Top of PageGun Policy News
Gun theft, robbery and 'leakage' of weapons
US Officials 'Hamstrung' by Lack of Gun Data
17 June 2013
Bloomberg (USA), Editorial
How do criminals get their guns? Are there observable patterns to gun crime? Who is at the greatest risk of injury, or causing injury to others, from firearm use? Which gun-safety practices are most effective at preventing accidental injury?
The answers to these and other basic questions remain difficult and obscure in part thanks to a senseless ban, on the books for a decade, that limits research on gun violence and denies researchers and even police and prosecutors... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Missing from South Australia Shooting Range Found with Criminals
11 June 2013
ABC News (Australia)
Court documents reveal the operator of an Adelaide shooting range had its firearms licence cancelled because a number of guns missing from the business were found in the hands of criminals.
The shooting range and gun dealership, operated by Marksman Training Systems in Franklin Street in the city, was raided by police on Monday, and firearms were seized.
Police said they were acting on a District Court order allowing them to check the firearms.
The operator of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Concerns Voiced as Some Australians Own Over 100 Guns Each
5 June 2013
Herald Sun (Melbourne)
Victoria's top firearms owners have collected an average arsenal of 80 weapons each, which has raised concerns among advocates of gun control.
They want restrictions on the number of weapons one person can own.
The 20 biggest gun owners in the state are sitting on 1625 firearms, according to Victoria Police figures.
One owner has been legally approved to hold 131 weapons, including scores of semi-automatic rifles and shotguns.
Reasons given to police for needing the... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Australia,Finland,Africa,Germany
More Than 65 Countries Sign Arms Trade Treaty
3 June 2013
Time (USA)
More than 65 countries signed the landmark treaty regulating the multibillion-dollar global arms trade Monday and the United States announced it will sign soon, giving a strong kickoff to the first major international campaign to stem the illicit trade in weapons that fuel conflicts and extremists.
The announcement by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that the U.S. — the world's largest arms dealer — will sign is critical, but the treaty's ultimate strength rests... (GunPolicy.org)
40 Guns Still Missing After Mass Killings in Kenya
30 May 2013
Standard (Nairobi)
KENYA - Six months after the massacre of 42 policemen in Samburu in an ambush by cattle rustlers, security agents are yet to recover 40 firearms stolen from the deceased.
Not a single firearm has been surrendered following an amnesty issued by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo months ago to residents in possession of illegal weapons and those stolen during the ambush.
The Standard has established that bandits are roaming the area freely and eight cattle... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Amnesty Begins in Canadian Province
30 May 2013
CBC News (Canada)
Police in B.C. will begin collecting unauthorized and unwanted guns on Saturday, as part of a month-long firearms amnesty program they say will help remove guns from communities and reduce the risk they could fall into the hands of criminals.
RCMP Insp. Brad Haugli said officers often encounter cases in which tragedy could have been averted if guns were not involved.
"As someone who has lost a loved one to suicide by firearm, I know that devastation first-hand,"... (GunPolicy.org)
New Blitz On Gun Security in Australia After Firearm Thefts
27 May 2013
Warrnambool Standard (Australia)
Thieves in the south-west are using stolen firearms as a commodity and trading them in Melbourne and interstate for cash and drugs.
In response to a rising incidence of firearm thefts police will target south-west gun owners to ensure their weapons are securely stored.
Police investigation and response manager for the south-west, Mark Canavan, said thieves were targeting homes and properties where firearms were known to be stored. A police check of licensed firearm... (GunPolicy.org)
One Third of Gun Thefts Take Place in West Australia
23 May 2013
WA Today (Australia)
Organised criminals have started manufacturing their own guns, while Western Australia becomes home to nearly one third of national firearm thefts, police have revealed as part of a national blitz.
There were 459 guns stolen in WA last year, compared to the national estimate of 1500 gun thefts yearly.
In May there were 57 gun thefts and last night alone seven guns were stolen from a home in the Perth hills, which included shotguns, rifles and a handgun.
"Quite a... (GunPolicy.org)
Tasmania Police Deny Gun Registry Breach Claims After Thefts
17 May 2013
Mercury (Hobart)
An East Coast woman robbed of thousands of dollars worth of guns from her remote property soon after the weapons were registered is calling for answers from Police Commissioner Darren Hine.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, said she had written to Mr Hine calling for an investigation into long-held community suspicions that the state's firearm registry and associated databases have been breached.
Tasmania Police has repeatedly denied that the firearms database... (GunPolicy.org)
Unlicensed NZ Soldier in Court After Being Found Drunk with Loaded Gun
17 May 2013
Stuff (New Zealand)
A soldier has admitted having a loaded rifle when he was drunk at home the day after his discharge from the army.
Christchurch District Court Judge Alistair Garland said it was "unforgivable" that 38-year-old Samuel George Ottley had the rifle lying on his bed underneath a sleeping bag, with bullets in the magazine.
"You are army-trained. You should know better than to have a firearm with any bullets in it at all in your home," the judge said when Ottley pleaded... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Authorities Plan Crackdown on Illegal Guns
10 May 2013
Star (Kenya)
Western PC James Serian has said the regional security team is profiling people with illegal arms. "There are illegal firearms in Western particularly in Mt Elgon, Malaba, Teso, Busia, along the Kenya and even Kakamega. Currently we are profiling all persons we suspect have fire arms," said Serian.
He said the provincial security team will start an operation to recover all guns in wrong hands in the area. Serian said the porous Kenya-Uganda border could be blamed for... (GunPolicy.org)
32 Crime Guns Linked to Over 230 Murders in Guatemala
8 May 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Forensic analysis has revealed that the MS-13 gang in Guatemala used 32 guns to allegedly commit 238 murders, offering insight into the gang's modus operandi and highlighting some of the difficulties of tackling organized crime with gun control.
Members of Guatemala's National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) used the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (Ibis) to identify 1,133 guns that had been used in multiple crimes, reported Prensa Libre.
