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Year's Jail, Life Ban for Vet Caught Smuggling Gun Parts US-Canada
29 March 2012
880 CKLQ AM (Manitoba)
A 47 year old former member of the military has been sentenced to one year in jail for smuggling a submachine gun part into Canada from the United States.
He did so by hiding it in a bag of empty beer cans when crossing the border on November 5th, 2011.
Cameron Eugene Bell says he was going to just display the parts of the gun as art.
Along with one year in jail he was sentenced to a 15 year firearms ban and lifetime restricted weapons... (GunPolicy.org)
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)
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)
Las Vegas Tourist Machine Gun Range Features Gun-toting Hostesses
5 March 2012
New York Times
LAS VEGAS — For Vegas die-hards bored with the $750 tasting menu at Guy Savoy, the $250 Elton John tickets at Caesars or the $200,000 baccarat bet at the Bellagio, this city is serving up a new way to find high-priced thrills.
Machine Guns Vegas — an upscale indoor shooting range complete with skimpily dressed gun-toting hostesses — opened last week a half-mile from the Strip with an armory of weapons and a promise to fulfill the desires of anyone wanting to... (GunPolicy.org)
Major Seizures of Guns Mainly Firearm Dealer Imports - Australia Customs
14 September 2011
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
December 23, 2008
Sydney
Huge haul of weapons including:
Assault rifles: Steyr F88, Norinco SKS, Marlin 60 and ADI SLR L1A1
Handguns: Beretta 92FS and Remington 870 Wingmaster
Shot guns: Mossberg 500A
Teargas
16cm rifle silencer
Pistol scope
Megatron Transformer
December 8, 2009
Sydney
980 rounds of FMJ green tip M855 Penetrator armour piercing bullets
July 25, 2006
Brisbane
Steyer tactical scout elite .308 calibre rifle, with telescopic sight
May 30,... (GunPolicy.org)
3 Men Charged with Production and Selling of Imitation Guns in China
15 August 2011
China Daily
XIAMEN, Fujian - Three men in East China's Fujian province have been charged with producing and selling imitation guns following a raid on a toy gun factory in Jinjiang city in July.
You Zhixian, a publicity officer with Jinjiang public security bureau, said the three suspects surnamed Huang, Ge and Chen had been arrested on suspicion of producing and selling imitation guns that could cause injury.
"More than 10,000 imitation firearms were discovered in the factory,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Citing God's Word, Indiana Gun Shop Owner Sold Submachine Gun to Felon
20 July 2011
Indiana Daily Student
An Ellettsville gun shop owner was arrested for several serious weapons violations July 19, after a seven-month-long investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff's office.
Law enforcement received a tip in January that Donald Mullendore, 61 of Ellettsville, might be selling firearms in violation of federal law.
A criminal investigation then followed, according to a press release from the office of the U.S. District Attorney for Southern Indiana, Joesph Hogsett.
An... (GunPolicy.org)
Uzi Submachine Gun, Pistol, Rifles Seized Near School in Jamaica
20 June 2011
Jamaica Gleaner
The St Catherine South police yesterday seized four illegal guns within an eight-hour period and charged one man with breaches of the Firearms Act.
The guns were seized in Waterford and Old Harbour, respectively.
About 9:45 a.m., a team, led by Senior Superintendent Colin Pinnock, went along Caymanas Drive in Waterford, St Catherine.
Following the searches of a number of premises, the team inspected bushes near the Waterford Primary School.
This resulted in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gang Gun Used to Shoot Innocent UK Girl Had Been in 6 Other Shootings
12 April 2011
BBC News
Two men have been been jailed for life for shooting dead a 16-year-old as she waited for pizza in an east London takeaway. What the jury did not know was the gun that killed her had been used in six other shootings.
On a Wednesday evening in April last year, Agnes Sina-Inakoju met two friends at a chicken and pizza shop in Hoxton, east London.
Agnes, who was described by her family as "charismatic, ambitious, loving and caring", had been doing well at school and had... (GunPolicy.org)
Deadly Arsenal of Self Confessed British 'Gun Fanatic' Jailed for 16 Years
8 April 2011
Daily Mail (UK)
It is a fearsome array of weapons including a Kalashnikov, Uzi sub-machine gun, shotguns and pistols.
But this astonishing arsenal was not seized from a gang of organised criminals, but the private collection of a fruit and veg trader.
David Evans had claimed he only bought replica weapons to use for 'war games' in his loft, where he kitted out mannequins with imitation guns to recreate scenes from war movies such as Saving Private Ryan.
But yesterday the... (GunPolicy.org)
Policeman in Divorce Row Fires Submachine Gun at US SWAT Team, Dies
28 March 2011
Star-Ledger (New Jersey)
PISCATAWAY — A Piscataway police sergeant died from a gunshot wound after he barricaded himself in his home, told police he had hostages, then stepped on his front porch and fired a submachine gun at officers who returned fire, authorities said.
David Powell, 46, of 130 Parkside Ave., was pronounced dead in his home at 1:41 a.m. today, about 10 hours after the incident began, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said in a statement this afternoon.
Ballistic... (GunPolicy.org)
Major American Cities Police Chiefs Name New Head to Steer Gun Control
6 March 2011
Star-Ledger (New Jersey)
NEWARK — Standing at the intersection of Court and Broome streets in Newark last year, city Police Director Garry McCarthy surveyed a crime scene that looked like a war zone.
He was staring at a sport-utility vehicle riddled with bullets, its front end looking like "swiss cheese." At McCarthy's feet lay more than 40 shell casings, most of them spat from the barrell of an assault rifle.
Less than two miles away, a similar scene unfolded in Newark's South Ward. Five... (GunPolicy.org)
Ex-police Chief Acquitted in Machine Gun Shooting Death of 8yr-old Boy
15 January 2011
Boston Globe
The emotionally racked trial of a former Pelham police chief charged in connection with the accidental shooting death of an 8-year-old boy at a gun fair came to an end yesterday with a jury acquitting Edward Fleury, who cried at the verdict.
Fleury, 53, was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and multiple counts of furnishing a machine gun to a minor. Christopher Bizilj of Ashford, Conn., lost control of an Uzi submachine gun and shot himself in the head in... (GunPolicy.org)
US Police Chief Cleared in Fun Shoot Machine Gun Death of 8yr-old Boy
14 January 2011
BBC News
A Massachusetts jury has acquitted a man who organised a gun fair where a boy accidentally shot himself dead with an Uzi sub-machine gun.
Prosecutors said Edward Fleury, a former police chief, should have foreseen the risk in providing Christopher Bizilj, 8, with the gun.
