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Bahamas — Gun Facts, Figures and the LawStockpilesGun NumbersCivilian GunsNumber of Privately Owned FirearmsRate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 PopulationNumber of Privately Owned RiflesIn the Bahamas, the number of rifles in civilian possession is reported to be 1,5653 Number of Privately Owned ShotgunsIn the Bahamas, the number of shotguns in civilian possession is reported to be 15,5453 Number of Privately Owned HandgunsIn the Bahamas, the number of handguns in civilian possession is reported to be 3,0003 Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World RankingIn a 2007 comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, the Bahamas ranked at No. 1704 Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World RankingIn a 2007 comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, the Bahamas ranked at No. 985 Number of Registered FirearmsRate of Registered Firearms per 100 PopulationImpactsDeath and InjuryTotal Number of Gun DeathsHomicides (any method)ChartIn the Bahamas, annual homicides by any means total 2018: 9113 2016: 11114 2015: 146 2014: 12315 2013: 119 2012: 111 2011: 127 2010: 94 2009: 86 2008: 73 2007: 78 2006: 61 2005: 52 2004: 44 2003: 50 2002: 52 2001: 43 2000: 74 1999: 5316 1998: 48 1997: 47 1996: 41 1995: 42 Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)ChartIn the Bahamas, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is 2018: 27.3613 2016: 33.9114 2015: 44.98 2014: 38.22 2013: 37.30 2012: 35.11 2011: 40.53 2010: 30.28 2009: 27.96 2008: 23.96 2007: 25.83 2006: 20.38 2005: 15.80 2004: 13.65 2003: 15.84 2002: 16.83 2001: 14.19 2000: 24.85 1999: 18.116 1998: 16.616 17 1997: 16.2 1996: 14.4 1995: 15.0 Male Homicide Victims (any method)Rate of Male Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Female Homicide Victims (any method)Gun HomicidesChartIn the Bahamas, annual firearm homicides total 2014: 10515 2013: 11010 2012: 101 2011: 104 2010: 76 2009: 55 2008: 49 2007: 53 2006: 33 2005: 36 2000: 3712 1997: 1818 1996: 13 1995: 18 Rate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 PeopleProportion of Homicides Committed With a GunMale Gun Homicide VictimsRate of Male Gun Homicide per 100,000 PeopleFemale Gun Homicide VictimsSuicides (any method)ChartIn the Bahamas, annual suicides by any means total 2013: 510 2012: 5 2011: 4 2010: 10 2009: 6 2008: 420 2007: 5 2006: 2 2005: 4 2002: 320 21 2001: 120 2000: 11 Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)Male Suicide Victims (any method)Rate of Male Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)Female Suicide Victims (any method)Gun SuicidesRate of Gun Suicide per 100,000 PeopleMale Gun Suicide VictimsRate of Male Gun Suicide per 100,000 PeopleUnintentional Gun DeathsRate of Unintentional Gun Death per 100,000 PeopleUnintentional Male Gun DeathsGun Deaths from Undetermined CauseChartIn the Bahamas, annual shooting deaths in which the cause remains undecided total 2013: 010 2012: 0 2011: 0 2010: 0 2007: 110 2000: 112 Rate of Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 PeopleMale Gun Deaths from Undetermined CauseRate of Male Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 PeopleIn the Bahamas, the annual rate of unknown-cause male shooting deaths per 100,000 population is 2007: 0.6810 Legal Intervention Gun HomicidesRate of Legal Intervention Gun Homicide per 100,000 PeopleMale Legal Intervention Gun HomicidesTransfersGun Trade and TraffickingFirearm ExportsSmall Arms Exports (US$) - CustomsThe annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from the Bahamas is reported by Customs to be US$1,98124 (2011) Regulation of Arms BrokersIn the Bahamas, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not specifically regulated by law28 End User CertificatesCustoms regulations in the Bahamas do not include28 certification of the intended end user of any small arms or ammunition transfer, and/or a written declaration of its intended end use MeasuresGun RegulationFirearm Regulation - Guiding PolicyThe regulation of guns in the Bahamas is categorised as restrictive29 Restricted Firearms and AmmunitionGun Ownership and PossessionIn the Bahamas, only licensed gun owners40 35 41 34 26 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition Genuine Reason Required for Firearm PossessionMinimum Age for Firearm PossessionThe minimum age for gun ownership in the Bahamas is 18 years, or 14 years whilst under the supervision of a person over the age of 21 years42 Gun Owner Background ChecksReference Required for Firearm LicenceIn the Bahamas, third party character references for each gun licence applicant are not required28 Domestic Violence and FirearmsWhere a past history, or apprehended likelihood of family violence exists, the law in the Bahamas does not stipulate28 that a gun licence should be denied or revoked Firearm Safety TrainingIn the Bahamas, an understanding of firearm safety and the law, tested in a theoretical and/or practical training course is not required28 for a firearm licence Gun Owner Licensing PeriodLimit on Number of GunsLicensed firearm owners in the Bahamas are permitted to possess only the nature and number of firearms specified in the valid firearms certificate35 Firearm RegistrationCivilian Gun RegistrationIn the Bahamas, the law does not require28 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register