war, including kalashnikovs, were seized by Belgium Police. This arms cache was Brussels' organised crime private supermarket.] Kalachnikovs, grenades et dynamite, c'est l'étonnante découverte qu'a faite, mardi, la police d'Anderlecht dans un hangar, révèle une information de Sudpresse. Selon le parquet de Bruxelles, ces explosifs et armes de guerre pourraient être revendus et destinés à des attaques à main... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: RTL (Belgium)

Philippines,Trinidad & Tobago,Zimbabwe,Zambia,Uganda,Tanzania,Senegal,Congo (DRC),Pakistan,Nigeria,Niger,Namibia,Morocco,Mauritania,Malawi,Madagascar,Côte d'Ivoire,Burkina Faso,Botswana,Egypt,Angola,Algeria,South Africa,Ghana,China,United States,Austria,Russia,Israel,Bahrain,Asia,Africa,Brazil

Brazil Arms Exports: Country Preaches Peace, Sells Tons of Arms

28 February 2012

Huffington Post (USA)

A small, scratched metal can thrown on the ground created Brazil's first diplomatic embarrassment of 2012. The canister of tear gas had been collected by pro-democracy activists in Bahrain. Stamped across the can in blue was a Brazilian flag and the words 'MADE IN BRAZIL.' One year had passed since Bahrain became the stage for pro-democracy protests by the majority Shiites against the Sunni monarchy commanded by king Hamad bin-Isa Khalifa. The protesters had been... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Huffington Post (USA)

French Parliament Unanimously Adopts Tighter Gun Control Law [Francais]

27 February 2012

Le Nouvel Observateur (France)

[Translated summary: The French Parliament has set a new gun control policy in order to better address firearm trafficking. The text on "modern, simplified and preventive gun control" aims at reforming outdated legislation from 1939.] Le Parlement a mis en place, lundi, un nouveau contrôle des armes, destiné à mieux réprimer le trafic, à l'origine de braquages retentissants, avec l'adoption définitive d'une proposition de loi UMP-PS, rareté politique en période... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Nouvel Observateur (France)

Major Gun Trafficking Ring Dismantled in Belgium [Francais]

21 February 2012

7sur7 (Belgium)

[Translated summary: 248 firearms, more than 30,000 ammunition of all calibres and other weapons were seized in Brussels, Liege and Charleroi. The investigation concerning the existence of an illegal trade of firearms began in 2010. It allowed to discover ramifications in various cities across Belgium.] Une mine anti-personnel, une grenade, 248 armes à feu et plus de 30.000 munitions de tous calibres confondus ont été saisis lors de 27 perquisitions menées les 15... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: 7sur7 (Belgium)

Germany,Chad,Yemen,Egypt,Libya,France,United Kingdom,United States,Sudan,Belarus,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Syria,Russia

Towards an International Control of Arms Trade, NGOs Concerned [Francais]

19 February 2012

Le Monde (France)

[Translated summary: As negotiations were launched this week in New York on the Arms Trade Treaty, Amnesty International, CCFD-Terre Solidaire and Oxfam France are concerned about the risk of a "Treaty at a discount ".] La vente d'armes à un régime qui réprime sa population, comme le fait aujourd'hui la Russie à l'Etat syrien, sera-t-elle bientôt illégale ? C'est l'enjeu des négociations qui devraient aboutir, en juillet, à New York, à la signature d'un... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Monde (France)

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)

Read More: Southern Times (Southern Africa)

Sudan,China,Egypt,Bahrain,Libya,Germany,United Kingdom,Russia,United States,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa

At Last, the World Acts to Control Global Arms Trade, UN Talks Begin this Week

12 February 2012

Independent (Dublin)

The global arms trade, which produces two bullets for every person on the planet every year and the weapons that kill 1,500 people each day, is facing the first worldwide effort to control it. An unprecedented treaty that would attempt to restrict arms sales is expected to be drawn up at talks in the United Nations this week. A campaign for such an agreement, begun six years ago by Nobel laureates, faces attempts by the United States and Russia to water the treaty... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Independent (Dublin)

Germany,United Kingdom,China,Nigeria

British and German Arms Dealers Involved in Arms Shipment to Nigeria

8 February 2012

Daily Trust (Abuja)

British prosecutors recently vowed to pursue a legal case involving the shipment of large cache of weapons, allegedly from China and destined for Nigeria, after a London judge threw it out. Those involved in the trade are said to be British and German arms dealers. Mr Gary Hyde, a 42-year old retired British volunteer police officer, is accused of conspiring with his German business partner Karl Kleber for the illegal shipment of 40,000 Ak47 assault rifles, 30,000... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Daily Trust (Abuja)

France Considers Simplifying Its Gun Law - Minister of Interior [Francais]

1 February 2012

Le Figaro (France) / AFP

[Translated summary: According to the Minister of Interior, 3,500 arms were seized in France in 2011. These numbers were announced after presenting to the Senate a more "modern, simplified and preventive" Firearm Bill.] Le ministre de l'Intérieur Claude Guéant a annoncé à l'Assemblée nationale que "3.500 armes" avaient été saisies en 2011, en présentant en seconde lecture après son adoption par le Sénat une loi pour établir un "contrôle des armes à feu... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Figaro (France) / AFP