Of those... (GunPolicy.org)
Concerns Raised Over Licensing Rules After Jamaica Shooting Death
7 May 2013
Jamaica Observer
BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — The question continues to haunt loved ones, friends and others two weeks after Ann Marie Campbell's death.
Why was a well-liked 40 year-old businesswoman and mother of three shot by someone she knew well and with whom she had no quarrel?
The alleged shooter, Wayne Lewis, a licensed firearm holder, is in police custody and is scheduled to appear in the Black River Resident's Magistrates Court on May 8 on a charge of murder. The supposition... (GunPolicy.org)
Special Police Division Created in Peru to Combat Gun Crime [Español]
28 April 2013
RPP News (Peru)
[Translated summary: A new police division will be established to combat gun smuggling and the illegal gun market in Peru. A ballistics information system will record information about guns to identify those used in crimes. Around 150,000 guns in Peru are not registered and a long-barrelled Parabellum gun costs around $700 on the balck market.]
Una división especial que estará encargada de investigar los delitos de tráfico ilícito de armas de fuego, municiones y... (GunPolicy.org)
Questions Over Gun Ownership Rates in Israel as Gun Crime, Theft Rises
26 April 2013
Ha'aretz (Tel Aviv)
A 36-year-old mother of four was killed Tuesday by a gunshot in the Galilee village of Rama. Preliminary evidence shows she was killed while her husband, a career soldier in the Israeli army, who possesses a registered weapon as part of his duties, was cleaning his weapon. The loaded firearm apparently discharged a bullet by accident, hitting the woman.
This incident raises – yet again – the question of whether there is a need for all members of the Israeli armed... (GunPolicy.org)
Opinion: Easing Gun Rules Ignores the Pain of Those Grieving
26 April 2013
Sydney Morning Herald, Opinion
This Sunday marks the 17th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, where 35 people were killed and 18 wounded by a lone gunman brandishing high-powered longarms.
In response to the killings, Australia's gun laws were significantly tightened. The prime minister at the time, John Howard, was able to gain bipartisan support from all state governments for a 10-point plan to regulate firearms - known as the 1996 Nationwide Agreement on Firearms.
This agreement... (GunPolicy.org)
Russian Mass Shooting Suspect Has Criminal Record, History of Aggression
24 April 2013
BBC News
A gunman suspected of shooting six people dead in the western Russian city of Belgorod on Monday has been captured, Russian police have said.
Sergei Pomazun, 31, was detained after being caught trying to flee the city on a freight train.
The manhunt lasted more than 24 hours and involved over 2,000 police.
Mr Pomazun is believed to have shot dead three people in a hunting shop and three passers-by. He is said to have wounded a policeman during his capture.
When... (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)
Gun Pipeline: Mules Pay High Price for Smuggling on Canada Border
19 April 2013
Toronto Star (Ontario)
Chantelle Batte didn't know she had successfully smuggled a small arsenal of guns, including a machine gun with a silencer, into Canada until police showed up at her door and arrested her days later.
Batte, a single mom from Sarnia, is just one of the many people used to mule guns across the border each year.
An ongoing Star investigation reveals that border officers seize few of the guns destined for the criminal market in Toronto and across Ontario.
Today, we look... (GunPolicy.org)
All Guns Recovered After Break-In at PNG Police Headquarters
18 April 2013
ABC News (Australia)
PORT MORESBY - Papua New Guinea police have recovered a number of weapons stolen from the force's national headquarters in Port Moresby.
Papua New Guinea police have recovered a number of weapons stolen from the force's national headquarters in Port Moresby.
A total of fifteen handguns or pistols, a .22 rifle shot gun and 150 rounds of ammunitions were stolen from the firearms registry office in the PNG Police Headquarters.
Police say most of the guns were recovered... (GunPolicy.org)
New US Study Shows Guns Rarely Used to Kill Criminals or Stop Crime
15 April 2013
Violence Policy Center (Washington, DC), Media release
WASHINGTON, DC — "Guns are rarely used to kill criminals or stop crimes" according to the new Violence Policy Center (VPC) report Firearm Justifiable Homicides and Non-Fatal Self-Defense Gun Use (http://www.vpc.org/studies/justifiable.pdf). The report analyzes national data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program's Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Crime Victimization Survey... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Police Investigate Criminals Stealing Guns from Farmers
12 April 2013
Herald Sun (Melbourne)
A police sting has uncovered a criminal network stealing guns from farmers.
The Herald Sun has been told Taskforce Griffin, set up in February, is probing a breakout in gun crime.
More than 100 firearms have been stolen in 41 burglaries, and there have been aggravated burglaries and two non-fatal shootings.
Detective Inspector Adrian Dalzotto, of the armed crime taskforce, said there were concerns the stolen guns, in particular the handguns, might have been sold on... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Police Guns Seized in Raid on Gang Residence
9 April 2013
Eyewitness News (South Africa)
CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said on Monday an investigation has been launched to determine how police issued firearms landed up in the hands of gangsters in Lavender Hill.
Metro police officers carried out several raids in the area and other suburbs over the weekend where they confiscated illegal weapons and drugs.
Officials also seized two police firearms as well as an AK-47 with ammunition.
Plato said this was worrying.
"I am actually... (GunPolicy.org)
Americas,Asia,Africa,Oceania,Europe
UN Approves Global Gun Trade Treaty: NRA, Iran, N Korea, Syria Oppose
3 April 2013
Washington Post
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to create the first treaty regulating the international arms trade, a landmark decision that imposes new constraints on the sale of conventional arms to governments and armed groups that commit war crimes, genocide and other mass atrocities.