Gun Sales and TransfersRegulation of Private Gun SalesRegulation of Dealer Gun SalesBackground Checks for Private Gun SalesThe buyer of a firearm in a private sale in the Bahamas is obliged46 to pass official background checks before taking possession Background Checks for Dealer Gun SalesThe buyer of a firearm from a licensed gun dealer in the Bahamas is obliged46 to pass official background checks before taking possession Limit on Gun Dealer SalesIn the Bahamas, the number and type of firearms which can be sold by a licensed gun dealer to a single gun owner is limited to the number of firearms and ammunition specified in the valid firearms certificate35 Waiting Period for Gun PossessionIn the Bahamas, the minimum wait for a lawful firearm purchase to be completed is undetermined28 Regulation of Gun ShowsIn the Bahamas, gun shows and temporary firearm dealing events are not regulated28 in law Storage and Transport of Guns and AmmunitionFirearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - PrivateFirearm regulations in the Bahamas do not include28 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of private firearms and ammunition by licensed gun owners Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - DealerFirearm regulations in the Bahamas do not include28 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition by licensed arms dealers Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - GovernmentGovernment regulations in the Bahamas do not include28 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition by state entities Firearm and Ammunition Transport RegulationsRegulations in the Bahamas do not include28 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition while in transit Marking and Tracing Guns and AmmunitionFirearm MarkingIn the Bahamas, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law49 Firearm TracingIn the Bahamas, state authorities do not carry out28 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures Ballistic Record of Firearms and AmmunitionIn the Bahamas, the ballistic characteristics of each civilian firearm and its ammunition are not28 recorded in a register Carrying GunsCarrying Guns Openly in PublicIn the Bahamas, carrying a firearm in plain view in a public place is allowed, subject to a valid permit41 Collection, Amnesty and Destruction ProgrammesAuthorities in the Bahamas are known to have48 implemented voluntary firearm surrender schemes, and/or weapon seizure programmes in order to reduce the number of illicit firearms in circulation Firearms Surrendered and SeizedDestruction and Disposal PolicyIn the Bahamas, it is not state policy28 to destroy surplus, collected and seized firearms rather than return them to the secondary arms market MeasuresInternational ControlsRegional AgreementsOrganization of American StatesOn 14 November 1997, as a member of the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Bahamas adopted the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), a legally binding multilateral treaty of which the OAS is depository. The CIFTA Convention has since been signed and ratified52 53 by the Bahamas United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal JusticeThe UNCCPCJ, a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council mandated to promote action to prevent national and transnational crime, lists54 the Bahamas as an elected member Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and DevelopmentThe Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, a diplomatic initiative aimed at addressing the interrelations between armed violence and development, was not signed55 by the Bahamas. Arms Trade TreatyThe Arms Trade Treaty has been signed and ratified56 by the Bahamas United Nations Firearms ProtocolThe United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has been signed and ratified57 by the Bahamas United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoAUNPoA CommitmentOn 21 July 2001, the Bahamas committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects58 UNPoA National ReportingUNPoA National Point of ContactIn the Bahamas, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated27 UNPoA National Coordinating BodyIn the Bahamas, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated27 UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and SupportIn National Reports of the Bahamas submitted to the UN from 2001 to 2010, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities was not apparent27 UNPoA International Assistance – DonorFunds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated27 by the Bahamas to other UN Member States United Nations Small Arms RegisterAccording to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, the Bahamas have not declared60 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports. United Nations MembershipIn the UN List of Member States, the Bahamas have been a Member State of the United Nations since 197361 Wassenaar ArrangementThe Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list62 the Bahamas as a Participating State BackgroundCountry ProfileConflict ProfileFor a profile of conflict in the Bahamas, select the Link icon to open an external web page from the UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia at Uppsala University |
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