Madagascar,Guinea,Ghana,Botswana,Angola,Algeria,South Africa,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Russia,Austria,Israel,Germany,Italy,United States,Yemen,Philippines,Pakistan,Sri Lanka,Tunisia,Brazil,Burkina Faso,Egypt,Côte d'Ivoire,Malawi,Mauritania,Morocco,Namibia,Niger,Nigeria,Congo (ROC),Senegal,Tanzania,Uganda,Zambia,Zimbabwe,Argentina,Ecuador,Chile,Honduras,Guatemala,United Arab Emirates,Trinidad & Tobago,Jordan,Dominican Republic,Singapore,Kazakhstan,Liberia,Saudi Arabia,Bosnia & Herzegovina,Congo (DRC),Guyana,Mauritius,Latvia,Oman,Nepal,Somalia,Bolivia,Colombia,Venezuela,Peru,Mexico,Qatar,Kuwait,Indonesia,Malaysia,Thailand

Brazilian Gun Industry Seeks New Markets: Africa and Asia [Portugues]

27 January 2012

Publica (Brazil)

[Translated summary: With the support of the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs, Brazilian gun manufacturers seek new markets in countries with a history of human rights violations: Tunisia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Philippines and Yemen. Brazil is among the six countries in the world with annual exports exceeding $ 100 million, according to recent research from Small Arms Survey. According to the Army, responsible for supervising and controlling exports from 2005 to... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Publica (Brazil)

Austria,United States

Glock: The Rise of America's Favourite Handgun

27 January 2012

New York Times, Book review

You rarely pull a gun to start a conversation, but when I recently told an in-law that I was writing about Glock pistols, he improvised a research project. Reaching beneath his jacket, he quickly unholstered, unloaded and handed me his Glock 9 millimeter — this was in Kentucky, land of permissive concealed-carry laws. "I always carry this, and I always will," he said before giving me a primer that could have been used in a promotional video for both the pistol and... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: New York Times

Germany,Poland,Nigeria,China,United Kingdom

UK Arms Dealer Arranged to Sell 80,000 Chinese Guns to Nigeria - Court

10 January 2012

BBC News

A British-based arms dealer helped organise the shipment of thousands of guns from China to Nigeria without the necessary licence, a court has heard. Gary Hyde partly arranged and organised the shipment in 2007 of 80,000 rifles and pistols and 32 million rounds of ammunition. Southwark Crown Court heard he did not receive permission from the relevant government department. Mr Hyde, from Derwent near York, denies the charges. The court was told the shipment involved... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: BBC News

Swiss Gun Love Under Fire - Experts Call for National Firearm Registry

5 January 2012

Local (Switzerland)

Almost two centuries have passed since Switzerland last fought in a war, yet the country's gun ownership rate remains the highest in Europe. After a series of gun-related killings at the end of last year, The Local's Meritxell Mir looks at what's being done to get fingers off triggers. Every year, more than 300 people die in Switzerland in gun-related incidents. In many ways, the figure is quite low, when one considers the country has about 2.5 million weapons in... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Local (Switzerland)

Slovakia,Austria,Azerbaijan,Serbia,Russia,Armenia,Turkey,Romania,Czech Republic,Croatia,United States,Bulgaria,Ukraine,Southern Europe,Georgia,Eastern Europe

South Caucasian Republics Purchased 107,324 Small Arms in 2005-2010

4 January 2012

Milaz.info (Azerbaïdjan)

The South Caucasian republics purchased 107 324 small arms from various countries of the world in 2005-2010. APA reports quoting the UN Register of Conventional Arms that Georgia takes the first place among the South Caucasian republics on purchase of small arms during this period. Georgia bought 76 377 small arms from 7 countries. The submachine guns, short rifles, pistols, automatic rifles, pistol-machineguns, heavy machineguns, grenade launchers as well as the... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Milaz.info (Azerbaïdjan)

Eastern Europe,Belgium

Illegal Firearm Market in Belgium Has a Variety of Sources [Francais]

16 December 2011

La Libre (Brussels)

[Translated summary: The type of weapon used by the Liège mass shooter Nordine Amrani represents a marginal part of arms trafficking. The market for illicit long guns is relatively small as they are not easily concealable. There are two main sources: weapons from Eastern Europe and weapons manufactured in Belgium, like the FAL, apparently used by Amrani.] Le type d'armes utilisées par Amrani n'est qu'un volet marginal du trafic d'armes. Comment Nordine Amrani a-t-il... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: La Libre (Brussels)

Belgian Killer Amassed Illegal Guns, Used Light Automatic Army Rifle

15 December 2011

CNN

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- A man who killed five people and himself in a gun and grenade attack in Belgium feared going back to prison and losing the life he had built, his lawyer said Thursday. The attack on a crowded market square in Liege Tuesday by Nourdine Amrani, which also left at least 130 people wounded, shocked the nation. His defense lawyer in Liege, Jean-Francois Dister, told CNN Amrani had called him late Monday and early Tuesday after the police called him in... (GunPolicy.org)

Switzerland,Finland,Germany,United Kingdom,Netherlands,Norway,Europe

Gun Attacks in Europe and Their Effect on Gun Control Laws

14 December 2011

BBC News

As more details emerge of the shooting spree and grenade attack in Belgium in which five people died, the BBC News website takes a look at other recent incidents in Europe - and the effect they have had on each country's laws. Norway Seventy-seven people were killed in twin attacks on 22 July 2011 in Norway. Anders Behring Breivik has admitted that he planted a car bomb that exploded close to government offices in the capital Oslo, killing eight people. He then drove... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: BBC News

Belgium Mass Shooting: 'Convicted Gun Fanatic' Kills 6, Wounds Dozens

14 December 2011

Guardian (UK)

