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Barbados — Gun Facts, Figures and the LawStockpilesGun NumbersCivilian GunsNumber of Privately Owned FirearmsRate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 PopulationNumber of Privately Owned Firearms - World RankingIn a 2007 comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Barbados ranked at No. 1664 Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World RankingIn a 2007 comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, Barbados ranked at No. 763 Number of Registered FirearmsRate of Registered Firearms per 100 PopulationImpactsDeath and InjuryTotal Number of Gun DeathsHomicides (any method)ChartIn Barbados, annual homicides by any means total 2015: 3112 2014: 25 2013: 2513 2012: 22 2011: 30 2010: 29 2009: 1914 15 16 17 18 2008: 28 2007: 28 2006: 36 2005: 29 2004: 23 2003: 31 2002: 27 2001: 25 2000: 20 1999: 2316 1998: 20 1995: 16 Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Male Homicide Victims (any method)Rate of Male Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Female Homicide Victims (any method)Rate of Female Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Gun HomicidesChartIn Barbados, annual firearm homicides total 2015: 1912 2014: 17 2013: 9 2012: 7 2011: 15 2010: 14 2009: 7 2008: 16 2007: 9 2006: 14 2005: 7 2004: 9 2000: 816 20 1999: 916 1998: 7 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 Barbados, annual suicides by any means total 2013: 010 2012: 0 2011: 0 2010: 3 2009: 5 2008: 121 2006: 9 2005: 1 2004: 3 2001: 221 22 2000: 1021 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)Rate of Female Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)Gun SuicidesRate of Gun Suicide per 100,000 PeopleMale Gun Suicide VictimsUnintentional Gun DeathsGun Deaths from Undetermined CauseChartIn Barbados, annual shooting deaths in which the cause remains undecided total 2013: 1210 2012: 9 2011: 1411 2010: 5 2009: 2 2007: 1 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 PeopleFemale Gun Deaths from Undetermined CauseProductionGun IndustryRegulation of Firearm MakersIn Barbados, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence24 TransfersGun Trade and TraffickingRegulation of Arms BrokersIn Barbados, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not specifically regulated by law28 End User CertificatesCustoms regulations in Barbados 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 Barbados is categorised as restrictive29 Firearm LawGuiding gun control legislation in Barbados includes the Firearms Act 199830 Firearm Regulation AuthorityGuns in Barbados are regulated by the Minister responsible for Police Administration31 Restricted Firearms and AmmunitionRegulation of Automatic WeaponsIn Barbados, private possession of fully automatic weapons is permitted under licence28 Regulation of Semiautomatic Assault WeaponsIn Barbados, private possession of semi-automatic assault weapons is permitted under licence28 Regulation of HandgunsIn Barbados, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is permitted under licence28 Gun Ownership and PossessionIn Barbados, only licensed gun owners24 34 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 Barbados is 25 years37 Gun Owner Background ChecksReference Required for Firearm LicenceIn Barbados, 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 Barbados does not stipulate28 that a gun licence should be denied or revoked Firearm Safety TrainingIn Barbados, 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 PeriodIn Barbados, gun owners must re-apply and re-qualify for their firearm licence every one year38 Limit on Number of GunsLicensed firearm owners in Barbados are permitted to possess any number of firearms28 Limit on Quantity, Type of AmmunitionLicensed firearm owners in Barbados are permitted to possess any quantity of ammunition28 Firearm RegistrationCivilian Gun RegistrationIn Barbados, 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 SalesIn Barbados, the private sale and transfer of firearms is prohibited without permission from the Commissioner41 Regulation of Dealer Gun SalesBackground Checks for Private Gun SalesThe buyer of a firearm in a private sale in Barbados is obliged34 to pass official background checks before taking possession Background Checks for Dealer Gun SalesThe buyer of a firearm from a licensed gun dealer in Barbados is obliged34 to pass official background checks before taking possession Waiting Period for Gun PossessionIn Barbados, the minimum wait for a lawful firearm purchase to be completed is undetermined28 Regulation of Gun ShowsIn Barbados, gun shows and temporary firearm dealing events are not regulated28 in law Storage and Transport of Guns and AmmunitionFirearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - PrivateFirearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - DealerFirearm regulations in Barbados include39 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition by licensed arms dealers Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - GovernmentGovernment regulations in Barbados do not include28 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition by state entities Firearm and Ammunition Transport RegulationsRegulations in Barbados do not include28 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition while in transit Carrying GunsCarrying Guns Openly in PublicIn Barbados, carrying a firearm in plain view in a public place is prohibited44 MeasuresInternational ControlsRegional AgreementsOrganization of American StatesOn 14 November 1997, as a member of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Barbados 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 ratified47 48 by Barbados 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 signed49 by Barbados. Arms Trade TreatyThe Arms Trade Treaty has been signed and ratified50 by Barbados 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 ratified51 by Barbados United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoAUNPoA CommitmentOn 21 July 2001, Barbados 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 Aspects52 UNPoA Implementation Monitor ScoreUNPoA National ReportingUNPoA National Point of ContactUNPoA Civil Society Involvement and SupportIn National Reports of Barbados 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 Barbados to other UN Member States United Nations Small Arms RegisterAccording to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Barbados has not declared59 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports. United Nations MembershipIn the UN List of Member States, Barbados has been a Member State of the United Nations since 199660 Wassenaar ArrangementThe Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list61 Barbados as a Participating State BackgroundSustainable Development Goal ProfileAbout SDG 16The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals set by the United Nations to be implemented by all member states by 2030. Adopted in 2015, they outline a vision of development in which peace and security are an integral part.
SDG 16,62 which seeks to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,” includes targets and indicators focused on reducing violence (Target 16.1) and the proliferation of illicit arms (Target 16.4). The indicators – or measurement criteria – of these targets include the number of victims of intentional homicide (Indicator 16.1.1), the number of conflict-related deaths (Indicator 16.1.2), and the number of illicit firearms collected and traced (Indicator 16.4.2).
In light of these targets and indicators, GunPolicy.org provides granular national data pertaining to homicides, gun homicides, conflict deaths, disarmament efforts, and marking and tracing. Homicides (any method)ChartIn Barbados, annual homicides by any means total 2015: 3112 2014: 25 2013: 2513 2012: 22 2011: 30 2010: 29 2009: 1914 15 16 17 18 2008: 28 2007: 28 2006: 36 2005: 29 2004: 23 2003: 31 2002: 27 2001: 25 2000: 20 1999: 2316 1998: 20 1995: 16 Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Male Homicide Victims (any method)Rate of Male Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Female Homicide Victims (any method)Rate of Female Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Gun HomicidesChartIn Barbados, annual firearm homicides total 2015: 1912 2014: 17 2013: 9 2012: 7 2011: 15 2010: 14 2009: 7 2008: 16 2007: 9 2006: 14 2005: 7 2004: 9 2000: 816 20 1999: 916 1998: 7 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 VictimsConflict DeathsFor a profile of conflict in Barbados, select the Link icon to open an external web page from the UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia at Uppsala University DisarmamentAuthorities in Barbados are not known to have implemented voluntary firearm surrender schemes, and/or weapon seizure programmes in order to reduce the number of illicit firearms in circulation Destruction and Disposal PolicyIn Barbados, it is not state policy28 to destroy surplus, collected and seized firearms rather than return them to the secondary arms market Marking and TracingFirearm MarkingIn Barbados, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is not required by law28 Firearm TracingIn Barbados, state authorities carry out63 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures Ballistic Record of Firearms and AmmunitionIn Barbados, the ballistic characteristics of each civilian firearm and its ammunition are not28 recorded in a register |
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