The vote was hailed by arms-control advocates and scores of governments, including the United States, as a major step in the global effort to put in place... (GunPolicy.org)
India to Reject Arms Trade Treaty, Alleges Bias Against Arms Importers
28 March 2013
Times of India
NEW DELHI - New Delhi is set to reject a global arms trade treaty (ATT) since the agreement is heavily loaded against weapons-importing countries like India, and let exporting nations like the US and China call the shots. The treaty, meant to regulate all transfers of conventional arms around the world, is likely to be passed by the UN General Assembly next week. India's inability to establish an indigenous defence production industry may now become a strategic... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Crime Guns Causing Havoc in Tanzania say Authorities
28 March 2013
Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
Armed robbers are out of their lair again and are busy scheming, so it seems. It was reported in the press early this week that five suspected robbers had been gunned down by police in Kagera Region.
The robbers had engaged four motor vehicles in a stick-up and were robbing passengers when the police, who had already been tipped off, ambushed them. The police killed five suspects in the ensuing shoot-out. The police recovered two sub-machine guns in the process.
They... (GunPolicy.org)
Child-Proof Medicine Bottles Save Lives. So Could Child-Proof Guns
22 March 2013
New York Times, Opinion
For nearly two months, my assistant, Jennifer Mascia, and I have been publishing a daily blog in which we aggregate articles about shootings from the previous day. Of all the stories we link to, the ones I find hardest to read are those about young children who accidentally shoot themselves or another child. They just break my heart. Yet Jennifer and I find new examples almost every day.
Partly, I react by thinking, "How can anyone be so stupid as to leave a loaded gun... (GunPolicy.org)
One Stolen Gun Blazes a Violent Path – A Typical Tale from Any City
22 March 2013
Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St Paul)
Thomas Allen Hoffman was looking for a "cheapie."
In the spring of 2007, he browsed a North Mankato gun dealer's collection for a Hi-Point pistol, one of the least expensive handguns on the market.
Hoffman wanted the gun for personal protection.
He paid $150 to the Red Bear Hunting Emporium and took home a Hi-Point C-9 9mm semiautomatic pistol, serial #P1352366. But soon the gun was stolen, changed hands, then changed hands again, spiraling beyond the bounds of... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda Gangs Stealing Weapons from Police, Terrorising Citizens
22 March 2013
New Vision (Kampala)
The Police have listed over a dozen criminal gangs that are terrorising residents in and around Kampala.
The media has recently been awash with reports of daring thugs raiding police stations and making off with weapons, killing or injuring security personnel and civilians in addition to rampant robberies of money and property.
Recently thugs raided Mpala police station on Entebbe road and stole a gun and ammunition. Last week a gang raided the suburb of Bweyogerere... (GunPolicy.org)
School Shooting 'Likely' in Sweden - Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency
21 March 2013
Local (Sweden)
There will likely be a school shooting in Sweden sometime in the foreseeable future, according to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, which warned that local authorities are woefully unprepared to deal with such an event.
"Many people have access to hunting weapons, even if you can't go to just any store and buy a gun, access to them is nevertheless pretty wide," MSB risk analyst Magnus Winehal told the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper.
In a report looking at... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,United Kingdom,France,Mexico,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,China,Russia,United States
Armed Violence Kills 66,000 Women and Girls Each Year
20 March 2013
New Zealand Herald, Associated Press
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has urged the world's nations to agree on a strong UN treaty to regulate the multibillion-dollar global arms trade in the next two weeks, saying it will save lives and make it more difficult for warlords, organised criminals and terrorists to obtain weapons.
Hopes of reaching agreement on what would be a landmark treaty were dashed last July when the United States said it needed more time to consider the proposed accord - a... (GunPolicy.org)
Of 200 US Mass Killings in 7 Years, Only 29 Involved Random Victims
12 March 2013
USA Today
Tuesday's arraignment of James Holmes, accused of mass murder in Colorado, was a rarity among massacre suspects.
Holmes, who was scheduled to enter a plea for the July 2012 murders of 12 patrons in a suburban Denver movie theater and the attempted murder of nearly 60 others, is just one of a handful of suspects to face legal proceedings in a case involving no prior connection to murder victims. Judge William Sylvester declined a request by Holmes' attorneys to delay... (GunPolicy.org)
The Need for Improved Firearms Control in South Africa - Analysis
11 March 2013
Institute for Security Studies (Tshwane/Pretoria)
In his affidavit before the court, South African 2012 Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius stated that he kept a 9mm pistol underneath his bed because he was scared of criminals.
Following the events in the early hours of 14 February 2013 that saw him fatally shoot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, he now faces charges of murder. This is not the first such case. In 2009 Johannesburg homeowner Warren Voster accidentally killed his domestic worker's 12-year-old... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Institute for Security Studies (Tshwane/Pretoria)
European Union,Sweden,Myanmar,Syria
Stray Swedish Weapons Show Up in Syria, Myanmar Despite EU Ban
7 March 2013
Local (Sweden)
Syrian rebels appear to be using Swedish weapons, visible in a new video that has emerged from the civil war in which an anti-regime fighter cradles a well-known Swedish model of anti-tank rifle.
TV4 news found the video in which a rebel fighter emerges with a Carl Gustaf rocket launcher perched on his right shoulder.
The report dubs the weapon a "Swedish export success story".
It is the second time in the past few months that Swedish weapons have made their way to... (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)
Illegal Bullets Cost the Same as Bread in Jamaica
3 March 2013
Gleaner (Jamaica)
In Jamaica, a loaf of bread retails at a corner shop for about $235 while a single 9mm bullet can be bought for about $280 or less. The degree of difficulty in purchasing the bread or the bullet is relatively the same: zero.
A special Sunday Gleaner probe has confirmed that one does not have to work up a sweat to buy bullets on the streets of Jamaica. It is literally no problem, as we found out when we purchased 25 of these 9mm bullets last week.
Anyone interested in... (GunPolicy.org)
US President Urged by NGOs to Support Tough UN Arms Trade Treaty
25 February 2013
Reuters
Three dozen arms control and human rights groups have written to U.S. President Barack Obama ahead of new arms-trade negotiations at the United Nations next month, urging him to back a tough treaty that would end loopholes in international weapons sales.
