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Armed violence prevention, gun control laws and the small arms trade:

St Helena — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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ImpactsDeath and Injury

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Homicides (any method)

ChartIn St Helena, annual homicides by any means total

2009: 01
2008: 0
2007: 0

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn St Helena, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2009: 01
2008: 0
2007: 0

ProductionGun Industry

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Regulation of Firearm Makers

In St Helena, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence2 3 4

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

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Firearm Exports

In St Helena, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law5 6

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Small Arms Exports (US$) - Customs

ChartThe annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from St Helena is reported by Customs to be US$

2017: 2,0007
2002: 3,000

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Firearm Imports

In St Helena, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law5

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Small Arms Imports (US$) - Customs

ChartThe annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to St Helena is reported by Customs to be US$

2021: 4,0008
2019: 11,000
2018: 3,000
2017: 5,000
2016: 2,000
2015: 25,000
2014: 19,000
2013: 4,000
2012: 2,000
2011: 4,000
2010: 6,000
2009: 2,000
2005: 2,000

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in St Helena includes the Firearms Ordinance of 19979

Firearm Regulation Authority

Guns in St Helena are regulated by the Director of Police4 10

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Right to Possess Firearms

In St Helena, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law11 12

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Restricted Firearms and Ammunition

In St Helena, civilians are not allowed to possess semi-automatic and fully-automatic firearms, and their ammunition, without written permission from the Director of Police13

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Regulation of Automatic Weapons

In St Helena, private possession of fully automatic weapons is prohibited, without permission from the Director of Police13

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Regulation of Semiautomatic Assault Weapons

In St Helena, private possession of semi-automatic assault weapons is prohibited, without permission from the Director of Police13

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Law Regulates Long Guns

In St Helena, civilian possession of rifles and shotguns is regulated by law2 14

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Gun Ownership and Possession

In St Helena, only licensed gun owners,15 with the exception of owners of sporting firearms,16 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Minimum Age for Firearm Possession

The minimum age for gun ownership in St Helena is 17 years17 18

Firearm Registration

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Gun Dealer Record Keeping

In St Helena, licensed firearm dealers are required3 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority

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Gun Manufacturer Record Keeping

In St Helena, licensed gun makers are required3 to keep a record of each firearm produced, for inspection by a regulating authority

Gun Sales and Transfers

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Regulation of Private Gun Sales

In St Helena, the private sale and transfer of firearms is prohibited3 4 18

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Regulation of Dealer Gun Sales

In St Helena, dealing in firearms by way of business without a valid gun dealer’s licence is unlawful3 4 18

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Regulation of Gun Shows

In St Helena, gun shows and temporary firearm dealing events are regulated10 in law

Carrying Guns

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Carrying Guns Openly in Public

In St Helena, carrying a firearm in plain view in a public place is prohibited without a valid excuse19

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Penalty for Illicit Firearm Possession

In St Helena, the maximum penalty for unlawful possession of a firearm20 is 6 months15 14 to life imprisonment21 or a fine

MeasuresInternational Controls

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, St Helena is not a Member State of the United Nations22

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list23 St Helena as a Participating State

BackgroundSustainable Development Goal Profile

Link
About SDG 16

The 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 16,24 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.

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Homicides (any method)

ChartIn St Helena, annual homicides by any means total

2009: 01
2008: 0
2007: 0

Compare
Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn St Helena, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2009: 01
2008: 0
2007: 0

Link
Global Peace Index

To see where St Helena ranks, select the Link icon to open an external web page at the Global Peace Index, and then click on St Helena on the map or in the "Select Country" menu on the right of the web page

Short References

1.

UNODC.2020.‘Intentional Homicide Victims.’ dataunodc.un.org (web site).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,1 January. (Q13355)Full Citation

2.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 7: Conversion of Weapons.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15700)Full Citation

3.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 6: Trade in Firearms.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15707)Full Citation

4.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 10: Authorised Trade.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15710)Full Citation

5.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 9: Trade Restrictions.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15708)Full Citation

6.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 40: Firearm Exports.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15716)Full Citation

7.

International Trade Centre (ITC).2022.‘Exported values (2002-2021).’ Trade Map.Geneva:International Trade Centre (ITC),31 August. (Q16040)Full Citation

8.

International Trade Centre (ITC).2022.‘Imported values (2002-2021).’ Trade Map.Geneva:International Trade Centre (ITC),31 August. (Q16041)Full Citation

9.

St. Helena.1997.‘Firearms Ordinance of 1997.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15699)Full Citation

10.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 14: Entertainment Activities.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15711)Full Citation

11.

Sherman, Amy and Tom Ginsburg.2014.‘Gun Rights in National Constitutions.’ Marco Rubio Says Second Amendment Is Unique in Speech to NRA.Miami, FL:Miami Herald (PolitiFact Florida),29 April. (Q8507)Full Citation

12.

Zachary Elkins, Tom Ginsburg and James Melton. 2013. ‘U.S. Gun Rights Truly Are American Exceptionalism.’ Bloomberg (USA). 7 March. (N422) Full Citation

13.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 8: Prohibited Weapons.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15709)Full Citation

14.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 5 - Shotgun Regulation.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15706)Full Citation

15.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 4 - Requirement of Firearm Certificate.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15705)Full Citation

16.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 13: Sporting Weapons.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15704)Full Citation

17.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 20: Minimum Age for Firearm Possession.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15701)Full Citation

18.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 21: Sales to Minors.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15715)Full Citation

19.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 18: Public Carry.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15713)Full Citation

20.

GunPolicy.org. 2015. ‘Penalty for Unlawful Firearm Possession.’ Definition and Selection Criteria.
Sydney School of Public Health, 22 January. (G93) Full Citation

21.

St. Helena.1997.‘Article 16: Illicit Firearm Possession.’ Firearms Ordinance of 1997 (2017 Revhttps://www.gunpolicy.org/administrator/index.php?option=com_gpo&controller=quotes&task=edit&id=2662#ision).Jamestown:St. Helena,22 December. (Q15712)Full Citation

22.

UN.2013.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York, NY:United Nations General Assembly,7 April. (Q290)Full Citation

23.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation

24.

United Nations.2017.‘Relevant Targets & Indicators.’ Sustainable Development Goal 16.New York NY:United Nations Statistics Division,6 July. (Q14093)Full Citation