Gun Policy News
Security and storage of firearms and ammunition
Argentina,Brazil,Chile,Colombia,Mexico
Gun Laws in Latin America's Largest Economies
26 August 2021
Council of the Americas (COA)
Countries may adopt stringent gun control laws, but their efforts are complicated by international arms smuggling. We explore policies in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico.
For government across Latin America, reducing violence and providing security are top agenda items. AS/COA Online looks at gun-related legislation in Latin America's largest economies, identifying regulations for arms licensing. In Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Deaths and Crime on the Rise in Albania
21 July 2021
Exit News
Out of the 3,566 perpetrators of firearm incidents in the Balkans during 2020, 98% were men. Furthermore, the number of deaths from firearms has increased over the last few years.
This is according to the Armed Violence Monitor report, authored by the South Easter and Easter Europea Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), functioning under the United Nations Development Programme and the Regional Cooperation Council.
The results... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigeria Adopts Tougher Penalties for Illegal Firearms
1 July 2021
Daily Independent (Nigeria)
The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill which provides for three years jail term or N3 million fine or both, as penalties for anyone caught illegally possessing or dealing in firearms in Nigeria.
Titled 'Firearms Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021', the piece of legislation amends section 35 (2) of the Principal Act which previously provided a fine of just N1000 as penalty.
The amendment to section 35(2), which is captured in Clause 4 of the bill, provides for stiffer... (GunPolicy.org)
Liberia Embarks on a Five-year Strategic Plan for Arms Control
8 June 2021
Analyst (Liberia)
The Liberia National Commission on Small Arms (LiNCSA) has concluded three-day stakeholders' validation sessions to endorse a five-year Strategic Plan (2021-2025) that has been formulated to provide strategic direction for the Commission. The Plan will essentially guide management decisions, planned programs and activities in the accomplishment of its general and specific mandates and institutional sustainability. The five-year Strategic Plan builds and improves on... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,Americas,Asia,Europe,Oceania
Basic Steps That Can Stop Catastrophic Explosions at Munition Sites
8 April 2021
Conversation
A series of massive blasts recently rocked Equatorial Guinea's city of Bata. The explosions, at an army barracks, killed over 100 people and destroyed military buildings as well as people's homes around the site. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema stated that the explosions were "caused by negligence of the unit in charge of storing explosives, dynamite and ammunition at the Nkoa Ntoma military camp".
Unplanned explosions at munitions sites have occurred on all continents... (GunPolicy.org)
Multiple Arrests and Firearms Seized in Australian Police Raids
7 April 2021
Australian Border Force, Media release
Law enforcement agencies across Australia seized 823 firearms last month as part of a national week of action.
Operation Athena, a collaborative and national law enforcement group comprising of police from jurisdictions across Australia with assistance from Federal agencies including Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) undertook a national week of action across Australia to target the trafficking and use of illicit firearms.
A number... (GunPolicy.org)
Forthcoming ASW Buyback Campaign and Ban in Canada
11 February 2021
CBC News (Canada)
Voluntary program will provide compensation to gun owners who give up firearms on blacklist
The Liberal government is expected to table a bill in the coming days that will set up a program to buy back assault-style weapons that were blacklisted last spring, Radio-Canada has learned.
The voluntary program will provide financial compensation to gun owners who give up their banned weapons, with the aim of taking them out of circulation.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than 100,000 Californians Have Bought A Gun In Response To Covid-19 Crisis, Report Finds
20 October 2020
Guardian
More than a hundred thousand Californians have bought a gun since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, a new report has found, in a surge of gun sales that has experts worried about the risk of suicide and deadly instances of domestic violence.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, found that 110,000 people in California purchased a firearm in direct response to the coronavirus. About 47,000 of the buyers were first-time gun owners. Buyers cited... (GunPolicy.org)
The Do's and Don'ts of Gun-handling in Uganda
11 September 2020
Daily Monitor (Uganda)
On the morning of September 5, a video clip showed State minister for Labour Mwesigwa Rukutana grabbing a gun from a police officer before aiming it at people in a car.
What followed is a long story. I review this safety and security incident by questioning and trying to answer to the question. This article tries to show what should be followed when one has or uses a firearm.
Firearms have different sizes and they include pistols, AK47, machine guns, anti-aircraft... (GunPolicy.org)
Aftermath of Thailand's Worst Mass Shooting
17 February 2020
al Jazeera
Korat, Thailand - The day of horror started like any other Saturday for Tanatit, "Tok", 43, a moto-taxi driver who works in front of Nakhon Ratchasima's Terminal 21 shopping centre.
He was sitting with a group of other riders - making light of another busy day - chatting, laughing between rides. The men could not have known they were about to witness a massacre.
"He just walked up and started shooting. He killed two people right here," Tok told Al Jazeera, pointing to... (GunPolicy.org)
The Underlying Trends of the Korat Mall Massacre
17 February 2020
Channel News Asia
BANGKOK: The mass shooting at the Terminal 21 mall in Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima (or Korat) over the weekend is unprecedented in Thailand.
It raises serious questions about the security of arms in the Royal Thai Armed Forces. It also sheds light on corruption in the armed forces and on Thailand's gun culture in general.
The assailant killed at least 29, including civilians, soldiers and police responders and wounded scores more with a staggering amount of firepower... (GunPolicy.org)
Business Spat Behind Mass Shooting
10 February 2020
New York Times
BANGKOK — Thailand's army commander said Tuesday the soldier who killed 29 people in a shooting rampage had not been treated fairly in a land deal involving his commander and such arrangements would have to be halted.
The gunman killed his superior officer and the officer's mother-in-law, stole weapons and a vehicle and headed to a popular shopping mall in a northeastern city where he holed up for hours before security officers killed him.
Gen. Apirat Kongsompong... (GunPolicy.org)
Stockpile Security Lapses in Thai Mass Shooting
10 February 2020
Voice of America
NAKHON RATCHASIMA, THAILAND - It's still unclear how a Thai soldier managed to steal heavy weapons from an army base which he then used to kill 29 people and hold off security forces for almost 16 hours while he was holed up in a popular shopping mall.
That he could is less surprising, say experts in military matters.
The question has a special sting because the country's tough-talking army commander just a few weeks ago gave a high-profile interview in which he said... (GunPolicy.org)
Liberia: End Proliferation of Small Arms in ECOWAS Region
28 November 2019
Front Page Africa (FPA)
The 11th Annual National Commissions on Small Arms (NATCOM) meeting of the ECOWAS 15 Member States kicked off Tuesday, November 26, in Monrovia with a call on member states to collaborate to end the proliferation of small arms in West Africa.
Liberia's Chairperson on Small Arms, Att'y Teklo Maxwell Grigsby said hosting the meeting is Liberia is timely because there have been many gains made by the Liberian Small Arms Commission.
He said there is a need to accelerate... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Secrecy and Tracking Illicit Firearms
14 June 2019
ABC News (Australia)
How did the accused Darwin gunman, parolee Ben Hoffmann, get his hands on a shotgun and allegedly kill four people?
Likely with relative ease — according to the public health professor behind the world's largest catalogue of evidence on gun violence, firearm law and gun control.
The 12-gauge pump action shotgun was seized at the time of Hoffman's arrest, and police later confirmed its serial number matched a weapon stolen in 1997.
That scenario — a long-armed... (GunPolicy.org)
Results of WA Gun Control Campaign
3 January 2019
West Australian (Perth)
Close to 7 per cent of WA gun owners targeted in a six-week operation recently were pinged by police for allegedly not storing guns properly.
Police charged 185 gun owners with non-compliance offences out of 2710 addresses checked, with officers alarmingly finding 26 firearms had been lost or stolen. About 400 firearms, including 28 handguns, were seized.