A convicted gun fanatic threw hand grenades and opened fire on a square bustling with Christmas shoppers in the centre of the Belgian city of Liège, killing at least six people, including himself, and wounding at least 122, some critically. Hours after failing to show up for police questions about his preoccupation with guns, the 33-year-old unleashed a lunchtime attack on Place Saint Lambert, which was hosting a Christmas market that attracts 1.5 million visitors a... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Guardian (UK)

France: 10,464 Suicides Recorded in 2009, 10-20 Million Guns [Francais]

13 December 2011

Le Figaro (France)

[Translated summary: In France, nearly one death out of fifty is a suicide. women (7.6%) tried to commit suicide more than men (3.2%). In 2009, 10,464 deaths by suicide were recorded. "10 to 20 Million firearms are recorded in France. To have a gun at home reduces the reflection period if one plans to end his life.", says a specialist in suicide prevention.] Les femmes sont plus concernées que les hommes. Les individus les plus susceptibles d'avoir des pensées... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Figaro (France)

After Shootings, French Senate passes Tighter Gun Control Bill [Francais]

8 December 2011

Le Monde (France) / AFP

[Translated summary: The French Senate has unanimously adopted, this Thursday, a bill that would simplify and tighten gun control. Arms will be listed in 4 categories: banned, subject to authorisation, subject to notification and others (free transfer); individuals charged with gun trafficking will face a prison term of seven years and a 100,000 Euros fine and if the crime is committed by organised crime, a prison term of ten years and a 500,000 Euros fine.] Le Sénat... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Monde (France) / AFP

Thailand,Colombia,Russia,United States,Uganda,Rwanda,South Africa,United Arab Emirates,Belgium,Sudan,Somalia,Côte d'Ivoire,Liberia,Angola,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Congo (DRC)

Stopping the Trade in Death, Gun Trafficking, Smuggling - Opinion

6 December 2011

New York Times, Opinion

On a dark November morning in 2004, I woke up in my bungalow overlooking Lake Kivu, tense with anticipation. Our small United Nations team was about to undertake a surprise inspection of three airfields in eastern Congo, notorious for smuggling operations. With the backing of U.N. peacekeeping forces and a U.N. Security Council mandate, we searched almost every incoming and outgoing aircraft that day. By evening, we had the evidence to link several aviation front... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: New York Times

About 240,000 Guns Untraceable in Switzerland [Francais]

5 December 2011

Le Dauphiné Libéré (France)

[Translated Summary: 240,000 of the two million guns in circulation in Switzerland are untraceable, says the Ministry of Defence. The National regulations would be a cause: in terms of Defence, Switzerland has a people's army - reservists are allowed to store their weapons at home, to carry them unloaded, and private gun sales are permitted.] La Suisse évoque bien plus l'image de paix et de concorde civile que celle des armes à feu. Pourtant, le pays est l'un de... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Dauphiné Libéré (France)

Austria,Spain,Belgium,Eastern Europe,France

In 2010, French Police Seized 79% More Guns Than in 2009 [Francais]

2 December 2011

Le Figaro (France)

[Translated Summary: French Police seized 3,355 firearms since January 2011, 2,710 in 2010 or 79% more than in 2009; out of 3.14 million firearms lawfully possessed, 30,000 are unlawfully possessed in 2010; a report from 2009 says that theft of firearms increased by 38.6%.] La Direction centrale de la police judiciaire a recensé 2710 saisies d'armes à feu en 2010, soit une explosion de 79% par rapport à 2009. Les saisies de pistolets, révolvers, fusils à pompes... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Figaro (France)

Marseilles, France: Third Shooting with Assault Rifles in a Week [Francais]

2 December 2011

Le Nouvel Observateur (France) / AP

[Translated Summary: In a third such shooting in a week in Marseilles, law enforcement authorities bemoaned the fact that the use of assault rifles, such as Kalachnikovs, has become a banality. Kalachnikovs are available for 500 to 1,000 Euros on the streets of Marseilles.] MARSEILLE — Une nouvelle fusillade a éclaté dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi dans le XVe arrondissement de Marseille, dans les quartiers nord de la ville, faisant un mort et un blessé grave,... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Nouvel Observateur (France) / AP

Gun Possession, Licensing Control Study in Netherlands Never Published

1 December 2011

Radio Netherlands

A study into gun ownership in the Netherlands showing inadequate supervision of gun permits was submitted to the justice ministry in August 2010, almost nine months before the Alphen aan den Rijn mall shooting in which seven people were killed. The study showed that gun permits were being routinely issued and pointed to inadequate police supervision of gun owners. Police officers reportedly lack the expertise to properly evaluate gun permit applications and most police... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Radio Netherlands

About 116,000 Guns Registered, 20,000 Untraceable in Geneva [Francais]

30 November 2011

Tribune de Genève

[Translated Summary: Following a recent shooting in Switzerland, Bernard Bersier, Chief of the Firearms Service, analyses the situation in Geneva. Last year, 115,684 firearms were registered in Geneva, one firearm per four inhabitants. Behind this official number hides a grey market that constitutes the real danger, explains Mr Bersier.] Suite à la mort par balle d'un homme aux Cygnes, Bernard Bersier, chef du Service des armes, analyse la situation genevoise. A... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Tribune de Genève

Assault Rifles, Riot Guns, 5 Tonnes of Munitions Seized in Belgium [Francais]

29 November 2011

RTL (Belgique)