Arms control campaigners say one person every minute dies worldwide as a result of armed violence and a convention is needed to prevent the unregulated and illicit flow of weapons into conflict zones and fueling wars... (GunPolicy.org)
Australians Offered Rewards for Gun Info After Shootings, Amnesty
21 February 2013
Advertiser (Adelaide)
Rewards of up to $10,000 will be offered for people who give South Australian police information that leads to major gun busts.
Premier Jay Weatherill announced the measure today in response to a spate of recent shootings - 17 since December 31.
He said the state could have confidence most of the shootings were not random but conceded more needed to be done to address the problem.
The gun bounty follows a recent amnesty encouraging people to hand in illegal guns.
Mr... (GunPolicy.org)
Honduras to Give Seized Guns to Security Forces
20 February 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Honduran officials have announced that confiscated firearms will be redistributed among the security forces, boosting ill-equipped agencies, and diverting the arms away from the black market.
Officials estimate the police currently have 4,000 weapons stored as evidence. Those that are legal in Honduras, for the most part handguns, will be distributed to police, military and Justice Department officials. The illegal guns, including AK-47s and carbines, will be... (GunPolicy.org)
US Proposes Compulsory Reporting of Stolen Guns, Lobby Objects
20 February 2013
Delaware Online
Gov. Jack Markell and Attorney General Beau Biden laid out details Wednesday of the first of several gun control proposals, and offered a concession on another with public opposition mounting.
Flanked by photos of assault-style rifles they're seeking to ban, Markell, Biden and Lt. Gov. Matt Denn gathered with law enforcement officials at Delaware State Police Troop 2 in Glasgow to promote a measure that would require mandatory reporting of lost and stolen... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Soldier with PTSD Steals Gun, Plans Suicide
18 February 2013
BBC News
A soldier who stole ammunition and a gun from his barracks has been told he may escape jail because he had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Harry Killick, 36, from Brighton, had returned to Britain from Afghanistan seven months before the thefts from a Territorial Army barracks in the city.
Lewes Crown Court judge Anthony Scott-Gall adjourned sentencing.
The court heard Killick was planning to kill himself when he stole the items.
He pleaded guilty last month... (GunPolicy.org)
How Strict Are South African Gun Laws?
15 February 2013
Time (USA)
The paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been charged with murder by a South African court following the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, from gunshot wounds at his home within a gated Pretoria housing estate. The woman sustained wounds to her head and the upper body, and was reported to have been shot four times. A 9mm pistol was recovered from the scene.
According to Gunpolicy.org, there are just under 6 million licensed firearms in South Africa, which has a... (GunPolicy.org)
Illicit Gun Trade in Mogadishu, Somalia: A Lucrative Business
12 February 2013
al Jazeera
MOGADISHU, Somalia - The car barely came to a stop when a hand softly knocked at the tinted passenger seat window. The window rolled down, revealing a tall, skinny figure wearing a half-buttoned, baggy polyester shirt, a red sarong, and pink sandals - and holding a rusty AK-47 in his left hand.
"Seven-hundred fifty dollars," he said in a firm voice, barely making eye contact, before dropping the fully loaded gun onto this reporter's lap. Another 10 men came rushing... (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)
UK Officials Say Most Gun Crime Traced to Under 1,000 Illegal Guns
2 February 2013
Washington Post
LONDON — When police on a weapons raid swarmed a housing project after London's 2011 riots, they seized a cache of arms that in the United States might be better suited to "Antiques Roadshow" than inner-city ganglands. Inside plastic bags hidden in a trash collection room, officers uncovered two archaic flintlock pistols, retrofitted flare guns and a Jesse James-style revolver.
These days, that kind of antiquated firepower is about the baddest a British gang member... (GunPolicy.org)
Criminal Groups May Be Targeting Australian Gun Dealers
1 February 2013
Geelong Advertiser
Armed Crime Taskforce detectives are appealing for help from anyone with information about an aggravated burglary at a licensed firearms dealer in Corio on New Year's Day.
Police said yesterday two armed men wearing balaclavas knocked on the door of the Matthews Rd property about 1.30am before forcing their way in and striking a 58-year-old man on the head.
The offenders dragged the man to a garage, from which they stole up to 20 firearms found in a safe.
The men... (GunPolicy.org)
Mali,Libya,United States,West Africa,Niger
Internationalist Blog: How Libyan Weapons Fueled Mali's Violence
29 January 2013
Council on Foreign Relations, Blog
The violence that has plagued once-stable Mali since late 2011 should have come as no surprise to Western governments, for it is a direct function of NATO's Libyan intervention. By adopting a "light footprint" approach in Libya, the alliance unwittingly contributed to a security vacuum that allowed countless weapons to stream out of Libya and fuel insurgency, extremism, and crime in neighboring countries. One of these countries was Mali, where the flood of weapons from... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Authorizes Guns For Madagascar Despite Diversion, Hunting Fears
27 January 2013
Mongabay / TanaNews (Madagascar)
Britain has authorized the export of thousands of guns to Madagascar, according to TanaNews.com, sparking concerns that the firearms could be used for hunting endangered lemurs.
Data from the UK government's Strategic Export Controls website shows that licenses for the export of 3,174 guns to Madagascar were granted between August 2011 and June 2012. Most of the weapons were for anti-piracy activities, but 190 sporting guns — guns specifically intended for hunting... (GunPolicy.org)
What America Doesn't Know About Gun Violence is Killing Them
26 January 2013
New York Times, Editorial
In one of the 23 executive actions on gun control signed this month, President Obama instructed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal science agencies to conduct research into the causes and prevention of gun violence. He called on Congress to aid that effort by providing $10 million for the C.D.C. in the next budget round and $20 million to expand the federal reporting system on violent deaths to all 50 states, from the current 18.