Seventy-two people were charged with 320 unrelated offences. Operation Bluesun Commander Jo McCabe said she was... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Laws and Ownership in Italy
23 March 2018
Local (Italy)
Italians do not have a fundamental right to bear arms, and there are tough laws regulating both ownership and use of guns in the country.
Before buying a gun, you first need to get a gun purchasing licence ( Licenza di porto d'armi o Nulla osta) -- this is also necessary if you inherit or are given a weapon. To be eligible, you must be over 18, have a certificate from a shooting range to prove you can safely use the firearm, have a clean criminal record, and state that... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Yemen,China,Israel,Russia,Brazil,United Kingdom,Germany,India,Canada,Austria,Australia,Mexico,United States,Japan,South Africa
How to Buy a Gun in 15 Countries
2 March 2018
New York Times
Many Americans can buy a gun in less than an hour. The process takes months in some countries. Here are the basic steps for how most people buy a gun in 15 of them. Many countries have exceptions for specialized professions, and local laws vary.
United States
1) Pass an instant background check that considers criminal convictions, domestic violence and immigration status.
2) Buy a gun. Many states have additional buying restrictions, including waiting periods and... (GunPolicy.org)
How South Korea Got Rid of Its Gun Problem
27 February 2018
Korea Exposé
In the aftermath of yet another mass shooting in the United States, international and domestic media have published articles touting South Korea as a model of gun regulation. But contrary to popular belief, freedom from gun violence is a relatively new development in the country.
It's true that South Korea is a good place to visit these days if you're trying to avoid guns. According to the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), there were just five gun homicides in... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda to Audit All Police Guns
15 December 2017
Daily Monitor (Uganda)
The Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura has ordered for an audit of all police guns.
In his directive to the in charge of classified stores, Commissioner of Police Good Mwesigwa, Gen Kayihura says the full audit is to start with all police pistols.
He has also demanded for a full accountability of all police pistols and other firearms adding that a computerized register of all the guns be developed.
In a letter dated December 13, 2017, Gen Kayihura also... (GunPolicy.org)
Lobbyists Say States Should Be Allowed to Personalise NFA
6 October 2017
Queensland Country Life
There has been immediate condemnation of the findings of a report into Australia's gun laws, commissioned by Gun Control Australia.
The report, authored by Philip Alpers, an associate professor of public health at the University of Sydney, claimed that Australia's tough gun laws had been significantly watered down by state governments since they were introduced under the National Firearms Agreement in the days after the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996.
As well as... (GunPolicy.org)
Australians Turn In 12,500 Guns as National Amnesty Opens
11 August 2017
New York Times
SYDNEY, Australia — The first numbers for the National Gun Amnesty are in, and more than 12,500 unregistered firearms have been surrendered since it started last month, Michael Keenan, the minister for justice, announced on Thursday.
The amnesty, which is running from July 1 to Sept. 30, allows people to hand unwanted or unregistered firearms over to the police and to licensed firearm dealers without fear of prosecution. Ordinarily, the possession of an unregistered... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Shop Loses 130 Handguns to Thieves in Western Australia
24 March 2017
ABC News (Australia)
Western Australia's Police Commissioner is calling for tighter regulations affecting gun stores and owners following the "highly organised" theft of 130 handguns from a Perth store.
But gun lobby groups have dismissed his comments, saying WA is already the most regulated state in Australia and any further controls would be overkill.
It comes after police revealed 130 handguns including revolvers and semi-automatics were stolen from Barry and Son Firearms in Beckenham... (GunPolicy.org)
Florida Airport Screeners Report Seized, Loaded Guns Up 55%
22 November 2016
ABC News (USA)
TAMPA -- Security screeners at Tampa International Airport are seeing record numbers of deadly weapons and guns coming through. It's a growing problem for them and you when it comes to wait times in lines.
"We're number one in the state for the number of deadly dangerous items that were finding" says TSA's Federal Security Director Lee Kair.
Kair tells us some items are obvious weapons, but some are hard to spot, like lipstick that's really a knife, or credit card... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Background Checks Work, May Hamper Suicide Prevention
17 November 2016
Channel News Asia (Singapore), Reuters
Gun control laws that mandate a background check before a gun can be temporarily transferred to a friend or family member may interfere with suicide prevention efforts, researchers say.
The research team looked at what happens when people want to temporarily remove firearms from their home because they fear someone in the house might be considering a suicide attempt. In some states, they found, gun control laws may actually hamper the ability to easily transfer a gun... (GunPolicy.org)
US Dilemma: Destroy or Recirculate Guns Seized in Crime?
17 October 2016
WFMY News
GREENSBORO -- Some police departments across the state are facing a gun dilemma and it's not what you might think.
The recent uptick in violent crimes and more aggressive police initiatives to curb it, means some, like the Greensboro Police Department, are taking a lot of guns off the streets.
But a state law is presenting a dilemma where some of those departments can't decide what to do with the guns once a case is over and they no longer need the gun for... (GunPolicy.org)
At Least One American Child Dies by Gunshot Every Other Day
14 October 2016
USA Today, Associated Press
Hours earlier, he was a happy 4-year-old who loved Ironman and the Hulk and all the Avengers. Now, as Bryson Mees-Hernandez approached death in a Houston hospital room, his brain swelling through the bullet hole in his face, his mother assured the boy it was OK to die.
"When you are on the other side," his mother, Crystal Mees, recalls telling him, "you are going to see Mommy cry a lot. It's not because she's mad. It's because she misses you."
And this: "It's not your... (GunPolicy.org)
Higher Rates of Gun Death in US States with Weaker Gun Laws
12 October 2016
Mother Jones (USA)
The rates of gun violence in the 10 states with the weakest gun laws are more than three times higher than those in the 10 states with the strongest gun laws. That's one of the major findings of a new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) that analyzes 10 indicators of firearm violence—including suicide, murder, fatal gun accidents, and mass shootings—in all 50 states and finds a "strong" correlation between gun violence and weak gun laws.
The states... (GunPolicy.org)
In Two Years, 295 US Children Under 13 Have Shot Someone
10 October 2016
The Trace (USA)
Christa Engles was shot in the head in November, 2014 by her 3-year-old son while changing her baby's diaper in her Tulsa, Oklahoma home. The boy had found the 9mm semiautomatic handgun on a living room table.
Two months later, in Elmo, Missouri, five-year-old Corbin Wiederholt used a .22-caliber handgun he picked up off the headboard of the grandfather's bed to shoot and kill his nine-month-old brother.
Not long after that, at a home in LeBleu Settlement, Louisiana,... (GunPolicy.org)
As Part of Balkan Cleanup, Albania Destroys 2,199 More Guns
5 October 2016
SEESAC (Belgrade), Media release
The Albanian Ministry of Defence (MoD), with support of SEESAC, began the destruction of 2,199 weapons on 3 October 2016. On the first day, 100 pieces of small arms and light weapons (SALW) were destroyed. The weapons are being disposed of at the Uzina Mekanike Gramsh (UM Gramsh) facility during the month of October. The destruction of SALW is supported by the European Union, through the EU Council Decision 2013/730/CFSP, in Support of SEESAC Disarmament and Arms... (GunPolicy.org)
No Training Required to Own Some Guns in France [FR]
30 September 2016
La Nouvelle Republique (France)
[Translated summary: In France, firearms are divided into 4 categories. Category A includes all military firearms, that are absolutely prohibited. Category B includes firearms that can be owned, but they require a special authorisation. However, guns that belong to the C and D category don't require the owner to know how to handle them, they only need to have a shooting club membership.]
La réglementation sur les armes est très stricte en France. Mais il reste facile... (GunPolicy.org)
Why Such Different Gun Ownership, Suicide Rates in US States?