[Translated Summary: Hundreds of weapons of war and 5 tonnes of munitions seized from a gunsmith in Ravel, Belgium. The gunsmith infringed many regulations: he opened an un-authorised shooting range, sold weapons of war - banned in Belgium, unsafe storage.] Des centaines d'armes de guerre et 5 tonnes de munitions ont été saisies chez un armurier de Ravels, dans la province d'Anvers. Le SEDEE, service de déminage de l'armée, a saisi, vendredi dernier à Ravels,... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: RTL (Belgique)

Libya,Eastern Europe,France

3% of 3,500 Guns Seized in France Are Automatic Assault Rifles [Francais]

29 November 2011

Europe 1

[Translated Summary: French police seized 3,500 weapons since the beginning of the year, 3% of which were automatic rifles. In Eastern Europe, an AK-47 costs some hundred Euros, but once in France, it costs around 2,000 to 3,000 Euros.] Decryptage - Les armes automatiques circulent illégalement. D'où viennent-elles, qui les utilisent ? Deux fusillades meurtrières en moins de 24 heures à Marseille. Et par deux fois, les malfaiteurs ont tiré à l'arme de guerre, en... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Europe 1

Following Latest Shootings, France to Review Gun Control Law [Francais]

29 November 2011

AFP

[Translated Summary: Following recent shootings in which burglars and robbers used weapons of war against police officers, the French Senate will review a new gun-control bill to reinforce the fight against gun trafficking. Amendments to the Firearms Decree-Law of 1939 will include stricter maximum penalties: prison terms rising from seven years to ten years, and fines rising from 100,000 Euros to 500,000 Euros.] PARIS — Le Sénat examinera le jeudi 8 décembre, une... (GunPolicy.org)

French Robbers Use Military Assault Rifles Stealing Frozen Food [Francais]

28 November 2011

Le Figaro (France)

[Translated Summary: In less than 24 hours, two deadly shootings occured in Bouches-du-Rhône [France]. The rise of gun violence in France and of disproportionate responses: burglars used weapons of war against Police after robbing frozen food.] Deux malfaiteurs ont été tués et un policier grièvement blessé lors de deux fusillades, à Vitrolles et Marseille. En moins de 24 heures, les Bouches-du-Rhône ont été une nouvelle fois le théâtre deux sanglantes... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Figaro (France)

Household Shootings Prompt Swiss to Rethink Army Guns Kept at Home

23 November 2011

Local (Stockholm)

Several killings in the last few weeks have led Switzerland's Security Policy Committee to take steps to remove weapons from the hands of people with a history of violence. The parliamentary committee said confiscating firearms was a matter of urgency for individuals known to have made threats or perpetrated acts of violence. To help avoid further tragedies, a unanimous committee called on the National Assembly to pass a motion requiring the Federal Council to combat... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Local (Stockholm)

Germany,China,United States,India

Increasing Availability and Seizures of Illicit Guns in Pune, India

17 November 2011

Express India

PUNE - Failure in identifying and cracking down on criminals involved in manufacturing and selling of illegal firearms is the major reason behind unchecked illegal trade of firearms in the city, police said. And investigation of some of the cases revealed that the quality of illegal firearms has improved, availability has increased while cost has gone down, police said. According to the figures obtained by The Indian Express under the Right to Information Act (RTI)... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Express India

North Africa,China,Ukraine,Chad,Mali,Niger,France,Europe,United States,Libya

Hundreds of Thousands of Libyan Assault Rifles Looking for New Owners?

15 November 2011

Time (USA)

More than three weeks after Libya's rebels killed Muammar Gaddafi, arms experts say the task of finding and securing the mountain of weaponry abandoned by Gaddafi's forces in their final rout has been complicated by a lack of international funding and coordination, as well as conflicting priorities among Western and African governments about which weapons pose the biggest threat. While U.S. and European officials have sounded the alarm about the threat posted to... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Time (USA)

Shooting in Geneva: Airguns Turned into Lethal Weapons [Francais]

14 November 2011

20 Minutes (Geneva)

[Translated summary: The gun homicide at Geneva's mall highlights new practices: turning airguns into lethal weapons that are available on the 'Grey Market'.] Le meurtre du centre commercial des Cygnes, au coeur de Genève, met en exergue de nouvelles pratiques chez certains marginaux du canton. «Pour 1000 francs, on trouve facilement un 9 mm. Moi j'ai mon 22 (n.d.l.r.: long rifle). Et maintenant, les Albanais ont une nouvelle spécialité, ils transforment des... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: 20 Minutes (Geneva)

Swiss Army-issue Guns Involved in 300 Civilian Deaths a Year

14 November 2011

SwissInfo

Another deadly incident involving an army-issue gun has been reported only ten days after a man shot his girlfriend with his army assault rifle. Police in canton Neuchâtel say the latest case occurred in someone's home at the weekend when three people were handling guns. An investigation is underway to establish the course of events and the origin of the ammunition. Last February, Swiss voters rejected a proposal by an alliance of NGOs and centre-left political... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: SwissInfo

Swiss Reopen Debate on Keeping Army Assault Weapons, Pistols in Homes

13 November 2011

SwissInfo

The army says it wants to work more closely with the cantonal authorities to prevent shootings with army-issue guns. A spokesman told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper that army chief, André Blattmann, wants the cantonal justice departments to inform the army of any criminal investigations involving men still on active service. Due to the set-up of Switzerland's militia army, men on active service are allowed to keep their army-issue firearms at home. Currently, Swiss... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: SwissInfo

Algeria,France,Mauritania,Mali,Israel,Egypt,United States,West Africa,Niger,North Africa,Libya