He was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter after showing the boy's father allowed him to fire the weapon.
The boy lost control of the weapon, which flipped and shot him in the head.
Mr... (GunPolicy.org)
Ex-police Chief Found Not Guilty in Machine Gun Death of 8yr-old US Boy
14 January 2011
Reuters
Jurors reached an acquittal verdict on Friday in the trial of a former police chief in the accidental fatal shooting of an 8-year-old boy at an October 2008 event at Westfield Sportsman's Club.
The shooting event had been organized and sponsored by former Pelham police chief Edward D. Fleury, who had been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
The child, Christopher Bizilj, was killed instantly by a shot to his head while firing a 9mm micro Uzi submachine gun. The... (GunPolicy.org)
Arizona Rampage Handgun's Reputation Built on Style, Ease of Use
12 January 2011
Wall Street Journal
Police and gun dealers say Glock semiautomatic pistols, including the lightweight model allegedly used in the Tucson rampage last weekend, are among the most popular firearms in the U.S. because they are easy to use, reliable and accurate.
"The Glock is a very popular weapon, generally not only with the law enforcement but with civilians," said James Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents about 330,000 street-level officers. "It's... (GunPolicy.org)
Teen Gun Supervisor Says He Warned Dad About Uzi Which Killed 8yr-old
7 January 2011
Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts — A teenager who supervised an 8-year-old who shot himself with an Uzi submachine gun at a 2008 gun fair testified Friday that he told the boy's father that "it wasn't a good idea" to let the child fire it.
Michael Spano was a witness in the trial of Edward Fleury, whose company co-sponsored the exhibition at the Westfield Sportsman's Club. Fleury has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other charges in the death of... (GunPolicy.org)
Father Testifies in US Submachine Gun Shooting That Killed His 8-year-old
6 January 2011
Boston Globe
A chilling video shown in Hampden Superior Court today captured the moment an 8-year-old boy from Connecticut fatally shot himself with an Uzi submachine gun at a 2008 gun show in western Massachusetts.
The video, which showed the boy squeezing the trigger and the automatic weapon suddenly tilting upward and then backward in his small hands before he apparently shot himself, elicited shrieks from shocked spectators in the courtroom and the jury box.
Christopher... (GunPolicy.org)
Court: 'Reckless Behavior' Led to 8yr-old Boy's Uzi Death at US Fun Shoot
4 January 2011
Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - "Reckless and illegal actions" by a former police chief led to the accidental death of a boy who shot himself in the face with an Uzi submachine gun at a gun show, a prosecutor said Tuesday.
But others, including the boy's father, made the fatal decisions, a defense attorney said.
Former Pelham Police Chief Edward Fleury, whose company co-sponsored the event, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and furnishing a weapon to a... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Collector Fires Machine Guns on Backyard Range, Irks Neighbours
27 December 2010
Charlotte Observer (North Carolina)
WESLEY CHAPEL -- Weekend mornings, John Famolari's two young children love to play baseball and soccer in their spacious backyard - at least until their neighbor across the creek breaks out his machine guns.
In a wooded lot about 500 feet away, Dr. Michael Land regularly uses a Thompson submachine gun and other automatic weapons for target practice. The racket often makes it hard for Famolari and his wife to talk - and even harder for them to entertain guests at their... (GunPolicy.org)
Massachusetts Gun Buyback Nets Nearly 200 Firearms for Destruction
19 December 2010
Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts) / AP
WORCESTER — Officials say almost 200 firearms were collected during Worcester's annual "Goods for Guns" program, including a 9mm submachine gun and an AK-47.
Organizers say 69 handguns were turned in during the recent two-day event, along with 65 semi-automatic weapons and 59 rifles.
People receive Walmart gift certificates in return.
The program's intent is to keep guns from falling into the wrong hands and being used in violent acts. Donated guns usually are... (GunPolicy.org)
Jury Can See, Not Hear, 8yr-old Boy's Uzi Death at US Gun Fun Fair
17 December 2010
Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - A judge ruled Friday that jurors in the manslaughter trial of a former western Massachusetts police chief won't hear audio from the most graphic part of a video that shows an 8-year-old boy accidentally shooting himself to death with an Uzi submachine gun.
Hampden Superior Court Judge Peter Velis' ruling came as jury selection resumed in the case of former Pelham Police Chief Edward Fleury, whose company co-sponsored a 2008 gun fair where... (GunPolicy.org)
Death of 8yr-old Becomes Symbol of Lost Struggle for US Gun Control
12 December 2010
Herald (Scotland)
Gun control campaigners in the USA are waving the white flag after a year of crushing setbacks.
Shocking mass murders and shooting accidents that would scandalise any other developed nation barely register in the public consciousness. As the death toll rises, the National Rifle Association's (NRA) string of legislative and legal victories continues.
Against this backdrop comes the latest gun-related horror story: a former police chief in Massachusetts is on trial for... (GunPolicy.org)
Ex Police Chief's Sudden Illness Delays Trial in Uzi Death of 8yr-old US Boy
8 December 2010
Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The manslaughter trial of a former Massachusetts police chief charged in the death of an 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself with an Uzi submachine gun at a fair has been postponed indefinitely after the defendant fell ill.
Edward Fleury's lawyer, Rosemary Curran Scapiccio, said Wednesday that he is hospitalized with an illness she did not have permission to publicly disclose.
The Republican of Springfield reports that Scapiccio... (GunPolicy.org)
Judge Will Let Jurors See Video of 8yr-old Being Killed by Uzi at Gun Show
8 December 2010
New York Times
BOSTON — A judge ruled Tuesday that jurors can be shown video of an 8-year-old boy accidentally shooting himself in the head with a submachine gun at a gun show, setting up an unusually grisly courtroom scene in the manslaughter trial of a former police chief who organized the event.
Judge Peter A. Velis of Hampden Superior Court in Springfield, Mass., is still deciding whether audio from after the shooting — in which the boy can be heard screaming and his father... (GunPolicy.org)
Trial Begins in Case of 8yr-old Killed Firing Uzi at Massachusetts Gun Show
5 December 2010
Associated Press
BOSTON - Eight-year-old Christopher Bizilj — 4-foot-3 and 66 pounds — stepped up to the firing range to shoot an Uzi as his father and 11-year-old brother watched from a few feet away.
As Christopher fired the 9mm micro submachine gun at a pumpkin, the weapon flipped backward and shot him in the head. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Prosecutors brought manslaughter charges against the gun club where the machine gun shoot took place, two men who supplied... (GunPolicy.org)
Bid to Block Father's Video of Boy Being Killed with Uzi at US Gun Fun Fair
3 December 2010
Associated Press
As a former Massachusetts police chief heads to trial on manslaughter charges in the accidental shooting death of an eight-year-old boy at a gun fair, prosecutors and defence lawyers are wrangling over a horrific piece of evidence: a videotape of the shooting taken by the boy's father.