29 September 2016
The Trace (USA)
Massachusetts and New Hampshire share more than a border, Puritan heritage, and the New England Patriots. Both states are prosperous, with median household incomes and state health care systems that rank among the top ten in the country. They're predominantly white and largely Christian.
Despite these similarities, the two states diverge drastically in a key public health metric. In 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, New Hampshire's gun suicide... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 35 Gun Experts Meet in Moldova to Discuss Illicit Trafficking
27 September 2016
SEESAC (Belgrade)
Over 35 firearms experts from South East Europe are meeting in Chisinau, Moldova on 27 – 28 September for the 5th Regional Meeting of the South East Europe Fire Arms Experts Network (SEEFEN). Funded by the European Union (EU), the meeting is gathering prosecutors, police and customs officials from the region to discuss their experiences, good practices and most effective ways in combating illicit trafficking of firearms.
"The threats we face are greater than... (GunPolicy.org)
Criminal Gun Misuse in Australia Reveals Gun Law Limitations
16 September 2016
NRA Institute for Legislative Action
While anti-gun politicians like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama tout Australia's gun control laws as a model for the United States, recent reporting on crime in Melbourne from newspaper The Age revealed the limitations of Australia's stringent laws. According to the paper, "Despite Australia's strict gun control regime, criminals are now better armed than at any time since then-Prime Minister John Howard introduced a nationwide firearm buyback scheme in response to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Surgeon Frustrated After Decades of Sewing Up Shot Children
12 August 2016
Houston Chronicle (Texas)
Dr. David Wesson points to a spot below his belly button. That's where the .22-caliber bullet pierced the abdomen of the first pediatric gunshot victim he ever treated.
The boy was 1 month old. He was perched on the kitchen table. His father had been cleaning a rifle when it unexpectedly discharged. The bullet ricocheted through the infant's body.
The surgeon's finger traces upward across his white coat, zig-zagging like a child's pencil following the lines of a maze:... (GunPolicy.org)
Police to Verify Addresses of Gun Applicants in Chile [ES]
8 August 2016
La Tercera (Chile)
[Translated summary: According to Chile's Firearm Control Law, police will now have to verify the address of every new applicant for a gun licence. New regulations also include a psychiatric examination, a skill test, and a check of criminal records. Chile has an estimated 769,000 active firearms registered.]
Resolución de la DGMN aumenta medidas de seguridad para la tenencia de armamento y ordena comprobar la dirección del dueño. Además, los instrumentos de fuego... (GunPolicy.org)
Sweden Allows Only Responsible People to Have a Gun Licence
8 August 2016
Vox (USA)
Twenty years ago, I headed to Sweden for a sabbatical year to study the country's attitudes toward hunting. As a responsible hunter, I brought my own guns — an old 12-gauge shotgun and a Remington .30-06 — because I didn't want to miss a shot or wound an animal using unfamiliar, borrowed firearms.
As a sociologist I thought that bringing my own firearms would give me some firsthand experience with European gun laws. That happened sooner than I expected.
My... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Lose 60 Pistols, Rifles, Machine Gun in Canada [FR]
7 August 2016
La Presse (Montréal)
[Translated summary: Between 2008 and March 2016, agents of the Canadian Mounted Police have lost 48 firearms. Another 12 were stolen from them. Types include rifles, shotguns, pistols and one machine gun. Police must store their arms safely; they can face criminal charges if they are responsible for the loss or theft.]
Une adolescente de Winnipeg atteinte par balle a frôlé la mort l'an dernier. Le pistolet de son assaillant s'est révélé être une arme de service... (GunPolicy.org)
Reducing Access to Guns Lowers Suicide Rates Internationally
28 July 2016
EurekAlert (US)
NEW YORK -- Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) have found that legislation reducing access to firearms has lowered firearm suicide rates in other countries. This finding is based on evidence from around the world on the relationship between firearm ownership and firearm suicide rates.
The report was published recently in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
To reduce firearm suicide rates in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Spanish Gun Owners Must Prove Physical, Mental Health [ES]
27 July 2016
La Voz de Galicia (Spain)
[Translated summary: Applicants for firearm licences in Spain must prove good physical and mental health and the necessary knowledge to store and handle them. Some firearms with historic or artistic value are exempt from licences. Minors between 14 and 18 years of age can obtain special authorizations to own some types of firearms, but only for hunting and sport.]
La legislación que regula el uso de armas en España tiene muy en cuenta que la persona que las utiliza... (GunPolicy.org)
Israeli Company Creates Gun Lock to Prevent Unauthorized Use
25 July 2016
Times of Israel
Jerusalem-based Zore is one of a group of companies trying to make guns safer, and it has a personal reason to do so.
The company, led by CEO Yonatan Zimmerman, was founded by a group of Israeli army veterans, who decided to tackle accidental deaths caused by the misuse of firearms after an army friend of theirs was shot by friendly fire.
The team has developed a gun lock, Zore X, that combines a gun's original mechanism with technology to create a storage solution... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany's Stringent Gun Ownership Rules
23 July 2016
Daily Mail (UK)
BERLIN/FRANKFURT - An 18-year-old German-Iranian believed to have acted alone killed nine people in a shooting spree with a pistol at a busy shopping centre in Munich on Friday evening.
Here are some facts about acquiring and owning a gun in Germany.
1. Germany has some of the "most stringent" rules around gun control in Europe, according to the U.S. Library of Congress. (https://www.loc.gov/law/help/firearms-control/germany.php#t1)
2. To own a gun in Germany, it is... (GunPolicy.org)
Montenegro Destroys 1,140 Confiscated Guns
9 July 2016
SEESAC (Belgrade)
Montenegro destroyed 1140 pieces of small arms and light weapons (SALW) at a smelter in Niksic to mark the International Gun Destruction Day on 9 July, 2016, including 752 guns and one revolver, 7 automatic weapons, 381 rifles and 214 different part of weapons.
Minister of Internal Affairs Goran Danilovic, Head of European Union (EU) Delegation to Montenegro Mitja Drobnic, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Fiona McCluney and... (GunPolicy.org)
Bosnia & Herzegovina Destroy 1,008 Confiscated Guns
9 July 2016
SEESAC (Belgrade)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) destroyed 1,008 pieces of small arms and light weapons (SALW) at the Jelsingrad Smelter in Banja Luka to mark 9 July, International Gun Destruction Day. The destroyed SALW included 234 long barrels, 337 short barrels and 437 other weapons and belonging equipment. Weapons destroyed have been confiscated by five police agencies of BiH over the course of the last several months as part of their law enforcement activities. Their destruction was... (GunPolicy.org)
Kosovo Destroys 2,382 Seized Guns
7 July 2016
SEESAC (Belgrade)
Kosovo* joined the annual International Gun Destruction Day on 7 July 2016 by destroying over 2382 pieces of small arms and light weapons (SALW), including 888 short firearms and 1494 long firearms. The weapons marked for destruction have been confiscated by the Kosovo Police during their crime investigation work. The destruction is conducted with support from the German Foreign Office and United Nations Development Programme.
The event was also used to launch social... (GunPolicy.org)
FARC Guns To Be Melted Into 3 Monuments in Colombia [ES]
23 June 2016
El Tiempo (Bogotá)
[Translated summary: According to the agreement signed by the government and the FARC, their surrendered firearms are going to be collected, stored and melted to make three monuments in Colombia. Once the members of the FARC are completely disarmed, they will be able to rejoin civilian life.]
Serán registradas, almacenadas y sacadas de los campamentos. Se fundirán para hacer tres monumentos.
Las armas con las que la guerrilla de las Farc le ha hecho la guerra al... (GunPolicy.org)
Organised Criminals Target Australian Rural Gun Owners
29 May 2016
Sydney Morning Herald
Organised criminals and bikies are using associates to steal from country gun owners to bolster weapon caches, with more than 90 per cent of all stolen firearms in NSW now coming from rural areas.