Smuggled Libyan Arms Threaten to Destabilise Swath of African Continent

12 November 2011

Wall Street Journal

Weapons smuggled from Libya after the collapse of Moammar Gadhafi's government are flowing through the surrounding region, the president of the west African nation of Niger said Friday, a development that threatens to destabilize a swath of the continent already struggling against ethnic unrest and a regional branch of al Qaeda. "Arms were stolen in Libya and are being disseminated all over the region," President Mahamadou Issoufou told reporters following a meeting... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Wall Street Journal

Libya,Mexico,Germany

Assault Weapon Bribery Probe: Gun Maker Heckler & Koch Raided Again

10 November 2011

Associated Press

BERLIN — Some 300 police officers searched the headquarters of Heckler & Koch Thursday amid allegations the German arms maker bribed Mexican officials to boost its sales, prosecutors said. The firm is under investigation on suspicion that it "bribed officials in Mexico using cash payments for several years" in connection with arms deliveries between 2005 and 2010, Stuttgart prosecution spokeswoman Claudia Krauth said. A spokeswoman for Heckler & Koch GmbH confirmed... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Associated Press

Swiss Soldier Kills Girlfriend with Army Rifle, Restarts Guns-at-home Debate

9 November 2011

Local (Switzerland)

Politicians, criminologists and police have called for army-issue weapons to be kept out of the hands of lawbreakers after a young man with a criminal record shot and killed his girlfriend last Friday. The alleged murderer, a 23-year-old-man had several previous convictions for threatening behaviour and property damage before he shot his girlfriend in the head with his army assault rifle. A heated debate has raged for years in Switzerland about firearm control and... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Local (Switzerland)

India,Spain,United Kingdom,Italy,Germany,France,Czech Republic,Bulgaria,Belgium,Austria,Yemen,Syria,Libya,Egypt,Bahrain,West Asia,North Africa,Europe,Russia,United States

Major Arms Exporters Accused of Mideast Gun Sales Before Human Rights

24 October 2011

al Jazeera

According to an Amnesty International report, the US, Russia and a number of European countries supplied large quantities of weapons to repressive governments in the Middle East and North Africa before this year's uprisings. The report says that these arms deals were signed despite evidence of a substantial risk that they could be used to commit serious human rights violations. The human rights group reports that in the five years preceding the Arab spring $2.4bn... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: al Jazeera

Sao Tome & Principe,Rwanda,Gabon,Equatorial Guinea,Congo (ROC),Congo (DRC),Chad,Central African Republic,Cameroon,Burundi,Angola,Central Africa,Austria

Regional Efforts to Combat Illicit Arms in Central Africa: Kinshasa Convention - UN

21 October 2011

African Press Organization (APO), Media release

NEW YORK -- The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations will organize tomorrow a special event entitled "Enhancing Small Arms Control In Central Africa — The Kinshasa Convention" at the Permanent Mission of Austria. This event will promote this new sub-regional instrument to control and fight the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Central Africa. In September 2011, all eleven... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: African Press Organization (APO)

European Union,China,Germany,South Korea,Switzerland,Serbia,France,United Kingdom,Syria,Yemen,Bulgaria,Belgium,Libya,Italy,Bahrain,Egypt,United States,Russia,West Asia,North Africa,Finland,Austria,Sudan,North Korea,Spain

Tracing the Middle East Weapons Flow

19 October 2011

al Jazeera

Earlier this year, as mass popular uprisings spread through the Middle East and audiences across the world sat transfixed by images of unarmed citizens confronting iron-fisted security forces in the streets of Arab capitals, powerful governments from Russia to the United States were forced to begin accounting for the weapons they had for decades sold to the very rulers they now found themselves abandoning. In Egypt and Bahrain, protesters held up tear gas canisters... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: al Jazeera

Should French Police Officers Keep Service Guns at Home? [Francais]

19 October 2011

TF1 News (France)

[Translated summary: Three police suicides, two family tragedies and one fatal accident in a single month. Should French police officers be banned from keeping their firearms at home?] Après une série de suicides et de faits divers tragiques impliquant des policiers munis de leur arme au domicile, la question se pose plus que jamais. Mais ni l'Intérieur ni les syndicats n'envisagent une telle solution pour l'instant. Le 22 septembre 2011, un gardien de la paix en... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: TF1 News (France)

Germany,France,Czech Republic,Bulgaria,United Kingdom,Belgium,Austria,Yemen,Syria,Libya,Egypt,Bahrain,North America,West Asia,North Africa,Europe,United States,Russia,Italy,Spain

Arab Spring Abuses Show Need for Arms Trade Curb - Amnesty

18 October 2011

Reuters (Africa)

LONDON - Russia, the United States and European countries ignored fears over human rights abuses and sold large numbers of weapons to governments in the Middle East and North Africa in recent years, Amnesty International said in a report on Wednesday. Rights group Amnesty said the failings showed the need for a meaningful international arms trade treaty to choke off the supply of weapons to countries seen at risk of turning them on their own people. "The Arab Spring... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Reuters (Africa)

United States,Libya,Germany

Germany Provides Eur 750,000 for Destruction of Small Arms in Libya

17 October 2011

African Press Organization (APO)

BERLIN, Germany -- The German Government is providing EUR 750,000 for the securing and destruction of small arms – including man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS) – up to the end of this year. The money will be used to enable specialist Libyan and international teams to locate, secure and destroy small arms and ammunition arsenals. In Foreign Minister Westerwelle's view, supporting the securing and destruction of old weapons is an important task for the... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: African Press Organization (APO)

Sweden,European Union,Netherlands,Finland

Murder in Finland, Sweden, Netherlands: Drunk Friends v Criminals - Study

6 October 2011

Helsingin Sanomat (Finland)