Former Pelham police Chief Edward Fleury is scheduled to go on trial next week in the 2008 death of Christopher Bizilj, who was killed when he lost control of an Uzi at a gun fair and... (GunPolicy.org)
'The Gun': How Automatic Weapons, AK-47 Changed the Way we Kill
26 October 2010
Salon (USA), Book review
Few common objects are as shrouded in mystery as the gun.
I don't mean to suggest large numbers of people are unfamiliar with guns, because in this country, that's not the case. The long tradition of routine, practical gun ownership in the United States continues to this day, in rural areas especially. According to a regular Gallup poll question, somewhere between 38 percent and 42 percent of U.S. households contain at least one firearm. I visited many a firing range... (GunPolicy.org)
Everyman's Gun: Sheer Numbers Make AK-47 the World's Main Killing Tool
16 October 2010
Wall Street Journal, Book review
The AK-47 is the most numerous and widely distributed weapon in history, with a name and appearance that are instantly recognized worldwide. Designed in the late 1940s for the Soviet Army, the Avtomat Kalashnikova 47 ("Automatic of Kalashnikov 1947") became the universal weapon by the late 20th century, used by armies, militias and terrorists in practically every armed conflict, and by all sides in most of them. Even the United States has purchased mass quantities of... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Canadian 'Gun Lover' Pleads Guilty to Making Machine Guns
3 September 2010
Telegram (Newfoundland)
With homemade, automatic weapons in front of him, Const. Chris Young doesn't understate the potential danger.
"These things can be devastating in the wrong hands," the RCMP officer says.
The firearms on the table include a .22-calibre rifle and an AK-M (AK-47) rifle that were turned into automatic weapons.
Also laid out are a 1911-style pistol and a German submachine-gun. Both were handcrafted.
All four weapons are the handiwork of Jason Patrick Loder, who even... (GunPolicy.org)
Manila Mass Shooting, 9 Dead in Tourist Bus: 10 Things Police Got Wrong
24 August 2010
BBC News
A security analyst who has worked in counter-terrorism with the British Army and Scotland Yard, Charles Shoebridge, says the officers involved in Manila's bus siege showed great courage - but they were not properly trained or equipped for the task.
Here are 10 areas where, in his view, they could have done better.
1. Determination
The first officers who tried to storm the bus were driven out by gunshots from the hostage taker, former policeman Rolando Mendoza. "They... (GunPolicy.org)
Pacifist Politician Accused of Illegally Selling Machine Guns in Germany
14 August 2010
Local (Berlin)
Germany's socialist party The Left, has been hit by an embarrassing scandal, with a mid-ranking functionary charged with illegal trade in military weapons.
Manfred Hämmerle, chairman of the party in Hückelhoven near the Dutch border, has been accused of illegally selling a submachine gun, and possibly a Kalashnikov AK47 as well as an Uzi machine gun.
Der Spiegel magazine, which reported the story on Saturday, said he could face at least a year in prison if convicted... (GunPolicy.org)
Gang's 'Communal' Submachine Gun Seized from Ontario Apartment
9 August 2010
Toronto Sun (Ontario)
A machine gun that was reportedly being passed between Hamilton gangsters was found by police during a raid of a local apartment, police said Monday.
Officers in the Gangs and Weapons Enforcement Unit (GWEU) had been getting information since November 2009 about a MAC-10 submachine gun "that was being passed around between numerous Hamilton gang members and associates," a Hamilton Police press release said.
The information culminated Friday when cops received further... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Seize Loaded Submachine Gun from Gang-linked Ontario Home
9 August 2010
Hamilton Spectator (Ontario)
Hamilton police have seized a nasty, fully-loaded 9 mm submachine gun from a Park Street South apartment.
The gangs and weapons enforcement unit seized the weapon Friday night after receiving information about a rapid fire weapon they've been hearing about on the street since November last year.
George Andrew Nossey, 46, of Hamilton, faces numerous weapons charges.
Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings said word on the street was that someone had "a Mac 10" and it was being... (GunPolicy.org)
Trinidad Police Submachine Gun 'Lost' by Elite-unit Officer, Found Buried
27 July 2010
Trinidad and Tobago Express
A police officer attached to the Witness Protection Programme lost a sub-machine gun in a weekend incident that investigators were still trying to unravel yesterday.
The gun and ammunition were found buried in Barrackpore yesterday and six people were arrested.
The police corporal had, at first, said he was robbed of the weapon in San Fernando, just before midnight last Saturday.
He later told a story about driving along a lonely road in Barrackpore, where he was in... (GunPolicy.org)
Calgary Police Find Machine Guns, Assault Weapons, Handguns in Raids
24 June 2010
Calgary Sun (Alberta)
The police seizure of 16 firearms — including a possible submachine gun — indicates the troubling scope of illegal weaponry on city streets, say cops.
Following a tip, plainclothes officers on Tuesday observed what appeared to be a weapons transaction involving a 9 mm Uzi submachine gun-style weapon in a parking lot on Heritage Gate S.E.
Three men were arrested at the scene and a 2004 Audi A4 seized.
On the same day, police raided a home in Edgemont where they... (GunPolicy.org)
Massachusetts Mulls Limiting Firearm Sales to 1 Gun per Buyer per Month
8 June 2010
Boston Globe
A proposal to limit the number of guns a person can buy in Massachusetts is being mulled by the Legislature's Judiciary Committee today, sparking hope among supporters that the bill may finally come to a vote.
The bill, introduced by Governor Deval Patrick in May 2009, would prevent people from buying more than one gun a month. It is winding its way through committee as the state and the city of Boston grapple with the shooting deaths of two 14-year-old boys in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Shoots 6 Judges, Kills 3 in Chinese Court Following Domestic Dispute
1 June 2010
Xinhua
YONGZHOU, Hunan - A man killed himself after shooting three judges dead and injuring another three judges in a local court office Tuesday in central China's Hunan Province, said local authorities.
The incident happened at about 10:05 a.m. at Lingling District People's Court in Yongzhou City, said the city's public security department.
The gunman, Zhu Jun, barged into an office on the fourth floor of the court building. He shot the judges in the office before killing... (GunPolicy.org)
Soldiers Shoot, Kill Wives, Colleagues, Family in Tanzania Military Camps
15 May 2010
Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
TABORA — A soldier with the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF) in Tabora stabbed his wife to death before proceeding to shoot down his niece and a neighbour on Friday night. He then turned the gun on himself.