That Mr.... (GunPolicy.org)
PNG Government Buys 32 'High-Powered' Guns, for Guards
25 January 2013
Post-Courier (Port Moresby)
Papua New Guinea's acting Clerk of Parliament Simon Ila has purchased 32 high-powered guns and about 10,000 ammunition for Parliament security guards at a cost of K556,000.
This is on top of side-arms for some Ministers and Members of Parliament who also have armed personnel from the Special VIP protection Unit.
Among the purchase was a very high-powered weapon only issued to the military and for special forces – the HK MP7 A1 which cost K38,500 for one, with its 30... (GunPolicy.org)
'Alarmingly Easy Access' to Guns Online Fuelling Australian Crime
23 January 2013
ABC News (Australia), Video
A former senior federal police officer has warned more needs to be done to combat the online trade of firearms as authorities in Sydney deal with a spate of shootings and street violence.
In the past three months alone there have been 25 separate shooting incidents in Sydney - last night, two shootings were reported in the city's south-west.
The style and purpose of the shootings are not confined to traditional turf warfare over drugs or ongoing reprisals between... (GunPolicy.org)
Only 1% of Illegal Guns in Australia are Smuggled, says PM
19 January 2013
Sydney Morning Herald
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has hit back at claims by the Liberal Party that her government has failed at protecting Australia's borders from illegal gun imports, saying that only 1 per cent of those guns in Australia come from overseas.
Speaking to 2UE at its new studio in The Sydney Morning Herald office on Friday morning, Ms Gillard said that her government had 'more than doubled' the number of interceptions of illegal packages - that includes drugs and... (GunPolicy.org)
Colombia,Paraguay,Brazil,United States
What the US Can Learn From Brazil's Epidemic of Gun Violence
18 January 2013
Latitude News
A man walks into an elementary school with two handguns. Within minutes, more than thirty children are dead or wounded.
This isn't Newtown, Connecticut, but Realengo, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. On April 7th, 2011, Wellington Oliveira murdered twelve children and wounded twenty others. The tragedy sparked a national conversation on gun violence, a huge problem in Brazil.
On Wednesday, in reaction to a different massacre, President Obama proposed a series... (GunPolicy.org)
Interactive Display: US Gun Laws by State
16 January 2013
Guardian (UK)
President Obama has indicated a move towards strengthening federal gun control measures, but the reality is that the majority of gun legislation in the US is enacted at the state level. That has brought broad variations across the country, with states taking different approaches to issues ranging from sales, permits, licensing, self-defence and carry laws.
Carrying firearms: open and concealed
Open-carry and concealed-carry laws determine how public citizens can carry... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Allows Police High Calibre Guns, NGOs Worried About Corruption
16 January 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The Brazilian military will now allow police and firefighters to buy powerful .45 caliber guns for personal use, raising fears over how the weapons will be used and where they might end up.
Prior to the ruling, only federal police were permitted to buy .45 caliber weapons, while other police agencies carried less lethal .40 or .38 weapons. The new regulations open the way for civil, military, and transport police to purchase .45 handguns.
The military command, which... (GunPolicy.org)
Ecuador Claims FARC Buying Arms During Peace Talks
16 January 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota) / EFE News Agency
The FARC rebel group has been increasing its arms purchases since the beginning of peace talks with the Colombian government, according to an Ecuadorian general.
Army General Fernando Proaño Daza, who commands troops on his country's border with Colombia, told EFE that arms trafficking had increased since the beginning of the peace process, which formally began in October. According to Proaño, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is "taking advantage of... (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)
Czech Republic,Hungary,Côte d'Ivoire,Iran,Guinea,Niger,Russia,South Sudan,China,Uganda,Afghanistan,Nigeria,Kenya,Iraq,Congo (DRC)
Trail of Bullet Casings Leads From Africa's Wars Back to Iran
11 January 2013
New York Times
The first clues appeared in Kenya, Uganda and what is now South Sudan. A British arms researcher surveying ammunition used by government forces and civilian militias in 2006 found Kalashnikov rifle cartridges he had not seen before. The ammunition bore no factory code, suggesting that its manufacturer hoped to avoid detection.
Within two years other researchers were finding identical cartridges circulating through the ethnic violence in Darfur. Similar ammunition then... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Russia,China,Mexico
Mexico's Gun Problems Go Beyond Drug Wars
11 January 2013
Inter Press Service News Agency
MEXICO CITY - A lot of attention goes to the U.S.-made weapons in the hands of criminal groups in this Latin American country. But there is little talk of another problem: the large number of light weapons in the hands of civilians.
The Mexican Constitution establishes the people's right to "own guns in their homes for their safety and self-defence", with the exception of high caliber weapons, while the 1972 Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives stipulates the... (GunPolicy.org)
England & Wales,Djibouti,Sri Lanka,Yemen,Somalia,European Union
British Authorities Question Legality, Security of 'Floating' Gun Armouries
10 January 2013
Guardian (UK)
Private security companies guarding ships against Somali pirates are increasingly storing their weapons on so-called "floating armouries" in international waters, to avoid arms smuggling laws when they dock in ports.
About 20 ships stocked with assault rifles and other small arms as well as ammunition, body armour and night vision goggles are scattered around the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, the EU naval force has confirmed.
The legal status of... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda,Ethiopia,Kenya,South Sudan,Somalia,East Africa,Tanzania
Special Investigation: How Smugglers are Flooding Kenya with Guns
8 January 2013
Star (Kenya), Series
There are estimated 530,000-680,000 firearms in the wrong hands in Kenya. The number of illegal arms has grown over the years and is said to fuel the conflicts witnessed within Kenya and the region.
In an investigation that took close to a year, our correspondent Kassim Mohamed tracked down some of the people who smuggle small arms and light weapons into Kenya and unveils a dangerous trend that can affect the current peace if nothing is done by not just the Kenyan... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,United States,Americas,Oceania,Europe,Asia
US Gun Lobby Accused of Lying to Public About UN Arms Trade Treaty
28 December 2012
Reuters
The leading U.S. pro-gun group, the National Rifle Association, has vowed to fight a draft international treaty to regulate the $70 billion global arms trade and dismissed suggestions that a recent U.S. school shooting bolstered the case for such a pact.