Finland rightly appears rather high on the statistics for violent crime in Europe, but as so often behind the statistical data there lie a number of caveats and a lot of small print. There are, for instance, large differences between different EU nations when it comes to the reasons for homicides and the methods used in such crimes. In Finland, a typical person to commit a homicide is a middle-aged heavy consumer of alcohol and the victim is his drunken contemporary.... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Helsingin Sanomat (Finland)

India,Russia,Germany,United States

India's Unlicensed Gun Market Thrives on Smuggled, Home Made Firearms

5 October 2011

First Post (Mumbai)

A 10-year-old boy was accidentally shot dead by his 12-year-old neighbour while they were playing cop and thief in West Delhi earlier this week. On 24 September, 23-year-old toll attendant, Umeshkant Pandey, was shot dead by the driver of a white Bolero. His crime: he asked the driver to pay Rs 27 as toll tax. Gun crime has consistently been on the rise in India, and every few weeks, there is a new tragedy. An armed gang shoots a woman over a small piece of jewellery,... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: First Post (Mumbai)

Norway,Netherlands

Gun Licence Applicants May Have to Prove Mental Health in Netherlands

4 October 2011

Auburn Journal (California)

A majority of Members of the Netherlands Parliament are supporting a recommendation from the public security council that applicants for a gun ownership license prove they are psychologically healthy before they can obtain a license. In the Netherlands gun ownership is not a right but a privilege, with hunting and target shooting the only two legitimate reasons for owning a gun. Self-defense is not considered a legitimate reason for owning a gun and only the police may... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Auburn Journal (California)

French Municipal Police Asking for Handguns for Self-Defence [Francais]

27 September 2011

Le Progrès (France)

[Translated summary: The Union of Municipal Police of Lyon is asking for handguns. In France, if 20,000 Municipal Police officers are on active duty, only 5,000 of them are armed with a revolver. According to the Lyon Police union, not equipping officers puts them in danger: 'During a robbery, two of our colleagues had to hide behind flower pots…'.] Sécurité. Le syndicat SNPM-CFTC de la police municipale de Lyon réclame des armes de poing leur permettant de... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Progrès (France)

Boy Shoots, Kills Friend with Father's Police Pistol in Switzerland [Francais]

19 September 2011

Le Matin (Lausanne)

[Translated summary: A teenager accidentally shot dead his friend with his father's handgun. The father, who is an experienced police officer, did not store his handgun in a secured cabinet. According to Thurgovia law, police officers do not have to comply with the Federal Law on Firearms in terms of safe storage of guns kept at home.] Trois écoliers thurgoviens jouaient avec le pistolet de service du père de l'un d'eux, un policier. Celui-ci a été mis sous... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Matin (Lausanne)

More Than a Quarter of Swiss Households Have Access to a Gun - Study

12 September 2011

Local (Switzerland)

More than a quarter of Swiss households have access to a gun, according to a study carried out by the Institute of Criminology at the University of Zurich. In a victim study carried out on behalf of the conference of cantonal police chiefs, Martin Killias at the Institute of Criminology found that around 27 percent of Swiss homes have access to a firearm. Furthermore, the number of gun licences has increased sharply in many cantons since 2008, the SonntagsZeitung... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Local (Switzerland)

Security and Justice Minister to Ban Semi-auto Rifles in Netherlands

11 September 2011

Radio Netherlands

Security and Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten says he is going to ban semi-automatic rifles. Minister Opstelten referred to the massacre in the Dutch town of Alpen aan den Rijn in April of this year, when a man used a semi-automatic rifle as well as a pistol and a revolver to kill six people and injure 17 others before killing himself. "Such weapons", the security minister said, "are not intended for use at a shooting club. They're made to hit moving targets. It's... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Radio Netherlands

Important Arsenal Seized in Home of 81-yr Old Man in France [Francais]

8 September 2011

Le Figaro (France) / AFP

[Translated summary: An important stockpile of firearms - rifles, grenades, rocket launcher, etc - was seized downtown Lyon in the home of an 81 years old collector.] Plusieurs centaines d'armes - des fusils mais aussi des obus, des grenades, des lance-roquettes ou des mines antichars - ont été saisies aujourd'hui dans le centre-ville de Lyon au domicile d'un collectionneur de 81 ans, a-t-on appris auprès de la police et de la préfecture. La police est intervenue... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Figaro (France) / AFP

Ukraine,North Africa,Niger,Algeria,Mali,France,United Kingdom,United States,Libya

Libya Warned Smugglers Are Looting Gaddafi's Guns

2 September 2011

Guardian (UK)

Libya must urgently secure weapons hoarded by the Gaddafi regime amid growing fears that smugglers are exploiting the chaos there to loot hundreds of portable missiles and other small arms, western officials have warned. The US and Nato are pressing the National Transitional Council to make the issue a priority because of concerns that the trade has already begun, with reports that some African mercenaries who fought for Colonel Muammar Gaddafi are returning home laden... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Guardian (UK)

United Kingdom,France,Russia,Bahrain

Russia Ignores European Human Rights Embargo, Offers Guns to Bahrain

29 August 2011

Moscow Times / Bloomberg

Russia for the first time is selling weapons to Bahrain after Britain and France banned deliveries of security equipment to the Gulf monarchy because of its crackdown on protesters. State arms trader Rosoboronexport says it wants more business in Bahrain. The country is selling AK-103 Kalashnikovs with grenade launchers and ammunition for tens of millions of dollars to Bahrain, according to a person close to the Russian Defense Ministry who declined to be identified... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Moscow Times / Bloomberg