In one case in the past 18 months, people infiltrated a gun club in northern NSW to work out who had firearms at their home before stealing them.
More recently, police uncovered 28 guns at a man's house in Sydney's west that had been allegedly stolen from several properties... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns in Homes Make Australian Families Less Safe: Opinion
24 May 2016
Mercury (Australia), Opinion
How many Tasmanians are aware of the increase in the number of shooters who want Adler lever-action guns?
The weapons are not listed in the C Category with semiautomatic weapons, yet they can fire eight rounds before being reloaded and can be modified to take 11 rounds.
If a fanatic or mentally or emotionally unstable person obtains an Adler gun, the result could be catastrophic.
If recent terrorists had used an Adler, more innocents could have died. What is the risk... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Sales Trigger Craze for Secret Furniture Compartments
20 May 2016
Fox News (USA)
Rising gun sales have triggered a new trend in furniture fashion -- coffee tables, cabinets, headboards and hutches with secret compartments for firearms.
'Gun concealment furniture' sales, once the province of solitary craftsmen making custom goods have gone mainstream, allowing firearms owners to maintain easy in-home access to hidden handguns and rifles.
"There are a lot of people who don't want a big iron safe," said Dan Ingram, owner of NJ Concealment Furniture,... (GunPolicy.org)
NZ Collector Loses 11 Machine Guns, Assault rifles to Thieves
19 May 2016
New Zealand Herald
A white stationwagon seen near a Dargaville property could hold the key to the theft of 11 automatic weapons - including submachine guns and assault rifles - stolen from the gun safe.
Dargaville Police are appealing for sightings of the white stationwagon that was seen near a house that was later discovered to have been burgled and a number of firearms stolen.
About 5.30pm on Tuesday, the occupants of a residential Dargaville property found they had been burgled.
As... (GunPolicy.org)
Botswana Police Raffle 50 Pistol Licences to 3,450 Applicants
19 May 2016
Botswana Daily News (Gaborone)
GABORONE — Botswana Police Service issued 50 short-guns licenses at a raffle conducted in Gaborone on Thursday. Speaking at the draw, chairman of the Arms Quota Board, acting commissioner of police, Mr Bruno Paledi, said issues of fire arms made headlines on news around the world.
He said small weapons were involved in killing of people and as such, he encouraged those who won the draw to exercise maximum care in handling fire arms at all times. Mr Paledi said... (GunPolicy.org)
US States With More Gun Owners Have More Gun Suicides
19 May 2016
United Press International
In states where there are more gun owners, there are also more gun-related suicides, a new U.S. study finds.
Looking at 33 years' worth of data, the researchers found that states with more gun owners generally had more suicides by firearm among both men and women. Men in those states also had higher overall suicide rates.
The findings do not prove that guns lead to more suicides, said lead researcher Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor at the Boston University School of... (GunPolicy.org)
Nothing to Stop US Doctors Asking Patients About Their Guns
17 May 2016
US News & World Report
Physicians often don't ask patients whether they have a gun at home, but a group of doctors say it's time to start.
Dr. Garen Wintemute, director of the violence prevention research program at the University of California—Davis wrote recommendations for discussing gun ownership with patients in an article published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. They recommended that doctors first ask during routine screening whether a patient keeps a gun in the house. If... (GunPolicy.org)
In Two Weeks, 7 US Toddlers Shot Someone with a Gun
7 May 2016
News.com.au
It has been 10 days of "gut wrenching" carnage in the US, with a tragic number of toddlers being fatally shot or inflicting injury on a family member, simply because of an unsecured firearm.
In their own homes, in their cots or in the car — 2016 has seen a concerning spike in toddler related shootings than in the previous year.
As the second biggest killer in the country, 23 incidents of shootings that involve toddlers have already happened this year alone. That's... (GunPolicy.org)
UK War Veteran Jailed Over Huge Stash of Illegal Weapons
30 April 2016
Daily Mail (UK)
A pensioner has been jailed for possessing a 'terrifying arsenal' of illegal weapons at his home in Greater Manchester - including guns, shells and a missile.
RAF veteran Harry Jones was secretary of the Tameside Gun Club for nearly 40 years and was a trusted authority on weaponry.
But his obsession with firearms led to him amassing the huge stash of weapons, including nine handguns and an Al Capone-style Tommy gun kept in a violin case - all in full working... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama Seeks Demonstration of 'Smart-Gun' Technology
29 April 2016
Washington Times
The Justice Department put out a call Friday for demonstrations of "smart-gun" technology, part of President Obama's executive actions pushing for more gun regulation.
In a notice published in the Federal Register, the National Institute of Justice announced it is seeking "an objective demonstration of the reliability of firearms available today with advanced gun safety technology integrated into the firearm." Prize money of up to $150,000 will be awarded to the most... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama Puts His Weight Behind Smart-Gun Technology
29 April 2016
New York Times
WASHINGTON — President Obama will use the power of his office to try to jump-start long-stalled "smart-gun" technology that could eventually allow only the owner of a firearm to use it, the White House announced Friday.
Over the opposition of gun rights groups, he also vowed to push ahead with a new federal policy giving the F.B.I. access to more mental health records of some Social Security recipients to better flag people who might be banned from buying a gun.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
White House Hopes to Launch US Smart Gun Technology
29 April 2016
NBC News (USA)
The White House hopes it can finally launch smart gun technology — childproof weaponry aimed at stopping accidental shootings and increasing gun safety.
The administration is, for the first time, trying to put in place the requirements needed so law enforcement could eventually use smart guns. It's using findings in a new report from the Defense, Homeland Security and Justice Departments — agencies that were directed in January to look into the matter as Obama... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Control Laws Changed Australia, says PM John Howard
26 April 2016
Sydney Morning Herald
Just six weeks into the job, Prime Minister John Howard was pottering at Kirribilli House when he received a call from his press secretary, Tony O'Leary, alerting him to the tragedy unfolding at Port Arthur.
"I turned on the television and within minutes others from my office and the Federal police Commissioner rang me to explain what was happening," Mr Howard recalled this week, on the eve of that fateful day on April 28,1996.
Thirty-five people, mostly tourists... (GunPolicy.org)
Kansas Gives Away Free Gun Locks, No Questions Asked
25 April 2016
Fox 4 Newsroom (USA)
KANSAS CITY — After a little girl was killed by gunfire inside her own home on Thursday, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp is reminding families of the 'No Questions Asked' program.
Gun owners can pick up a gun lock at Children's Mercy Hospital's Adele Hall campus, the south campus in Overland Park, and the Midtown Broadway clinic. They can also get one at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office in Lee's Summit.
"Protecting firearms in the home more than a substantial... (GunPolicy.org)
US: Toddler Fatally Shoots Himself with Mother's Gun
21 April 2016
Washington Post
A 2-year-old Indiana boy fatally shot himself Wednesday evening after discovering a gun in his mother's purse, authorities said.
The boy retrieved the gun when his mother "momentarily stepped away," leaving her purse on the kitchen counter, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a news release.
"The grieving mother is cooperating with detectives and after detectives questioned her she was later released," the release stated. "This incident is being... (GunPolicy.org)
European Union Mulls Changes to Gun Control Laws [FR]
20 April 2016
Europarl
[Translated summary: European Union MEPs debated amendments to a proposal to the European Commission regarding the EU Directive on Firearms. During the debate, they discussed arms classification, marking and tracing of firearms, licensing, storage, as well as online sales.]
Les amendements déposés par la députée en charge du dossier à la proposition de la Commission européenne sur la révision de la directive de l'UE concernant les armes à feu ont été... (GunPolicy.org)
More Stringent Requirements for California Gun Dealers
19 April 2016
Breitbart News (USA)
On April 19, a bill that could literally ban all Federal Firearm License holders (FFLs) from doing business in the state of California goes before the State Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.