The killings threw the town into shock and rekindled the not-so-distant memories as early in the year, another soldier had opened fire on two colleagues in Kasulu, killing them on the spot.
In the Friday incident, whose motivation is yet to be known, the... (GunPolicy.org)
Toronto Gun Enthusiast Lost 50 Handguns, Submachine Gun to Thieves
17 March 2010
680 News Radio (Toronto)
TORONTO, Ontario - Six men now face more than 540 charges in connection with a break-and-enter investigation, according to Toronto police.
Last month, a downtown apartment was broken into at 59 Isabella St. The thieves were able to make off with 50 handguns, two shotguns and an Uzi sub-machine gun. The suspects also stole a large-screen television.
After executing search warrants in the GTA, Toronto police were able to recover 10 of the 50 handguns, the... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippine Election Gun Ban Yields More Arrests for Illegal Firearms
10 February 2010
Panay News (Philippines)
SAN JOSE, Antique – The effective implementation of the Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO) of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban has yielded positive results.
APPO Information Officer PO3 Rodelio B. Canja said that from January 10 to 28, three persons were arrested and one is at-large.
Confiscated on separate operations were five high-powered fire arms, two fragmentation hand grenades, two bladed weapons and 35 rds of assorted ammunitions.
In... (GunPolicy.org)
New York Traffickers Ship AK-47s, Submachine Guns, Pistols to Jamaica
14 January 2010
Gleaner (Jamaica)
With 14 days into the new year, the island's security forces have seized more than 1,000 assorted rounds of ammunition and at least 27 illegal firearms, including four high-powered weapons and a number of semi-automatic pistols.
The cracks in the existing security system at Port Bustamante were tested on Monday, when a Jamaican connection in New York sent a shipment containing 12 illegal guns and more than 700 rounds of ammunition.
Up to late Tuesday, two women and a... (GunPolicy.org)
Business Booming at Vegas Machine Gun Range
8 January 2010
Forbes (USA), Blog
LAS VEGAS -- Mining. Cattle-ranching. Machine gun rentals. If you're a Berkeley-bred crunchie that combination is the stuff of nightmares. If you're entrepreneur Billy Conn, however, it's a living. And, thanks to a weak dollar and ever-tightening firearms laws, business at the machine gun range is good.
Conn will only say that the privately-held Las Vegas Gun Range & Firearms Center is a "multi-million" dollar business. However tough firearms laws, a weak dollar, and... (GunPolicy.org)
Maguindanao Arms Seizure Recovers Number of Police-Issued M16s
28 December 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Several high-powered firearms seized in a series of raids in Maguindanao province over the past weeks were police-issued firearms, Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa said on Monday.
In an interview, Verzosa said that of the more than 800 firearms seized throughout the province of Maguindanao during and after the declaration of martial law there, more than 20 were PNP-issued.
He said most of those that were PNP-issued were... (GunPolicy.org)
Cache of Assault Weapons Stolen, Owner Arrested for Illegal Possession
24 December 2009
Contra Costa Times (California)
CONCORD, California - Intruders took a small cache of assault weapons from a house this week, and police made an arrest.
The only man they arrested, however, was the homeowner — for having the weapons in the first place.
Police were called to a home in the 1600 block of Allegro Avenue about 2 a.m. Wednesday after getting reports of a home invasion, said police Lt. Garrett Voerge.
A roommate told officers that two men entered the home and at gunpoint, took several... (GunPolicy.org)
Ontario Attorney General Voices Strong Support for Long Gun Registry
14 December 2009
Hill Times (Ottawa), Opinion
TORONTO — Canada's long-gun registry helps to save lives, protect communities, and prevent crime. It is an important public safety resource that our police use every day in the important work they do.
This fall a federal private member's bill to eliminate Canada's long-gun registry has been working its way through Parliament and will soon be considered by a House of Commons committee. As a government that is doing everything in its power to stop the agony caused by... (GunPolicy.org)
Sydney Men Charged with Alleged Manufacture of Submachine Guns
11 December 2009
Australian Associated Press
Two men, including a bikie, have been charged over the manufacture of illegal firearms after police seized rifles, knuckle dusters and firearm parts in Sydney.
Officers raided a home in Charles Street, Blacktown, about 4.30pm yesterday, police said.
Police allege illegal submachine guns, lightweight automatics or semi-automatic weapons were being made at the home.
A 43-year-old man was arrested and police seized a submachine gun, several registered and unregistered... (GunPolicy.org)
Essex Police Say 90% of 'Firearm Incidents' Involve Only Imitation Guns
5 December 2009
Daily Mail (UK)
An innocent game of cops and robbers used to provide two benefits - lots of fun and a basic understanding of right and wrong.
But children caught playing with a toy gun today have been warned they face something far more memorable - a raid by armed police marksmen.
Officers have told parents to avoid buying youngsters plastic guns for Christmas in case passers-by mistake them for dangerous weapons.
The warning has been issued by Essex Police, where a spokesman said... (GunPolicy.org)
As US Gun Ownership Falls, Arms Industry, Gun Lobby Recruit Children
28 November 2009
Guardian (UK)
In the distance, there is snow on the ridges of the Rocky Mountains, but down here in the plains of Colorado there is only dust and sweat. In a layby just south of Denver, Texas Marshal is standing in the sweltering heat preparing for the showdown. He tips back his black felt bronco hat, pulls out his .45 Colt revolver and gives the barrel a slow, deliberate spin. Five brass bullets sink into the chambers and the gun goes back in its holster, ready to draw, his hand... (GunPolicy.org)
Conservatives Distorting Firearm Facts to Suit Gun Lobby in Canada
8 November 2009
Toronto Star (Ontario), Editorial
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's law-and-order Conservatives have no valid reason to kill off Canada's rifle and shotgun registry, beyond pandering to their rural constituencies. So they've resorted to playing up the cost of the so-called "long gun" database and denying its usefulness, trying to cast it in the worst possible light.
And sadly, with support from a handful of spineless New Democrats and Liberals, the Harper government nudged forward a private member's bill... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed UK Public School Sport Shooter Gets 4yrs for Smuggling Guns
23 September 2009
BBC News
A student found with 200 weapon parts in his East Lothian home has been jailed for almost four years.
Ramsay Scott, 21, bought £20,000 worth of gun components on the internet using his mother's credit card.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the former public schoolboy was interested in extreme violence and had trawled websites linked to massacres.