Russia,United States,European Union,Belgium,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Burundi

Development, Security Require a World Without Small Arms [Francais]

9 August 2011

Pax Christi Wallonie Bruxelles (Brussels)

[Translated summary: In Burundi, the authorities spend each year an average of 5 dollars per person for health care. Each gun injury costs 163 dollars to the health care system. Three quarters of the global budget for health care is thus spent on these injuries!] Au Burundi, les autorités consacrent en moyenne 5 dollars par habitant aux soins de santé chaque année. Chaque blessure causée par une arme à feu coûte 163 dollars au système des soins de santé. Trois... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Pax Christi Wallonie Bruxelles (Brussels)

Western Europe,France,European Union

New Validity Period of the European Firearm Card [Francais]

27 July 2011

L'Indépendant (France)

[Translated content: Since June 2, the European Firearm Card will have a validity period of five years, no matter the type of registered firearm. The cards granted for ten years between June 3, 2006, and June 1, 2011, will expire on June 1, 2016. Concerned holders must contact the Firearm Service of the Prefecture or of the Sub-prefecture from the place of their residence for the up-date of their card.] Depuis le 2 juin, la carte européenne d'armes à feu a une... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: L'Indépendant (France)

Destruction of 250 Seized Handguns in France [Francais]

26 July 2011

Le Parisien (France) / AFP

[Translated summary: The French Minister of Justice attended in Bordeaux the destruction of 250 handguns seized in the framework of the National Plan for a better management of sealed containers launched in 2010.] Le ministre de la Justice, Michel Mercier, a assisté mardi près de Bordeaux à la destruction par explosifs de quelque 250 armes de poing saisies lors de procédures judiciaires, dans le cadre d'un plan national lancé en 2010 pour une meilleure gestion des... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Parisien (France) / AFP

Would Belgian Gun Law Prevent a Norway-style Shooting? [Francais]

26 July 2011

RTBF (Belgium)

[Translated summary: Lawfully acquire a weapon of war in order to commit a massacre as in Norway raises questions. Would the new Belgian legislation on firearms have prevented such tragedy for us?] Se procurer une arme de guerre en toute légalité pour commettre un massacre comme en Norvège, pose question. La nouvelle législation belge sur les armes aurait-elle permis d'éviter un tel drame chez nous ? Les conditions de base La majorité des clients des armureries... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: RTBF (Belgium)

Pakistan,South Asia,China,United States,United Kingdom,Germany,France,India,Nepal

Global Gun Trade Treaty the Only Way to Control 'Arms Bazaar'

25 July 2011

República (Kathmandu), Opinion

In 2009, I recall visiting a militant camp in India's North East a day before they would surrender. The deputy commander who was in charge and allegedly responsible for the death of at least 200 people brandished his M16 assault rifle and flaunted his bodyguard who was following him with a rocket launcher. He was calm but shifty-eyed and admitted having a personal saving of a few billion INR in his account. Barely 24 hours after his formal surrender, he was in seen in... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: República (Kathmandu)

France,Qatar,United Kingdom,Libya,Russia,Italy

Small Arms Seized by Italy Gone Missing, Libya Likely Destination

20 July 2011

Scotsman (Edinburgh)

A shipment of weapons seized by the Italian navy following a tip-off from British secret agents has gone missing - most likely ending up in the hands of Libya's rebels. The haul, which was described by one military expert as "enough to start and win a small war", included 400 anti-tank missiles and 50 launchers for them; 30,000 AK47s; 5,000 Katusha rockets; 11,000 anti-tank rockets and 32 million rounds of small arms ammunition. All of the Russian-made weapons were... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Scotsman (Edinburgh)

Israel,United Kingdom,Russia,France,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,China,United States

Productive Negotiations at the UN on Arms Trade Treaty [Francais]

18 July 2011

Courrier du Vietnam / AFP

[Translated summary: Member States of the UN "made significant progress" during the week of negotiations in New York for the adoption in July 2012 of the Arms Trade Treaty, said on July 15 Eric Danon, representative of France in the negotiations.] Les États membres de l'ONU ont "beaucoup progressé" pendant une semaine de négociations à New York en vue de l'adoption en juillet 2012 d'un traité sur le commerce des armes, a déclaré le 15 juillet Eric Danon,... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Courrier du Vietnam / AFP

France: Debate Over Municipal Police Officers Being Armed [Francais]

17 July 2011

Le Progrès (France)

[Translated summary: The first national meetings of the municipal police in France revive the debate over the armament of the municipal police. Yet, the mayors are the ones deciding.] Les premières rencontres nationales des policiers municipaux à Nice relancent le débat de l'armement des agents de la police municipale. Ce sont pourtant les maires qui en décident. Dans la Loire, 30 policiers municipaux sur 177 sont armés d'un revolver, dont 26 sur 104 à... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Progrès (France)

United States,European Union,United Kingdom,Germany,France,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa

Skepticism, Caution as UN 'Stumbles' Toward Global Gun Trade Treaty

14 July 2011

Inter Press Service News Agency

UNITED NATIONS - After six years of protracted negotiations, a largely sceptical international community is moving towards readying a long outstanding global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) for signature by July next year. "Governments have made a tremendous amount of progress toward this important treaty," Dr. Natalie Goldring, a senior research fellow at the Center for Peace and Security Studies of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, told... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Inter Press Service News Agency