The bill – Assembly Bill 2459 – is sponsored by Assembly Member Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). If passed, it would shackle FFLs with four new requirements, the totality of which could simply force gun stores to close their doors.
The NRA-ILA reported the... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Debates Gun Law Merits 20 Years After Port Arthur
18 April 2016
Financial Times (UK)
PORT ARTHUR -- The shell of the Broad Arrow Cafe is seen behind the cross bearing the names of those who lost their lives in the Memorial Garden in the Port Arthur Historical Site on April 18, 2016 in Port Arthur, Australia. The historic town became infamous on April 28, 1996 when Martin Bryant began shooting indiscriminately with a high-powered rifle on people visiting the site. 35 people were killed and a further 23 were injured in what remains the world's worst... (GunPolicy.org)
One Gun a Day Stolen in South Australia, Going to Crims
11 April 2016
Advertiser (Adelaide)
More than one gun a day is lost or stolen in SA, prompting calls for a crackdown on "irresponsible" owners amid fears the weapons are falling into criminal hands.
As the nation prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre later this month, The Advertiser can reveal that 2294 guns have been reported as missing in the past four years
They include pump-action shotguns, semiautomatic pistols and assault rifles.
Police said "criminals value firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
US Internet Gun Sites Lack Important Safety Information
7 April 2016
Fox News (USA), Reuters
Gun owners looking for safety tips on the Web may not find what they need to know, a recent study suggests.
Most U.S. websites with information on guns do not include important guidelines on how to store guns safely and keep them out of reach of children, researchers report in the journal Injury Prevention.
"Firearm injury and death are unfortunately very common among U.S. children and adolescents," said lead author Dr. Katherine Freundlich of the University of... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearm Dealers Challenge Gun Suicide Taboo in Colorado
6 April 2016
San Francisco Chronicle
MONTROSE, Colorado -- Keith Carey is a gunsmith in Montrose, a town with a frontier flavor set amid the mesas of western Colorado. He's a staunch, though soft-spoken, defender of the right to bear arms.
Yet now he's a willing recruit in a fledgling effort to see if the gun community itself — sellers and owners of firearms, operators of shooting ranges — can help Colorado and other Western states reduce their highest-in-the-nation suicide rates.
"Suicide is a... (GunPolicy.org)
Do You Own a Gun? Why Your Kid's Doctor Needs to Know
1 April 2016
Washington Post, Opinion
'Do you have guns in the home?" It's a standard question pediatricians ask patients and their parents, an entry into a conversation about storage and safety.
"Of course not — we don't believe in that," answered one mother who came to our practice with her 7-year-old.
Her son looked up from his iPad and grinned. "But Bobby's dad has a really cool gun! Bobby showed it to me last week."
"What do you mean?" his mother asked. "A toy gun?"
"No, a real one!" he boasted,... (GunPolicy.org)
Florida Officials Want to Charge Mother Shot by Her Toddler
25 March 2016
San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press
PALATKA, Florida -- The mother of a 4-year-old boy who shot her as they were riding in a pickup truck should face a misdemeanour charge, authorities said Tuesday as they released details of the shooting for the first time.
The mother, 31-year-old Jamie Gilt, put a loaded .45-caliber handgun underneath the front seat of her pickup on March 8 and the weapon slid into the back seat where her son Lane was riding in a child booster seat, Putnam County Sheriff's Capt. Gator... (GunPolicy.org)
Lax Gun Tracing and Registration in Belgium - Experts [FR]
20 March 2016
Le Soir (Belgique)
[Translated summary: According to a retired Commissioner, Belgium lacks transparency in terms of gun numbers; Police reports are outdated; the Firearms Act is unreadable; Police and Customs are under-funded and under-equipped to fight arms trafficking.]
1. La Belgique n'a pas de vision, pas de chiffres
Personne n'est capable d'estimer aujourd'hui combien d'armes illégales circulent en Belgique. « On a bien une vue sur la détention légale, on n'a absolument aucune... (GunPolicy.org)
Study Claims 3 US Gun Laws Could Cut Gun Deaths by 90%
19 March 2016
New Scientist
Most of the laws aimed at gun control in the US don't work. But three do. Implement them at a national level, and we could cut firearm deaths by 90 per cent.
That's the conclusion of a recent study, and it sounds like great news. But the findings have come under heavy fire from other researchers.
There are more than 33,000 firearm deaths each year in the US. Yet no one knows which, if any, laws are effective in reducing this number. This is partly due to lack of... (GunPolicy.org)
Background Checks, Bullet Tracing to Curb US Gun Deaths
17 March 2016
Reuters
If every state in the U.S. had mandatory background checks for gun and ammunition purchases and required traceable bullets, firearms-related deaths might plunge by more than 80 percent, a new study projects.
More than 31,600 people died by guns in the U.S. in 2010, a rate of 10.1 deaths for each 100,000 residents. Hawaii had the lowest death rate – 3.21 for each 100,000 people – while Alaska had the highest – 20.3 for every 100,000 residents.
Laws that require... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Dealt with Mass Shootings, Gun Death Fell 60%
13 March 2016
CBS News (USA)
In the wake of a deadly shooting rampage back in 1996, the Australian government reacted quickly and decisively to ban certain guns. So did it make a difference? Seth Doane takes a look:
"It's said that when you lose your parents, you lose your past. When you lose your child, you lose your future," said Carolyn Loughton.
She'd flung herself on top of her daughter when a gunman started shooting, but it was not enough to save Sarah's life. "She had just turned 15,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Macabre Truth: US Toddlers Shoot, Kill More than Terrorists Do
13 March 2016
Guardian, Opinion
This week, in my country, considered by some of its more embarrassing denizens to be the "greatest country in the world", an outspoken Florida "gun rights" advocate left a loaded .45 calibre handgun in the back seat of her car and was promptly shot and wounded by her four-year-old child. Truly a pinnacle of human potential, much like the invention of paper in second-century BC China, or Aristotle holding forth in the Lyceum, or whoever first pointed out that Florida... (GunPolicy.org)
New Zealand: Police Have No System to Track Stolen Guns
11 March 2016
Stuff (New Zealand)
Thousands of guns stolen each year in New Zealand are ending up in the arms of gang members but police have no systems in place to track guns or what has been stolen.
Owner of Timaru's Gun City Wayne Golightly said police have told him that more than 100 firearms have been stolen in South Canterbury in the past year and about 2000 across New Zealand.
But police were unable to supply information under the Official Information Act about the number of burglaries... (GunPolicy.org)
US Pro-gun Lobbyist Shot in the Back by Her 4-year-old Son
9 March 2016
Washington Post
Hours after gun-rights advocate Jamie Gilt bragged on Facebook that her 4-year-old son "gets jacked up to target shoot," the same child accidentally turned his mother into a target, shooting her in the back.
The 31-year-old Jacksonville woman was driving down a road in Putnam County, Fla., on Tuesday when her son managed to get hold of a gun while he was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle, according to a statement released by the Putnam County Sheriff's... (GunPolicy.org)
Pro-gun Florida Mom Shot by Her 4yr-old Son While Driving
9 March 2016
Daily Mail (UK)
Pro-gun Florida mom is accidentally shot by her four-year-old son while driving after the boy found her pistol in back seat - just a day after she bragged about his shooting skills
- Jamie Gilt, 31, was driving with her son, 4, through Putnam County, Florida
- The child picked up a loaded .45 handgun from the back seat and fired
- Gilt was shot and wounded after the round passed through the truck's seat
- She told deputies that she had been shot in the back by her... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Rights Advocate Accidentally Shot in the Back by Her 4-year-old Son
9 March 2016
Mashable, Associated Press
A north Florida woman is in the hospital after her 4-year-old son shot her in the back while sitting in the backseat of her pickup truck.