Scott, who was sentenced to three years and nine months in jail, earlier admitted breaches of the Firearms Act.... (GunPolicy.org)
Rash of Gun, Ammo Seizures in Trinidad Includes Uzi Submachine Gun
22 September 2009
Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday
Fourteen persons were arrested during the early morning hours of Sunday after being found with five firearms, including a high-powered Uzi sub-machine gun, and 137 rounds of assorted ammunition.
They are expected to all appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate today to answer charges of illegal possession of arms and ammunition.
According to a police report, at about 2.30 am, Western Division Task Force officers raided a house at Morvant Old Extension Road, Morvant... (GunPolicy.org)
US Police Chief Can't Avoid Charges in Machine Gun Death of 8yr-old Boy
3 September 2009
Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts — A judge has denied a former Massachusetts police chief's motion to dismiss some charges he's facing in connection with the death of an 8-year-old boy at a gun show.
Edward Fleury, who resigned as Pelham's chief in March, is charged with manslaughter and four counts of furnishing a machine gun to a minor in connection with the death of Christopher Bizilj of Ashford, Conn.
Bizilj lost control of an Uzi submachine gun and shot himself... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Take 36 Guns, Assault Rifles, Ammunition from Queensland Bikies
27 August 2009
Courier-Mail (Brisbane) / AAP
Police raids on outlaw motorcycle gangs uncovered an arsenal of weapons, including semi-automatic AK-47s, handguns, silencers, detonators and ammunition.
The discovery of the weapons cache, allegedly belonging to the Odins Warriors organisation, comes as the State Government tightens laws to crack down on the gangs, vowing to destroy them by tearing down clubhouses and banning members from socialising if there was evidence of illegal behaviour.
The new regulations... (GunPolicy.org)
Machine Guns, 100 Illegal Firearms Taken from Australian Gun Traffickers
27 August 2009
Sydney Morning Herald / AAP
Police raids and an undercover operation have netted more than 100 illegal firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition in a crackdown on an alleged Wollongong-based gun trafficking network.
Three men — Michael Zarakas of Fairy Meadow, Aristos Dionys of Mangerton and Andrew Kafizas of Wollongong — face a total of 110 firearm trafficking charges between them.
The trio appeared before Magistrate Paul Johnson at Wollongong Local Court on Thursday but did not apply... (GunPolicy.org)
Yemen Fights to Control Rampant Weapon Trafficking and Gun Violence
10 August 2009
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, Transcript
SANA'A — In Yemen, weapons are considered the main cause of murder and acts of terrorism. However, the heavy weapons that used to be on offer in markets are no longer available due to the government's tough stand on this matter, which arms dealers in the country have resisted. However, you still can buy what you want from black market traders: Anti-aircraft missiles, cannons, offensive weapons, as well as artillery ammunition boxes.
In the regions of the north that... (GunPolicy.org)
Church Shooting Rampage Botched in Germany as Machine Gun Jams
31 July 2009
Associated Press
BERLIN — An 82-year-old man who planned a shooting rampage at a meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses was deterred because his submachine gun jammed, police said Friday. He was overpowered and arrested.
The man entered the group's meeting hall in the western city of Bielefeld on Thursday evening, wielding the weapon, police said in a statement.
The hall was evacuated and the man quickly left the building, waving the gun as he walked toward his car. He was then overpowered... (GunPolicy.org)
Masked 82yr-old Pensioner Waves Machine Gun in German Church
31 July 2009
The Local (Germany)
An 82-year-old man who entered a meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses armed with a submachine gun, three magazines, a Samurai sword and a knife has been arrested, Bielefeld police reported on Friday.
Some 81 members of the church were gathered in their Kingdom Hall on Dunlopstraße in the city's Sennestadt district when a congregation member noticed the masked elderly man enter the vestibule waving the machine gun around 8:45 pm on Thursday.
The witness quietly informed the... (GunPolicy.org)
Submachine Gun Cache Found in Malaysia Included Unused Weapons
8 July 2009
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
IPOH — Some of the firearms recovered by police near the North-South Expressway in Bercham have never been used, said Perak police chief Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah.
To date, police believe that the cache of weapons and ammunition had not been used in any crime, he said after the monthly assembly at the state police contingent headquarters yesterday.
On May 24, workers of a cement factory found two bags in the bushes near the factory, containing six submachine guns,... (GunPolicy.org)
Born on 6 July, 1947: The AK-47 Assault Rifle, an All-Purpose Killer
6 July 2009
Wired (USA)
1947: The AK-47, one of the world's first operational assault rifles and probably the most durable and enduring small-arms weapons ever made, goes into production in the Soviet Union. More than 60 years later, it remains the standard infantry weapon in numerous armies, and a mainstay in the arsenals of rebels, drug traffickers and terrorists worldwide.
The AK-47 was the brainchild of self-taught inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov, the son of peasants. He was inspired to... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Dealer Tells His Story After 3 Years' Jail in Zimbabwe Under Mugabe
3 July 2009
SW Radio Africa (London), Transcript
Violet Gonda: My guest on the programme Hot Seat is Michael Peter Hitschmann who was released from jail on Thursday. The former police constable was initially arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe at his birthday celebration in Manicaland in 2006. He served a total of 40 months for possessing dangerous firearms without a licence. I spoke with the firearms dealer on the day he was released and first asked him how he was feeling.
Michael... (GunPolicy.org)
Feds Seize 75 Weapons from Virginia Man Making, Selling Machine Guns
27 June 2009
Washington Post
Federal agents raided an Alexandria man's home and seized 75 guns after he sold three machine guns to an undercover agent beginning in April, authorities said yesterday.
John M. Walker, 50, was charged with illegally converting semiautomatic weapons into fully automatic ones, court records show. Fully automatic weapons are legal but heavily regulated. Walker was not a licensed dealer, according to Special Agent Mike Campbell of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
Malaysia Probes Political, Crime Links to Illegal Submachine Gun Cache
27 May 2009
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
KUALA LUMPUR — A cache of weapons and ammunition found in Bercham, Perak, on Sunday night could be linked to the chaotic political situation in the state, police say.
This is one of the possibilities police are probing, besides the possibility of the cache being used for criminal or militant activities.
What is certain, though, is that the weapons and ammunition were brought in from a neighbouring country. Checks revealed that the cache was not from the armoury of... (GunPolicy.org)
NSW Police Seize Machine Guns, Assault Weapons in Sydney Gang Raid
2 May 2009
Australian Associated Press
NSW police have set up a new strike force following the discovery of a military cache of weapons at a south Sydney unit.