The U.N. General Assembly voted on Monday to restart negotiations in mid-March on the first international treaty to regulate conventional arms trade after a drafting conference in July collapsed because the U.S. and... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Growing Gun Culture, 40 Million Firearms 'A Concern'
20 December 2012
Gulf News (Dubai)
At about noon on November 17, Ponty Chadha, 55, a shady liquor baron, was gunned down outside his family farmhouse near New Delhi — by his brother, Hardeep Chadha, who was in turn was killed by the billionaire's guards. The feud centred on a property dispute. Things came to a head after Ponty asked his guards to deface the farmhouse board carrying Hardeep's name. When the younger brother got wind of this, he rushed to the spot and opened fire. Fifteen slugs were... (GunPolicy.org)
Tanzania Succeeds in Impounding 304 Illegally Owned Firearms
20 December 2012
Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
Armed robbers have once again emerged from their lair in the criminal underworld after a brief lull. Three robbers shot the cashier of Artan Company of Dar es Salaam as he was about to take 150m/- to a bank. The victim died in hospital later.
One of the robbers shot and killed an incensed bystander in the presence of police officers who was about to hit him with a stone. The police say all three robbers have been apprehended but confess to have failed to recover the... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines: The 10th in Gun Homicide Rates Worldwide
19 December 2012
Sun Star (Philippines), Opinion
What has the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown Connecticut got to teach us about safety and protection of Filipinos?
Plenty, I daresay. Not that most Filipinos know any of the victims from Adam and Eve. Still, the massacre has touched the hearts of many Filipinos. Many of us see our kids among the victims, the wife or sister of the teachers killed.
We remember our horrendous massacres, notably the Maguindanao Massacre.
But then, Maguindanao and Newton... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada Is Alone Internationally in Rolling Back Gun Laws
17 December 2012
Now Toronto, Opinion
I'm not going to ask if what happened in Newtown, Connecticut can happen here because now's a time for reflection, not panic and cheap one-liners.
Our gun laws are a good deal stricter than those in the United States. The days when you could purchase a rifle at the counter of the Canadian Tire with little more than a driver's license are over, thanks to Marc Lepine's 1989 outrage.
But when it comes to gun control, we've been headed in the wrong direction for the... (GunPolicy.org)
The Role of Guns in South Sudan Violence
16 December 2012
Sudan Tribune (France)
Last week, in commemoration of Human Rights Day, I was interviewed by Radio France International (RFI) http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/#http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20121211-protestors-killed-south-sudan so as to highlight the issues of human rights abuses in South Sudan. The interview was as timely as it was necessary. The increase of violent killings in Juba and around South Sudan is acknowledged by the country's Minister of Interior Alison Manani Magaya,... (GunPolicy.org)
Separatists Attempt to Steal Guns from Police Before Kenya Election
10 December 2012
Reuters
Sixty men armed with machetes, clubs and bows and arrows tried and failed to steal guns from a police station in Mombasa, in the biggest attack planned by separatists seeking independence for Kenya's Indian Ocean coastal strip, police said on Monday.
Police intercepted the men on their way to the station. They said they belonged to the secessionist Mombasa Republic Council (MRC), an accusation rejected by its leaders, and that three separatists were later killed in a... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Authorities Suspect Navy Arms Thief had Inside Knowledge
30 November 2012
Age (Melbourne)
An armed intruder who breached national security, assaulted a sailor and stole weapons from a Darwin naval base appears to have an intimate knowledge of defence procedures, police say.
Fourteen weapons were stolen early on Friday morning when the assailant, wearing a balaclava and military clothing, boarded the Armidale-class patrol boat Bathurst, which was moored at HMAS Coonawarra near the city centre.
They overpowered a duty sailor before tying him up with cable... (GunPolicy.org)
Military Weapons Cache Stolen from Australian Navy Vessel
30 November 2012
Radio Netherlands
An intruder robbed an Australian navy vessel of a cache of weapons after overpowering military personnel on guard, the defence department said, in an unprecedented security breach.
The Australian Department of Defence said the infiltrator "overwhelmed a duty member onboard a patrol boat" which was moored at HMAS Coonawarra, a naval base in the northern city of Darwin.
"The intruder overpowered the duty member, accessed the vessel's armoury and removed a number of... (GunPolicy.org)
China,United States,Zimbabwe,Sudan,Côte d'Ivoire,South Africa,Somalia
China 'Aggressively' Supplying Africa With Guns, Military Equipment
28 November 2012
Global Post (Boston)
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — China's aggressive new strategy to sell weapons in Africa was on clear display at a recent defense exposition here.
The pavilion for Chinese manufacturers was among the three largest at the Africa Aerospace and Defense exhibition in September, surpassed only by host South Africa and the United States, the world's largest weapons maker by far.
Many of the made-in-China weapons touted by firms such as Norinco and Poly Technologies were... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Police Arrested for Involvement in 'Monumental' Arms Bust
28 November 2012
Herald (Port Elizabeth)
Police officers who allegedly sold weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition to criminals were arrested in a high-risk operation in Pretoria yesterday. …
The operation stretched from a busy Pretoria shopping centre to a small police station north of the city yesterday.
One of the three people arrested was the commissioner of the Rust de Winter police station, Captain Petrus Badenhorst.
Investigators of the Hawks' crimes against the state unit, explosives... (GunPolicy.org)
Nearly 300 Crime Guns Stolen from Evidence Lock Up in Brazil
26 November 2012
Fox News Latino (USA) / EFE News Agency
A group of armed men overpowered the lone security guard at a judicial system arms depot in Colombo, a city in southern Brazil, over the weekend and stole 291 firearms that were going to be introduced as evidence at different trials, police said.