31-year-old Jamie Gilt is a self-described advocate for "gun sense" who posts enthusiastically on social media sites about firearms and protecting her right to bear arms. She appears to be the same Jamie Gilt who was hospitalized yesterday.
A Putnam County Sheriff's Office news release says a deputy saw Gilt behaving frantically... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Australia,Brazil,South Africa
Gun Control: What Works and What Doesn't
7 March 2016
Washington Post, Blog
Gun control works, but you have to be smart about it.
That's the takeaway from a major new analysis out this month in the journal Epidemiologic Reviews. Columbia University's Julian Santaella-Tenorio and a team of researchers pored over the results of 130 studies on gun control legislation passed in 10 different countries to find out which policy interventions worked, which ones didn't and on what issues the jury was still out.
Big caveat up front: Sussing out cause... (GunPolicy.org)
Interest in Sport Shooting Up Since France Gun Attacks [FR]
2 March 2016
Zoomdici (France)
[Translated summary: Since the dramatic attacks of 2015 in France, there has been a rising interest in sport shooting, according to clubs, and not only due to the passion for the sports practice.]
Depuis les dramatiques événements de 2015 en France et la mise en place de l'état d'urgence, le sujet est tellement tabou que toutes les personnes interrogées ont préféré garder l'anonymat. Selon des membres de la direction de clubs, l'intérêt croissant pour le tir... (GunPolicy.org)
The People Who Want British Gun Laws to Be Relaxed
23 February 2016
BBC News
Gun debate in Britain tends to focus on what is happening in the US, but more than 700,000 firearm owners live in England and Wales. Who are they, and why do some want laws relaxed?
"It's frustrating for me that when you tell someone you own a gun you're instantly labelled a weirdo. It's like a secret society," Callum Long-Collins explains from a gun shop in Botley Mills, Hampshire.
He owns seven firearms, but did not want to show them in his own home in case it gave... (GunPolicy.org)
Neither Side Wants an Israeli Second Amendment
18 February 2016
Jerusalem Post
Gun control isn't usually a major political issue here, but it has come up in a big way in recent months, after several terrorists in the current wave of terrorism were subdued by civilians.
The debate on gun control came to a head in Monday's inaugural meeting of the Knesset Caucus on Firearms Policy - perhaps the closet Israel has ever gotten to a US-style "gun lobby" - but even those in favor of easing regulations have made it clear that they're not gunning for... (GunPolicy.org)
Norway Armed Its Police for a Year, Then Disarmed Them
5 February 2016
Washington Post
Norway has long been one of the relatively few European countries where police officers do not routinely carry firearms. In November 2014, this changed: The country's police officers were ordered to be armed at all times. However, that order ran out this Wednesday, and Norwegian police officers have now disarmed.
So, after roughly 14 months, Norway's experiment with permanently armed police officers is over – for the time being, at least.
What lies behind this... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Soldiers Forget Assault Rifles, Leave Them on Trains
1 February 2016
Local (Switzerland)
Safety concerns have been raised after a report revealed that Swiss soldiers left behind 18 firearms on trains in the first nine months of 2015.
The soldiers of Switzerland's conscript army apparently forgot them in different carriages of Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) trains, according to an article in ASMZ, a review for Swiss army officers.
The finding was acknowledged by Christophe Schalbetter, interim commander of the military police in his annual report.
Soldiers... (GunPolicy.org)
France Has Most Guns in Europe: How Easy to Buy? [FR]
17 January 2016
Les Echos (France)
[Translated summary: There are 1,800 firearm deaths in France every year. The country has more guns per capita than most of Europe, primarily for hunting. A permit is required to purchase a gun, and the buyer must not appear in a national register of prohibited people.]
Chaque année, on dénombre 1.800 décès par arme à feu en France. Un chiffre qui comprend les suicides. Les homicides oscillent eux entre 400 et 600 par an.
La vidéo a fait le tour du monde :... (GunPolicy.org)
South Australia Gun Amnesty Draws 4444 Firearms
7 January 2016
News.com.au
Almost 450 firearms have been surrendered to South Australian police and firearms dealers in little more than a month under the state's gun amnesty.
Superintendent Kym Hand, from the SA police firearms branch police were pleased with the 444 handed in since the amnesty began on December 1, the first month of the seven-month amnesty.
"This is a very positive outcome, he said. We know that more than half of all firearms stolen come from rural areas, so we are... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Raid Sydney Gun Dealer, Seize 180 Firearms
28 December 2015
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
Police have raided a well known Sydney gun business which has built a reputation as a major supplier of "theatrical" weapons to popular TV shows and movies.
Officers from the NSW Police Firearm Registry seized 180 real pistols and rifles from The Stockade gun shop at Terrey Hills, on the northern beaches.
The shop has supplied replica weapons for about 50 TV series and movies, including Water Rats, Australia's Most Wanted and Superman Returns.
The registry — which... (GunPolicy.org)
South Australia Police, Gun Dealers Eager for Amnesty
1 December 2015
Murray Valley Standard
An amnesty for owners of unregistered and unwanted firearms has begun and will continue for the next seven months.
State Police Minister Tony Piccolo said the amnesty would make the community safer for everyone.
"In a first for South Australia, participating firearms dealers will play a significant role in the amnesty, with people able to surrender firearms at participating licensed dealers," Mr Piccolo said.
'More than 45 dealers will join with SAPOL to receive... (GunPolicy.org)
Tasmania Gun Amnesty: 778 Firearms Surrendered
27 November 2015
Launceston Examiner
More than 700 unwanted firearms have been surrendered to Tasmania Police at gun amnesties around the state since September 2013.
Police experienced a highly successful amnesty at Longford earlier this month with about 100 guns voluntarily handed over to police, along with 1500 rounds of ammunition.
A total of 778 unwanted guns have been collected in the past two years and two months.
Another amnesty will take place at Scottsdale on Friday and police have reminded... (GunPolicy.org)
Spike in Handgun Crimes Reveals Australia's Secret Problem
10 November 2015
New Daily (Australia)
The black market for guns is bigger than previously understood and crimes involving handguns are rising sharply, shows never-before-seen data published today by The New Daily.
Australians may be more at risk from gun crime than ever before with the country's underground market for firearms ballooning in the past decade.
Previously unseen police statistics show that the number of pistol-related offences doubled in Victoria and rose by 300 per cent in New South Wales.... (GunPolicy.org)
West Australian Amnesty Nets 1,000 Unlicensed Guns
24 October 2015
ABC News (Australia)
WA police are hailing a firearms amnesty which began almost three months ago a great success.
More than 1,000 unlicensed firearms and more than 60,000 rounds of ammunition have been surrendered so far.
The Deputy Police Commissioner Chris Dawson says the firearms include more than 100 handguns and two submachine guns.
The amnesty began on August 1 and finishes at the end of October.
Mr Dawson says it is the biggest surrender of unlicensed firearms for some... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Australia,United States,Israel
Gun Control Advocates Envy Australia, Britain's Strict Laws
14 October 2015
Washington Times
Australia and Britain have been held out as examples of foreign countries that moved quickly to impose gun restrictions in the wake of national tragedies as the United States grapples with what — if any — policy reforms could prevent future mass shootings like the recent attack in Oregon.
Both countries saw a drop in gun-related crimes after imposing restrictions, though analysts debate whether the laws deserve credit.
But all sides agree the moves Britain and... (GunPolicy.org)
America Has More Guns in Fewer Hands Than Ever Before
5 October 2015
Washington Post
You've probably heard by now that the Obama administration has been a boon to the U.S. firearm industry. Gun manufacturers boosted production by 31 percent between 2011 and 2012. National tragedies from Newtown to Ferguson are accompanied by stories of surging gun sales.