Detectives from NSW Police and the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) found an arsenal of weapons, including a Thompson submachine gun (commonly known as a Tommy gun), a fully automatic AK47 assault rifle, several handguns, Tasers and ammunition when they raided a Kogarah unit at 7.30am (AEST) on Friday.
They also found bulletproof vests, ballistic... (GunPolicy.org)
Machine-guns, Assault Weapons, Handguns Found in Sydney Gang Bust
2 May 2009
Sydney Morning Herald
A Comanchero safe house containing machine guns, bullet-proof vests, a ramming device, a police badge and uniforms has been found after a federal drug investigation, police say.
As a result of information from the Australian Crime Commission, which has been investigating pseudoephedrine sales in Sydney, St George police raided an apartment in Belgrave Street, Kogarah, and said they found a cache of guns, ammunition and police gear.
Five automatic pistols, a Thompson... (GunPolicy.org)
New Law Would Ban Machine Guns for Children Under 16 in Connecticut
1 April 2009
Hartford Courant (Connecticut)
Responding to the tragic death of an 8-year-old Connecticut boy at a Massachusetts gun club, a key legislative committee voted Tuesday on a measure designed to keep machine guns out of the hands of anyone under 16.
The judiciary committee passed the bill, which prohibits the physical transfer of such weapons to children, in response to the death of Christopher K. Bizilj, an Ashford boy who lost control of a Micro Uzi submachine gun and accidentally shot himself in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Indianapolis Man Charged After Hundreds of Weapons Found in Home
17 March 2009
IndyChannel 6 News (Indiana)
INDIANAPOLIS — The Marion County Prosecutor's Office has charged a man more than four months after investigators discovered a huge weapons cache in his home.
Officers were called to Earl Moore's home in the 7000 block of Lantern Road on a welfare check last October, after the 60-year-old's daughter said she found a suicide note and empty gun holster.
Investigators discovered more than a 100 guns, including a 20 mm Russian anti-tank rifle capable of piercing through... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Weapons, Submachine Gun, Handguns Seized in Jamaica
16 March 2009
Jamaica Observer
Police in St Andrew South seized 10 firearms and recovered 77 rounds of ammunition during raids conducted in several hot spot communities in that division since the start of this month.
Among the seizures the cops mentioned were an M15, a Remington, and an SK assault rifle, while an Intratec Submachine Gun, several 9mm pistols, revolvers and home-made firearms completed the haul.
Deputy Superintendent Lennox Harper of the Hunts Bay Police Station could not say exactly... (GunPolicy.org)
Stolen Guns Fuelled Bangladesh Border Guard Mutiny, Bloodbath
13 March 2009
Daily Star (Dhaka)
Daisy Ahmed missed a heartbeat when she saw something wrapped in BDR uniform lying abandoned at the entrance to her house in Ganaktuli, a locality adjacent to the fifth gate of border guards' headquarters.
After the February 25-26 mutiny that degenerated into a bloodbath at their HQ, most of the riflemen reportedly fled through the gate 5.
It was 9:00 in the night the next day when everybody thought the wrapped thing was a rifle. But the police discovered a... (GunPolicy.org)
British Police Find Uzi Submachine Gun Under Hut in Wolverhampton
10 March 2009
Wolverhampton Express and Star (UK)
An Uzi machine gun and ammunition has been discovered hidden under a hut in a Black Country residential street.
The find came at a house in the Merridale area of Wolverhampton after police received a tip-off.
Detectives are hunting for the gangsters who aimed to use it. The house owner had no idea that the weapon, which has been sent for forensic testing, was being concealed on his property. The gun was found by members of the West Midland Police Serious and Organised... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed BC Gun Dealer Smuggled Armour-piercing Ammo 'For Gangs'
4 March 2009
Chilliwack Progress (British Columbia)
Military-style weapons and armour-piercing ammo that police believe was bound for the gang war now raging in metro Vancouver were displayed at the RCMP training centre in Chilliwack today.
"These weapons are tremendously powerful," Cpl. Peter Thiessen told reporters. "This ammo is powerful enough to shoot through any bullet proof vests on the market today."
An international package on its way to a postal outlet in Surrey was seized Feb. 21 by customs officers with the... (GunPolicy.org)
BC Gun Dealer Surrenders Submachine Gun, 'Armour-piercing Ammo'
3 March 2009
Chilliwack Times (British Columbia)
Sgt. Rob Tan of the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team stood just 10 metres away from a dummy made of coiled fire hose that was wrapped in a vest of body armour and he repeatedly fired .223-calibre bullets out of his C7 rifle.
The shooting wasn't a training exercise, it was a demonstration of the power of some of the guns currently in the hands of criminals on the streets of the Lower Mainland.
The bullets — which are legal to own and which were shot out of a... (GunPolicy.org)
California Police Chief Accused of Stealing, Trading Court Evidence Guns
26 February 2009
Times-Standard (California)
Former Blue Lake Police Chief David Ray Gundersen was held to stand trial Wednesday on a single charge of felony grand theft, but just barely.
Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson seemed to waver Wednesday, before ruling there was sufficient evidence to hold Gundersen to stand trial on the charge, which alleges that he took firearms from Trinidad Police Department evidence and used them to trade for a submachine gun and a silencer — weapons Gundersen... (GunPolicy.org)
86 Percent of World Gun Deaths Among Children Under 15 Occur in America
26 February 2009
International Herald Tribune / AP
NEW YORK — An 11-year-old boy in Pennsylvania is accused of killing his father's pregnant fiancee with the shotgun he got as a Christmas present. In Arizona, an 8-year-old boy fatally shoots his father and his father's roommate. An 8-year-old boy accidentally shoots himself with an Uzi at a gun show in Massachusetts.
All of those stories sparked shocked headlines, but on a national level, the American public's response to the recent incidents has been muted, and... (GunPolicy.org)
Manitoba Drug Bust Yields US Machine Pistol 'Legally Bought in Ohio'
21 February 2009
Winnipeg Sun (Manitoba)
A submachine gun capable of emptying a 30-round clip in under 30 seconds was seized during a raid at a North End home last Sunday, city police said yesterday.
There is no record of the AB-10 submachine gun in Canada but investigators have determined it was legally bought in Ohio in 2001.