Dutch Mall Shooter Should Not Have Had Gun Permit

11 July 2011

Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A gunman who shot and killed six people in a shopping mall before committing suicide should not have been granted a permit for the three weapons he used, police and prosecutors said Monday. The April 9 shooting shocked this nation where gun ownership is tightly regulated and mass shootings are a rarity, and sparked a review of weapon permit regulations. Investigations into the shooting spree concluded that the shooter, 24-year-old Tristan... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Associated Press

Western Europe,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,United States,China,India,Guatemala

Private Security Guards Now Outnumber Police Worldwide - New Survey

6 July 2011

Sunday Times (UK) / AFP

GENEVA - Private security companies employ up to 25.5 million people across the world, exceeding the number of police officers, and hold up to 3.7 million firearms, a survey said Wednesday. "The global trend towards downsizing government, including public security institutions, has contributed to the growth of the private security sector," said the Geneva Graduate Institute's small arms survey. "In prisons, at airports, along borders and on the street, security... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Sunday Times (UK) / AFP

European Union,Bulgaria,Russia,West Africa,Pakistan,France,Australia,United Kingdom,Canada,Germany,Italy,United States,Haiti,Côte d'Ivoire,Madagascar

Study Finds Small Arms Have Serious Impact on Fragile States

6 July 2011

Voice of America

A new study finds the global authorized trade in small arms, light weapons, and their ammunition is worth nearly $7.1 billion a year. In its annual report, the independent think tank, the Geneva Forum, also examines the serious impact small arms proliferation is having upon three so-called fragile states-Madagascar, Ivory Coast and Haiti. Arms exporters The survey finds in 2008, the United States, Italy and Germany topped the list of 14 top exporters of small arms... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Voice of America

United Kingdom,United States,Europe,India,China,Russia,Libya,France

France Air-dropped Guns to Libyan Civilians: In Breach of Arms Embargo?

30 June 2011

Le Point (France) / Reuters

[Translated summary: France acknowledged that it airlifted small arms to Libyan civilians fighting Moammar Gadhafi's forces in a besieged mountain region south of Tripoli. Critics say that this is against the UN arms embargo]. NEW YORK, PARIS - La France a défendu sa décision de parachuter des armes aux insurgés libyens, une opération à laquelle l'Otan n'a pas été associée et qui suscite jeudi une controverse, les Nations unies ayant imposé en février un... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Le Point (France) / Reuters

France,Venezuela

Venezuelan Parliament Finally Decides on Strong Gun Control [Francais]

22 June 2011

Libération (France)

[Translated summary: After prolonged debate, Venezuela has agreed on a gun control bill. Firearms are said to be involved in 90% of the country's crimes, and the bill proposes gun amnesties and buybacks to reduce the 9 to 15 million illegal firearms in circulation, and to restore confidence in the Venezuelan Police.] L'enjeu est tel qu'il a fait taire les différences politiques. L'Assemblée nationale vénézuélienne, théâtre en février d'une violente bagarre... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Libération (France)

Germany,China,Nepal,Italy,India,United States

High Incidence of Small Arms Violence in Nepal: India Border, Armed Women

16 June 2011

MSN News / Indo-Asian News Service

KATHMANDU -- As over 70 countries in the world Thursday begin observing the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence, peace activists rue that even five years after the end of an armed insurrection, Nepal is still wracked by gunfire, thanks to the 1,800-km open border with India. 'There have been 1,013 incidents of violence caused by small arms in the last 17 months,' says Subodh Pyakurel, chief of Informal Sector Service Center (Insec), Nepal's largest NGO that... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: MSN News / Indo-Asian News Service

South America,South Asia,Central Asia,Eastern Europe,Africa,Egypt,France,Italy,Libya

Libya's Rebels: Where Are the Weapons From?

15 June 2011

The Interpreter - Lowy Institute for International Policy (Australia)

Libya's rebels appear to be armed in a fairly predictable way. The basis of their armoury seems to come from weapons taken from state stockpiles in battle and from defecting Libyan officers. The literature refers to these as 'battle-captures', or euphemistically, 'leakage'. In Libya's case, it's clearly a flood. Libya was one of the largest purchasers of conventional military equipment in the developing world in the 1970s and 80s. While the USSR was its main supplier,... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: The Interpreter - Lowy Institute for International Policy (Australia)

Imitation Guns for Real Robberies in France: Loopholes in the Law? [Francais]

14 June 2011

L'Express (France)

[Translated summary: An increasing number of robberies and attacks are committed with imitation guns. One of these even lead to the death of a young man, when police shot the 19yr-old boy thinking that his imitation gun was a real gun. However, amendments to the French Law on this matter keep on being delayed.] Un nombre croissant de braquages et d'agressions sont commis avec des armes factices. Pourtant, la loi tarde à s'adapter à ce phénomène. Le 23 février... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: L'Express (France)

Italy,European Union,United States,Austria

Strict Gun Laws at Home, But Austrian Exports Fuel Gun Violence Abroad

10 June 2011

Vienna Review (Austria), Opinion

When you think of Austrian exports, what are the first things that pop into your mind? Sausages? Beer? Those little round chocolates with Mozart's portrait on the foil cover? All of these are valid answers. But if you didn't think of the Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol with short recoil, locked breech and a tilting barrel, possessing an effective range of slightly over 50 meters and the possibility of inserting up to a 33 shot clip, you are seriously missing out. It's... (GunPolicy.org)

Read More: Vienna Review (Austria)

Additional Information

Search Gun Policy News

Keyword or Phrase: Help

Daily News Feeds

News Feeds by E-mail
News Feeds by RSS
Design Your Own Feed
Highlights on Twitter