But data released this week from the General Social Survey, widely regarded as the gold standard for social science survey research, shows that in 2014, the number of American households owning guns... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Raid Gun Owner Homes in Melbourne Licensing Blitz
9 September 2015
Moonee Valley Leader
ESSENDON - Sixteen firearms were seized after a crackdown on expired licences in Melbourne's northwest.
Police, including members of the operations response unit, swooped on unlicensed firearm owners in Moonee Valley, Hume and Moreland over the August 29-30 weekend. Acting Inspector Anthony Brown said it was about ensuring people were complying with their obligations under the Firearms Act.
Future operations, expected to take place in the coming weeks, will also... (GunPolicy.org)
French Municipal Police Officers and the Carrying of Firearms [FR]
5 May 2015
L'Humanité (France)
[Translated summary: The French government just authorised, by Decree, mayors to endow municipal police with 357 Magnums, but not all police officers are allowed to carry firearms within the scope of their duties. It depends on the place and nature of the mission. Here are listed the requirements for the carrying of firearms by municipal police officers (for example: need of a genuine reason, training, etc).]
Le gouvernement vient d'autoriser, par décret (*), les... (GunPolicy.org)
Nicaragua,Peru,Haiti,Dominican Republic,Cuba,Mexico,Honduras,Guatemala,Turkey,El Salvador,United States,Russia,Austria,Belgium,Colombia,Brazil,Czech Republic,Germany,Israel,Venezuela,Italy,Spain
16 January 2015
Los Angeles Times, Opinion
During the 1980s, El Salvador was the single largest recipient of U.S. military hardware and weaponry in the Western Hemisphere. Although the Central American country's civil war ended in 1992, the guns, grenades and bullets linger, as do their murderous effects. In September, a U.S. official from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives estimated that half the weapons available on El Salvador's vibrant black market were made in the United... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Police Warn Against 'Firearm Selfies'
8 December 2014
Shanghai Daily (China), Xinhua
MELBOURNE - Australian gun owners who post "selfies" on social media displaying their guns and ammunition could make themselves targets for thieves, police warned on Monday.
Police detectives in the state of Victoria have said there has been an influx of social media "firearm selfies" -- people taking pictures of themselves with guns -- which inadvertently advertises gun ownership and can lead to targeted thefts.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Armstrong warned that criminals... (GunPolicy.org)
Does Rural Australia Have a Gun Problem?
27 October 2014
The Conversation, Opinion
The recent multiple homicide in a small Victorian township, coming barely a month after a mass shooting in rural New South Wales, may give the impression that firearm-related murders in rural Australia are rampant.
It would be easy to attribute this to higher density of gun ownership in country areas relative to cities, particularly where farming is a dominant industry and firearms are "tools of the trade". But understanding gun violence is not that simple.
Firearm... (GunPolicy.org)
Georgia Embraces Tougher Gun Laws
19 September 2014
Agenda.ge (Georgia)
The Georgian Government is taking a tougher stance on the country's currently relaxed gun laws and making it illegal for people to buy or carry guns without special permission.
In particular, 18-year-olds will no longer be able to obtain a firearm legally and the age of owing a gun will increase to 23.
The Government believed the new rules acted as a preventive measure to further protect the lives and health of Georgian citizens.
Under the new rules Georgian... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Blitz Nets Illegally Stored Guns in Western Australia
10 August 2014
ABC News (Australia)
A spike in gun thefts from rural properties prompts a WA police blitz on illegally stored weapons.
A spike in gun thefts from rural properties has prompted a West Australian police crackdown on the storage of firearms by licensed owners.
During the two-week blitz, officers visited 400 properties, seizing more than 150 illegally stored guns.
Police had earlier warned 16,500 gun owners in the Great Southern they would be facing random checks on their firearms storage... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Blitz Seizes Guns, Ammunition in South Australia
2 July 2014
Advertiser (Adelaide)
Tip-offs to CrimeStoppers have led to the arrest of a man for breaching a firearm prohibition and the seizure of 23 firearms in the past fortnight.
The Evanston Gardens man, 24, was remanded on bail, after being found with ammunition against a court order, police said.
Seven others have been reported for various firearm offences since the launch of Operation Unification – a national campaign to take illegal weapons off the streets. Police visited 60 properties and... (GunPolicy.org)
Report: More Kids Die in Shootings than Statistics Show in America
25 June 2014
USA Today
Two children die almost every week in unintentional shootings — far more than government statistics show — according to a new study by Everytown for Gun Safety.
Medical examiners sometimes categorize shooting deaths of children as homicides or suicides before investigations or court proceedings are complete, and that puts more young lives at risk, says the gun-control group's president, John Feinblatt.
"If you don't have the right numbers, then you don't... (GunPolicy.org)
Tasmanian Police Launch Public Appeal to Round Up Illegal Guns
16 June 2014
ABC News (Australia)
Tasmania Police has launched a two-week effort to help rid the state of illegal firearms.
Operation Unification starts is part of a nationwide campaign that aims to curb the manufacture, importation and use of illegal firearms.
According to police, most illegal firearms were once legal and had either been stolen or were unregistered.
In the last financial year, 192 firearms were stolen and just 23 recovered.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Joel said some weapons... (GunPolicy.org)
Minority Gun Owners in America Face Balancing Act
14 June 2014
New York Times
INDIANAPOLIS — Standing in a small booth surrounded by displays for rifles, pistols, holsters and other firearm accouterments, the Rev. Kenn Blanchard signed copies of his book "Black Man With a Gun: Reloaded." Amid the sea of thousands of white faces that descended on this city for the National Rifle Association convention in late April, Mr. Blanchard, an N.R.A. member since 1991, offered his reasoning for why he was one of the few black visitors.
"We still... (GunPolicy.org)
New Zealand Police Say Firearms Not a Target for Burglars
13 June 2014
Radio New Zealand International (Shortwave)
Police do not believe firearms were the primary target in an Auckland burglary in which 16 guns and 5000 shotgun shells were stolen.
The haul from the house in the eastern suburb of Buckland's Beach on Thursday included rifles, shotguns and semi-automatic guns.
Police said jewellery, silverware and alcohol were among other items taken.
Detective Senior Sergeant Darrell Harpur said they were treating it as a general burglary and did not believe the firearms, which... (GunPolicy.org)
Stolen Firearm Incidents Trigger NSW Police Crackdown on Guns
12 June 2014
ABC News (Australia)
Police are preparing to audit hundreds of gun owners in the Busselton area.
They are about to launch Operation Gun Safe, which involves visiting gun owners at their properties to ensure their weapons are properly stored.
The five-month long operation comes in response to a number of incidents involving stolen firearms, including a situation where offenders pointed a stolen gun at an officer.
Officer in charge Steve Principe says the audit will involve a number of... (GunPolicy.org)
As UK MP Suggests Relaxing Laws, Secret Life of Britain's Guns Uncovered
7 June 2014
Voice of Russia, Audio
The leader of the UK Independence party, Nigel Farage, has suggested in an interview that Britain's gun laws should be relaxed. He said it was party policy for hand guns to be legalised and licensed in the UK. They've been banned for the last 18 years following the Dunblane School shooting in 1996.
VoR's Juliet Spare hosts a discussion.
Recent statistics from London's ambulance service reveal paramedics were called to 973 victims under the age of 25 suffering a gun or... (GunPolicy.org)
Jersey Gun Ownership Down Since 2012
7 June 2014
BBC News
The number of registered guns and gun owners in Jersey has fallen since 2012.
Police records show there are 1,514 firearm owners which is a 16% drop over the past two years.
Between them, the island's gun owners keep 9,328 guns, including air rifles and pistols, which is 4% down since 2012.