The firearms, mostly revolvers and pistols, had been seized by police in various operations and were being held at the depot so they could be used as evidence in different cases.
The robbery occurred around 12:30 a.m. Sunday... (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)
Australian Govt Changes Gun Laws to Address Trafficking, Illegal Weapons
23 November 2012
Australian (Sydney)
The federal government is pressing ahead with plans to create new aggravated offences for trafficking firearms or gun parts across state and national borders.
Justice Minister Jason Clare on Friday announced he would introduce the legislation into federal parliament next week - the last sitting days of the year.
"These new offences will carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment," Mr Clare said in a statement.
"This will make the maximum penalty for trafficking in... (GunPolicy.org)
European Union Assesses Arms Trafficking Progress
19 November 2012
Europa (European Union), Speech
I am delighted to welcome you all to our conference on the fight against illicit trafficking in firearms, in the EU and beyond.
We have in the room today some of the leading experts on the topic – from law enforcement, industry, policy makers, and from civil society.
For you, it will not come as a surprise that the Commission puts focus on this issue by organising this conference. Still, it is worth recalling that despite repeated political declarations, at... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Thailand,Austria,Czech Republic
Thai Authorities Concerned Over Easy Access to Guns
18 November 2012
Bangkok Post
In recent years Thailand has been flooded with illegal firearms and the misery they cause is plain for all to see. Every day there are media reports of shootouts and homicides that begin with domestic quarrels, school rivalries and traffic accidents, and quickly escalate. Law enforcement officials say the root cause is the easy availability of guns, and this is true for teenagers as well as adults. People prefer to buy weapons outside of legal channels because they are... (GunPolicy.org)
Three Mozambique Soldiers Arrested for Gun Thefts, Selling to Criminals
14 November 2012
Agência de Informação de Moçambique (Mozambique)
MAPUTO — Three members of the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM) have been arrested for stealing and selling firearms.
According to Orlando Mudumane, spokesperson for the Maputo City Police Command, cited in Wednesday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias", the men, named as 29 year old A.
Francisco, M. Kuamende (42) and I Naveta (29), are stationed at different FADM units in Maputo City and Province. Also arrested was 28 year old F, Joao, who purchased one of the stolen... (GunPolicy.org)
Uruguay Police Suspected of Stealing Guns, Trafficking to Brazil Gangs
14 November 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Uruguay is investigating 20 police officers for the disappearance of some 200 firearms over the past two years, as evidence suggests the officers may have been involved in an arms trafficking ring that sold weapons to Brazilian criminal organizations.
The officers, including a former police chief, are suspected of involvement in the disappearance of more than 200 firearms from police headquarters in Treinta y Tres, an eastern province that shares a maritime border with... (GunPolicy.org)
Lack of Gun Registration Puts Police at Risk in New Zealand
12 November 2012
Herald (New Zealand), Editorial
Police can only guess the number of firearms - legal and illegal - in the country.
This country has been spared a criminal fraternity that wields firearms as a matter of course. Indeed, according to police statistics, guns are involved in just 1 per cent of violent crime. Yet any comfort to be derived from this statistic must be tempered by data released recently to the Herald under the Official Information Act. This showed 325 illegal firearms were seized in police... (GunPolicy.org)
27 Prisoners Killed, 42 People Wounded in Sri Lankan Prison Shooting
10 November 2012
Associated Press / Yahoo! News (America)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A shootout between rioting prisoners and security forces at a prison in Sri Lanka's capital killed at least 27 inmates, while police said Saturday that they arrested five prisoners who had managed to escape and were searching for others.
Another 42 people were wounded in the clashes Friday between inmates and army and police commandos that broke out after the rioting prisoners broke into the armory and briefly took control of at least part of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 200,000 Guns Stolen in America Each Year
8 November 2012
Wall Street Journal, Blog
The Bureau of Justice Statistics has a new report on the theft of firearms during burglaries and other property crimes from 2005 through 2010.
The highlights:
About 1.4 million guns, or an annual average of 232,400, were stolen during burglaries and other property crimes in the six-year period from 2005 through 2010.
On average, firearms were stolen in an annual average of about 4% of the 2.4 million burglaries occurring each year, in 2% of the 529,200 robberies, and... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Gun Seizures Rising in NZ But Police Lack Data on Owners, Thefts
6 November 2012
New Zealand Herald
Hundreds of illegal firearms are being seized each year in police raids - but there is no record of how many guns are stolen to fuel the black market.
New figures show 325 firearms were seized in the financial year to June, the lowest number in the past five years and down from a peak of 1146 the previous year.
Most of the illegal firearms are stolen in residential burglaries or from collectors by organised criminal groups, police documents released under the Official... (GunPolicy.org)
Weapons Seizures Rise as UK Police Crackdown on Gangs, Gun Suppliers
31 October 2012
Scotsman (Edinburgh) / Edinburgh Evening News (Scotland)
Silenced pistols, rifles and sub-machine gun rounds are among the firearms seized in the past year by the elite unit set up to take down organised crime in the Lothians.
Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit also
recovered seven shotguns, two revolvers and two stun guns during raids on gang members and properties.
Hollow point bullets – dubbed "dum dums" – were also recovered.
The shells shatter on impact, where conventional bullets flatten, and... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Scotsman (Edinburgh) / Edinburgh Evening News (Scotland)
Mexico Police Allege Gang Weapons Stolen from Central America Armies
23 October 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Mexico's northern Coahuila state has seen a series of heavy arms seizures in recent weeks, evidence that Mexico's police are often outgunned in their fight against the country's cartels.
On October 20, agents from the Special Tactics and Weapons Unit (GATE) seized three Soviet-style hand-held rockets and a launcher, among other weapons, reported El Universal. The seizure took place in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, during a search operation for some of the 131 inmates who... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Authorities Offer Gun Amnesty After Deadly Clashes
23 October 2012
Star (Kenya)
The Government has issued amnesty to all those who would surrender firearms voluntarily in the Tanadelta district which experienced deadly clashes in the past two months.
