After the recent terrorist act in Beslan, Russians have begun purchasing legal means of self-defense. Some even address direct letters to different law-enforcement agencies across the country with a plea to authorize sales of hunting rifles and self-defense firearms. The State Duma plans to adopt certain amendments by the end of this month, aimed at restricting the overall turnover of firearms and explosives in the country. The amendment however will apply only to... (GunPolicy.org)

There were three major gun crime incidents in the West Midlands every day last year, according to new police figures. In a year in which the issue of armed crime on city streets exploded following the New Year killings of Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis, there were 1,101 serious crimes involving weapons. Nationally, 2003 was the worst year for gun murders in England and Wales since the Home Office began keeping comparable statistics. The figures were released... (GunPolicy.org)

Want to control guns? Elect Democrats. Want to keep military-style assault weapons off the streets and out of schoolyards? Remove President Bush from the Oval Office. Replace U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). Think Americans in other states should be free to buy practically any firearm that intrigues them, with a jumbo clip so they can squeeze off 50 rounds without having to reload? Then reelect the... (GunPolicy.org)

Totally Awesome Guns and Range in West Valley City, Utah, has been hopping this week with customers trying to buy guns that were illegal until the 10-year-old ban on assault weapons expired Monday. One man bought all 15 of the Colt M-4 rifles that the store's general manager, Stephen Palano, had in stock. The M-4 is a semiautomatic version of the weapon used by American Special Forces and paratroopers. Until Congress allowed the assault weapon ban to lapse, the gun... (GunPolicy.org)

KAMPALA — Mr Ofwono Opondo, a top gun in the ruling Movement government, has added another epithet to his name: Some people have taken to calling him James Bond since, in modern day Lancelot style; he shot dead a suspected car robber. Praise them or loathe them, Opondo's trigger-happy antics raise questions about the huge number of civilians walking around with guns. It is now not uncommon for apparent civilians, government officials, Members of Parliament, wives,... (GunPolicy.org)

MIAMI — Miami-Dade police said Wednesday they have not recovered the assault rifle a convicted felon used to fire 24 rounds at a police officer, wounding her head and arm. Jack Keith Holt, 35, surrendered Tuesday night at police headquarters in Doral. Police charged him with attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in commission of an offense. He is being held without bond... (GunPolicy.org)