Winnipeg police Det. Const. Rob Duttchen — a member of the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team — and his partner are working with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,... (GunPolicy.org)
Rush to Buy Guns Includes More Women, Say Florida Gun Show Dealers
28 January 2009
Florida Trend
MIAMI — It was a tough day for Victor Bean. Typically, a weekend in September would find 3,300 people at his Victor Bean Southern Classic Gun and Knife Show in Miami. But the threat of a hurricane had people in line at Home Depot and Publix, making for a very slow day for Bean, a friendly 49 year old. "When things are slow, we joke, 'Where's Bill Clinton when you need him?' "
Many a true word spoken in jest. Two months later, Barack Obama won the presidency, and... (GunPolicy.org)
Seattle Feds Seize One Man's 'Armageddon' Cache - 37 Machine Guns
21 January 2009
Seattle Times
A 65-year-old Spokane man has been ordered held in custody on federal charges of illegally possessing automatic weapons and illegally storing explosives in a Bellevue commercial storage shed while agents investigate how he came to possess a huge military-grade arsenal that included grenade launchers, machine guns and plastic explosives.
Ronald Struve, heavyset and bearded, appeared in Seattle before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler on Tuesday after being... (GunPolicy.org)
Vintage Rifles Can't Fight New Face of Urban Terror: Top Indian Cops
20 January 2009
Indo-Asian News Service
GUWAHATI — Vintage World War I era firearms like the .303 rifles are no match to the new face of terror — heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and gadgets, said top Indian police officials here advocating the need for replacing them with sophisticated weapons like the Israeli Uzi and the German MP5 submachine guns.
"We are still using the .303 rifles which are accurate and good in the field, but not in a combat situation while fighting terrorism in cities. The... (GunPolicy.org)
Winnipeg Police Seize 'Cobbled-together' Submachine Gun in Gang Bust
13 January 2009
Winnipeg Sun (Manitoba)
A submachine-gun seized during a gang house raid in Winnipeg's North End last week is unlike anything a police firearms expert has seen locally before.
What makes the gun so unique — and troubling, police say — is the way it was cobbled together.
"It looks like a hybrid or amalgam of gun parts," said police Det. Const. Rob Duttchen, a member of the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team.
Shotguns Stolen
Possibly homemade, the submachine-gun and five sawed-off... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Seizures of Criminal Handguns Soar in Liverpool Gang Estates
12 January 2009
Liverpool Daily Echo
The number of guns recovered in two Liverpool estates hit by teenage gang crime nearly doubled in two years.
It is three times more likely a hidden firearm will be seized in Croxteth than neighbouring Norris Green.
New figures obtained by the ECHO revealed police discovered 16 guns in L11 and L12 this year, compared with nine two years before that.
Among the illegal haul were a sub-machine gun, revolvers and rifles.
Statistics obtained under the Freedom of... (GunPolicy.org)
Global Gun Control Campaign Spotlights AK-47: 'Today's WMD of Choice'
25 December 2008
Straits Times (Singapore)
Terrorists used it in the recent attacks on Mumbai. Pirates have used it to attack merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden. Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden uses it as a background prop whenever he broadcasts another fiery denunciation of the United States and the West.
Weapons of mass destruction such as the atomic bomb have stoked fears of a nuclear apocalypse. But when the history of the late 20th century is finally written, the humble AK-47 assault rifle will arguably... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Chief Pleads Not Guilty in Uzi Death of 8yr-old Boy at US Gun Club
23 December 2008
Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts — A police chief in western Massachusetts pleaded not guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of an 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself with an Uzi at a gun show.
Pelham Chief Edward Fleury owns COPS Firearms & Training, which promoted the October show where Christopher Bizilj shot himself in the head.
Fleury's lawyer, David Kuzmeski, also entered not guilty pleas on Fleury's behalf to four counts of furnishing a... (GunPolicy.org)
Some Machine-gun Shoots in Texas Let Children Attend, Fire Weapons
22 December 2008
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)
Chris Hipes enjoys the challenge of a shooting match so much that he started the North Texas Submachinegun Match about five years ago.
But he isn't sure he wants his daughter to participate.
She's only 7 months old now, but he said she'll have to be well-trained — and ready both physically and mentally — before she can take part in these events.
"It's an inherently dangerous sport," said Hipes, a 35-year-old maintenance supervisor in Denton. "It's like NASCAR. If... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Grandmother 'Petrified' After Receiving Police Machine Gun in the Mail
10 December 2008
Telegraph (UK)
Catherine Roots had been expecting a horse harness in the post, instead she opened her package to find a Heckler & Koch black submachine gun.
The package was delivered by a courier to Mrs Roots when it should have been sent to firearms officers at the nearby police headquarters.
She called the station and two armed officers turned up and took it away.
Police later explained a gun supply company made a mistake with the postcode when they sent it to Dorset Police in... (GunPolicy.org)
8yr-old Dies at Gun Club: Massachusetts May Ban Machine Guns for Kids
5 December 2008
Republican (Massachusetts)
BOSTON — State legislators called for tightening laws on gun clubs and the use of weapons by minors, following the criminal charges issued on Thursday in the death of an 8-year-old Connecticut boy who accidentally shot himself with a submachine gun at the Westfield Sportsman's Club.
State Rep. Michael A. Costello, co-chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, said he would hold an oversight hearing and take testimony to determine what laws... (GunPolicy.org)
Genuine Handguns So Rare in UK, Converted Gas Guns Now the Rage
24 November 2008
New Statesman
The blanket ban on handguns following the massacre of 16 children in Dunblane in 1996 means Britain has some of the toughest controls yet street gun crime has risen inexorably
If you get shot today in London, Manchester or Liverpool, chances the weapon will be a converted handgun.
The conviction of a 13 year-old boy in south London last week for possession of a converted Russian CS gas pistol, highlighted the pervasive use of these weapons and underlined the... (GunPolicy.org)
Chicago Gun Dealer Faces Extradition to Canada for Smuggling Firearms
16 November 2008
National Post (Toronto)
TORONTO — Canadian officials have told the United States they want to bring a Chicago gun dealer to Toronto to stand trial on charges of smuggling more than 200 handguns across the border.
The case, which may be a first for Canada, appears to signal a harder line against gun smugglers as Toronto grapples with a rash of gang-related shootings that have claimed several innocent bystanders.
Seventy per cent of the crime guns seized by Toronto police have been smuggled... (GunPolicy.org)
Uzi Recoils, Questions Echo: US Boy's Death Spurs Gun Law Scrutiny
28 October 2008
Boston Globe
WESTFIELD — As his father raised his camera, an 8-year-old boy aimed an Uzi at a pumpkin set up at a shooting event. Before his father could focus, the third-grader from Connecticut squeezed the trigger, and the high-powered weapon recoiled and fatally shot the boy in the head.