Authorities said all those who would surrender firearms voluntarily shall not be prosecuted and instead will be given certificates of commendation for returning the illegal firearms.
However those who will defy the orders shall be liable for prosecution and face the full force of the law as more than... (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)
Honduras,Colombia,Mexico,Guatemala
Honduras to Review Gun Laws in Effort to Lower Crime, Death Rates
18 October 2012
Christian Science Monitor / InSight Crime
The Honduran government is reportedly set to conduct a review of its gun laws in an apparent effort to combat rising violence levels, though equal emphasis will need to be made on addressing endemic corruption and weak institutions to solidify any gains.
Matias Funes, a representative from the independent Commission on Public Security Reform (CRSP), said on Oct. 16 that Honduras' gun laws are in need of urgent revision if efforts are to be made to combat the country's... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Expert Says Legal Loophole Allowed Guns onto Black Market
15 October 2012
Australian (Sydney) / Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
A legal loophole in Queensland has allowed thousands of handguns to flood the black market, according to a leading criminologist.
Australian Institute of Criminology researcher Dr Samantha Bricknell also says theft, corrupt gun dealers, a grey market of missing weapons and the lack of a national firearms database have contributed to an estimated 260,000 guns circulating illegally in Australia.
In a report released earlier this year, Dr Bricknell said a loophole in... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearms Stolen from Canada Gun Range, Despite Secure Storage
11 October 2012
Calgary Sun (Alberta)
Police are on the hunt for at least 30 firearms stolen from a Calgary shooting range, now presumably in the hands of criminals who are in the crosshairs of investigators.
And they are appealing to the public for help finding culprits or weapons swiped during the break-in at the Calgary Shooting Centre, in the 7100 block of Fisher Rd. S.E., about 4 a.m. Thursday.
Insp. Patty McCallum said suspects "smashed several display cases and removed a number of firearms."
They... (GunPolicy.org)
Russia Calls for Ban on Gun Sales to NGO End-Users, Prevents Diversion
8 October 2012
Russia Beyond the Headlines / Interfax
Russia has called on the world to agree on selling small arms and light weapons only to authorized dealers of importer countries, Russian Foreign Ministry security and disarmament department head Alexander Deineko said in an interview with Interfax.
Russia has suggested a set of measures, which would tighten control over the distribution of small arms and light weapons, primarily in the areas where the risk of an arms leak to the black market is high, he said.
"For... (GunPolicy.org)
Online Report Claims Over 900,000 Guns Lost by Govt in Colombia
3 October 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The Colombian government has lost track of some 900,000 weapons owned by civilians, according to an online report, many of which might have ended up in the illegal arms trade.
Website Kien y Ke reported that neither Colombia's Office of Commercial Arms Control or Indumil, the two government agencies that control the sale of arms, were able to account for 900,000 arms of the 1.2 million are legally held by civilians.
The weapons' owners never renewed their licenses,... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Criminals get Guns From Local Factories, Police Want Law Change
26 September 2012
Daily Mail (UK)
Criminals in Delhi are arming themselves with sophisticated weapons that are readily available from local arms factories, making them more dangerous than ever before.
According to Delhi Police sources, some of these weapons can use ammunition meant for imported arms, which are available on the black market and have added to their firepower.
Delhi Police has prepared an eye-opening report on the 'easy availability of high-quality firearms' in the Capital and the... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Admits Police Lost Over 13,000 Handguns, Rifles Since 2007
26 September 2012
Democratic Alliance (Cape Town), Media release
In a reply to a DA parliamentary question received yesterday, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa admitted that 1 202 firearms have been be added to the 11 935 firearms lost by the South African Police Service (SAPS) since 2007, bringing the total to 13 137.
The reply revealed that a total of 1 202 firearms have been lost or stolen in the last 18 months. Of the total, 1 090 of these were handguns and 59 were rifles. However, only 170 of the weapons have been... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Handgun Traced to Indonesia Terror Raid
25 September 2012
Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - The Intelligence Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already identified the police officer whose government-issued handgun was recovered from terrorists in Indonesia, an official said yesterday.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said intelligence agents have "identified the unit and the policeman holder of the 9mm. Our agents are checking on the circumstances."
He said they are investigating how the gun ended up... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Criminals Prefer 'Brand' Guns, Extortion Rates Rise to Fund Them
24 September 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
GUWAHATI - If the brand craze rules the average Indian, can the insurgent be far behind?
The old guard might have settled for cheap Chinese copies of Kalashnikovs, but the new age rebel prefers to flaunt Glocks, Berettas and Heckler and Kochs. And to fund the jazzy arsenal, the extortion rate has gone up by nearly 30%.
Officials engaged in counterinsurgency say in Meghalaya, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) is replacing its Kalashnikovs with the Germanmade... (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)
New Zealand Police Admit Losing Three Handguns, Taser
15 September 2012
TVNZ (New Zealand)
Three police-issued Glock pistols, gun parts and a Taser have been lost or stolen - and police have no idea where any of them might be.
They have also damaged a further 33 weapons in the past five years, including two rifles that were run over, information obtained by The Dominion Post has revealed.
Superintendent Barry Taylor said that, though any weapon going missing was "not acceptable", the number lost was small.
Two of the Glocks "went missing while in transit... (GunPolicy.org)
51 Guns Lost or Stolen from South Africa's Defence Force in Last 3 Years
5 September 2012
Defence Web (South Africa)
The South African National Defence Force has lost or had stolen 51 firearms since 2009, including 38 assault rifles, according to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
Defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula stated that 51 firearms, including a machine gun and a grenade launcher, have been lost by or stolen from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) since 2009. This emerged in response to a parliamentary question posed by Pieter Groenewald of the... (GunPolicy.org)