The death of Christopher Bizilj at the Westfield Sportsman's Club Sunday has raised questions about how someone so young could be allowed to shoot an automatic weapon, which can fire hundreds... (GunPolicy.org)
8yr-old Firing Machine Gun 'Beyond Comprehension,' Says Police Chief
28 October 2008
Xinhua
BEIJING — The death of an 8-year-old U.S. boy who accidentally shot himself in the head with an Uzi at a gun fair has raised many questions again about the country's gun control system, according to media reports.
On Sunday, Christopher Bizilj of Ashford, Conn., lost control of the submachine gun while firing it with an instructor watching at the Machine Gun Shoot & Firearms Expo at a sportsman's club in Westfield, Massachusetts, police said.
As the third-grader... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Safety Experts, Enthusiasts Wonder Why 8yr-old Was Firing Uzi
28 October 2008
Associated Press
WESTFIELD, Massachusetts — With an instructor watching, an 8-year-old boy at a gun fair aimed an Uzi at a pumpkin and pulled the trigger as his dad reached for a camera.
It was his first time shooting a fully automatic machine gun, and the recoil of the weapon was too much for him. He lost control and fatally shot himself in the head.
Now gun safety experts — and some gun enthusiasts at the club where the shooting happened — are wondering why such a young child... (GunPolicy.org)
Dad Stood Behind 8yr-old as He Fired Uzi, Killed Himself at US Fun Day
27 October 2008
Republican (Massachusetts) / Boston Globe / AP
WESTFIELD, Massachusetts — An 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself to death Sunday had his father's permission to participate in a machine gun shoot at the Westfield Sportsman's Club.
Christopher Bizilj, of Ashford, Conn., was firing a 9 mm Micro UZI machine gun at a pumpkin around 2 p.m. when he lost control of the automatic combat-type weapon and shot himself once in the head.
He died at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
"I gave permission for... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Probe US Machine Gun 'Fun' Event After 8yr-old Boy Dies Firing Uzi
27 October 2008
Reuters
BOSTON — Authorities in Massachusetts are investigating a gun fair where an 8-year-old boy died after accidentally shooting himself in the head with an Uzi submachine gun while under adult supervision, police said on Monday.
Christopher Bizilj lost control of the weapon on Sunday at the Machine Gun Shoot & Firearms Expo at a sportsman's club in Westfield, a city about 96 miles west of the state capital Boston, police said.
He was rushed to hospital, where he was... (GunPolicy.org)
8yr-old American Boy Dies Firing Submachine Gun with Dad at Gun Club
27 October 2008
Boston Globe
An 8-year-old boy died yesterday at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield after he accidentally shot himself in the head at a Westfield gun club, Westfield Police reported.
Police said the child's death, caused by a fully automatic Uzi machine gun, appears to have been an accident, but it remains under investigation.
The Westfield Police Department released a statement about what they described as a self-inflicted, accidental shooting, which occurred at 2 p.m. at the... (GunPolicy.org)
One and a Half Miles of Guns, 'Gun-nuttery' at Virginia Weapon Market
17 September 2008
Washington City Paper (DC)
The Nation's Gun Show took place this past weekend in Chantilly, Virginia. I attended looking to meet a few members of armed America and, hopefully, D.C. residents shopping for revolvers — so far the only handguns they can buy.
First things first. After spending several hours trolling "one and a half miles of guns, knives and accessories," I meet only two D.C. residents: two young men in khakis and oxford shirts who blanch as soon as I say I'm a reporter. When I ask... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Handguns in Britain: Cheap, Easy to Get and on a Street Near You
31 August 2008
Guardian (UK)
[Photo: A Webley revolver pistol. [sic.]]
The gun shown here, a Webley, is up for sale in London for £150, one of hundreds of such weapons that are easily and cheaply available on the streets of the UK's big cities, a Guardian investigation can reveal.
The variety of weapons on offer in Britain is extensive and includes machine guns and shotguns, as well as pistols and converted replicas. A source close to the trade in illegal weapons contacted by the Guardian listed... (GunPolicy.org)
Terrorists, Criminals Free to Buy Assault Weapons at US Gun Shows
16 August 2008
Boston Globe, Opinion
A dangerous "gun show loophole" continues to allow criminals and terrorists to legally buy and sell guns in the United States on a cash-and-carry, no-questions-asked basis.
At approximately 5,000 gun shows each year in 32 states, criminals and terrorists are allowed to purchase firearms from private gun dealers without an ID or background check. Although many gun dealers are federally licensed and therefore legally required to contact the National Instant Criminal... (GunPolicy.org)
Submachine Gun, Assault Weapons Seized in Canadian Crime Busts
31 July 2008
Winnipeg Sun (Manitoba)
In what's becoming almost a monthly event, Winnipeg police displayed a pair of menacing and operational guns yesterday that were seized Tuesday from people who may have gang ties.
Found In Apartment
Winnipeg police spokeswoman Const. Jacqueline Chaput said the Second World War-era Sten submachine gun, high-capacity magazine and Winchester shotgun were found in an apartment suite in the 3500 block of Portage Avenue during a search conducted by the force's organized... (GunPolicy.org)
Did US 'Mercenary' Firm Use 'Straw Purchase' to Buy Assault Weapons?
22 June 2008
News & Observer (North Carolina)
The private military company Blackwater has found an unusual way to skirt federal laws that prohibit private parties from buying automatic weapons. Blackwater bought 17 Romanian AK-47s and 17 Bushmasters, gave ownership of the guns to the Camden County sheriff and keeps most of the guns at Blackwater's armory in Moyock.
Tiny Camden County — population 9,271 — is one of the most peaceful in North Carolina. In the last 10 years, there have been two murders, three... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Canadian Gun Collector Walks on 50 Trafficking Charges
20 June 2008
Winnipeg Free Press (Manitoba)
A man accused of letting two dozen high-powered guns fall into the wrong hands has walked free on a legal technicality, the Free Press has learned.
Terry Gale was arrested in 2002 following a raid on his Fort Rouge home. It was the largest weapons investigation in Manitoba history.
Gale's case finally made it to court this month — but the case abruptly collapsed earlier this week when a judge ruled Winnipeg police breached his rights and conducted an illegal search... (GunPolicy.org)
Submachine Gun, 60 Handguns, Rifles Taken from California Ex-convict
11 June 2008
Pasadena Star-News (California)
ALTADENA — An ex-convict was in custody Wednesday after authorities served a search warrant at his home and discovered more than 60 guns — from hunting rifles to a Tec-9 submachine gun.
Donald Williams, 55, of Altadena was arrested Tuesday after detectives obtained a warrant to search his home on North Fair Oaks Avenue.
Most of the firearms were rifles, but investigators also found handguns and shotguns.
Williams was convicted in 1994 of assault with a deadly... (GunPolicy.org)