Gun ownership in Jersey has been in the spotlight since a Glock 9mm pistol went missing from an unlocked car on Friday 30 May.
The pistol was handed in two days later by a member... (GunPolicy.org)
40,000 Guns Across the Scottish Highlands and Islands
3 June 2014
Inverness Courier (Scotland)
Almost 40,000 rifles and shotguns are in private hands across the Highlands and Islands, it has been revealed.
As the debate about the routine arming of local police continues, a new report shows that gun ownership per head in the Highlands is one of the highest in Scotland. In total 39,933 guns are in the possession of 10,853 individuals.
Most legally held weapons are owned by farmers and on shooting estates.
The figures are contained in a report prepared by Police... (GunPolicy.org)
Scottish Police Chief Secretly Authorises 440 Officers to Carry Handguns
18 May 2014
Daily Record (Scotland)
More than 400 police officers across Scotland have been secretly authorised to carry handguns in a holster while on routine patrol, we can reveal.
Permission was given by Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House without any requirement for approval by politicians.
It means specialist officers are routinely allowed to carry handguns on duty – even though there may be no obvious threat to them or the public.
Previously, firearms officers had to collect... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Officials Recall Rifle That Could Fire 'Without Touching the Trigger'
16 May 2014
Canberra Times (Australia)
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is alerting shooters to the recall of two popular models of rifle - one of which a Perth-based shooter describes as "the most prolific bolt-action firearm in the world".
The two rifles of concern are the Remington Model 700 and the Model Seven with X-Mark Pro triggers, manufactured between May 1, 2006 and April 9, 2014 and sold nationally by licensed dealers.
The ACCC understands that more than 21,000 of these rifles... (GunPolicy.org)
Law Change Sees Fewer Firearm Permits Granted in Finland
15 May 2014
YLE (Finland)
Changing gun ownership laws in Finland have resulted in a decrease in the number of permits issued. Last year just under 60,000 permits were issued, compared with more than 85,000 in 2007.
While the Finnish government has recommended changes to firearm ownership laws for this year - a move that the police believe will curb the general public's enthusiasm for applying for firearm permits - the numbers are already down.
Last year, 59,324 gun permits were issued whereas... (GunPolicy.org)
Critics Claim Hypocrisy Over Gun Bans in US State Capitols But Not Bars
8 May 2014
Chicago Tribune
South Dakota lawmaker Steve Hickey has 17 guns, a National Rifle Association card and a faith that pistol-packing residents make public places safer — except for the one where he works.
"We have the most contentious issues being debated in public policy, affecting people in irate, angrily ways and affecting millions and millions of dollars," Hickey said of the copper-domed capitol in Pierre, where he sponsored a law allowing teachers to carry firearms in schools.... (GunPolicy.org)
Chicago Teen Girl Guns Down Rival in Facebook Dispute Over Boy
29 April 2014
New York Daily News
Another virtual diss has turned into a real-life tragedy.
A Facebook feud between two 14-year-old girls over a boy ended when one gunned down the other on a Southside Chicago porch in broad daylight Monday afternoon, police said.
The unnamed teen perp, who has been charged with murder as a juvenile, whipped out a stolen .38-caliber handgun about 4:50 p.m. and tried to shoot into a crowd of people. The gun jammed and the girl handed it to someone else, who cleared the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Laws: How Key US States are Easing or Tightening Restrictions on Firearms
26 April 2014
Guardian (UK)
After Congress failed to pass gun reform last year, the debate over gun violence and Second Amendment rights has largely moved from Washington DC to state capitals. That debate heated up after the December 2012 shooting tragedy at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
Last year, lawmakers in Connecticut and Colorado – another state rocked by a mass shooting in 2012 – passed sweeping new gun-control measures. In January 2013, New York enacted a law... (GunPolicy.org)
New Zealand Girl Shot with Airgun by Teen Brother, Police Warn of Risks
15 April 2014
Dominion Post (Wellington)
An eight-year-old girl accidentally shot by her brother is in a stable condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital.
The girl's 12-year-old brother shot her in the stomach with a low-powered slug gun near Wairoa around 4.45pm on Sunday.
The girl suffered minor injuries and was flown to the hospital by the Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter.
Wairoa police senior sergeant Tony Bates said the pellet lodged deep within the girl's abdomen.
He said the circumstances were still being... (GunPolicy.org)
Seven Guns Stolen from New Zealand Home, Second Recent Gun Theft
8 April 2014
Radio New Zealand International (Shortwave)
Seven firearms were stolen from a Hamilton property during the weekend.
Police say the owner had his weapons hidden and locked up in a garage but left the keys in his unlocked car after going to bed.
The offenders used tools found inside the garage to force entry into the gun cabinet.
It is the second theft of firearms in the region in recent weeks. In March, eight weapons were stolen from a rural property at Opoutere on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Police say it is... (GunPolicy.org)
Gunman Kills Four, Injures 16 in Second Mass Shooting on US Army Base
3 April 2014
Washington Post
An Iraq war veteran who was grappling with mental health issues opened fire at Fort Hood, Tex., in an attack that left four people dead and 16 wounded Wednesday afternoon, according to preliminary law enforcement and military reports. The gunfire sent tremors of fear across a sprawling Army post still reeling from one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history.
Many basic details about the shooting remained unclear in the chaotic hours after the first calls for help... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Farms Targeted for Guns by Crime Gangs
27 March 2014
The Conversation (Australia), Blog
Revelations of the theft of firearms from Victorian MP Peter Crisp's farm draws attention to a genuine but often overlooked link between farm crime and criminal events in urban communities.
Discussions with farm communities and Victoria Police over recent months show there is a growing trade in firearms stolen from farms across rural and regional areas by criminal elements. Police in Western Australia are also aware of the link between guns stolen from rural properties... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,North Africa,Russia,Syria,Mali,Qatar,Turkey,Libya,Egypt,Chad,Somalia,Nigeria,Niger
Libya's Guns Free-For-All Fuels Region's Turmoil
22 March 2014
St Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri)
TRIPOLI — At the heart of the Libyan capital, the open-air Fish Market was once a place where residents went to buy everything from meat and seafood to clothes and pets. Now it's Tripoli's biggest arms market, with tables displaying pistols and assault rifles. Ask a vendor, and he can pull out bigger machine guns to sell for thousands of dollars.
Libya, where hundreds of militias hold sway and the central government is virtually powerless, is awash in millions of... (GunPolicy.org)
US Has More Guns, Fewer Owners: 5% Own Most of the Firearms
15 March 2014
Economist
WARRENTON, Virginia - Live fire crackles from the range at Clark Brothers, a gun shop in Virginia. Inside, the most striking things are the enormous gun safes. Some of these metal boxes, which cost over $1,000, can withstand hours of exposure to wildfires and being dropped from 200 feet.
They are the result of a shift in gun ownership. Surveys suggest that the proportion of American households that own guns has declined from about 50% in the early 1980s to about 35%... (GunPolicy.org)
755 Guns Handed to Authorities in India
14 March 2014
Times of India
CHANDIGARH - The armoury of police at police lines, Sector 26, has turned into a gallery of weapons surrendered by city residents despite the passage of the last date for depositing them on Wednesday.
As many as 755 firearms of different brands, mostly foreign-made, were surrendered in the armoury since March 8. Nonetheless, the officials are accepting more weapons. The majority of surrendered weapons belong to Smith and Wesson, Winchester, Ruger, Heckler & Koch, and... (GunPolicy.org)
18 People Shot Daily in South Africa, Violent Crime Rate Remains High
12 March 2014
Deutsche Welle, Video
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is on trial, charged with the pre-meditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who died after being shot four times on Valentine's Day in 2013. The paralympic gold medalist is also charged with three firearms offenses.
While Pistorius has admitted to killing Steenkamp in his Pretoria home on February 14, he has pleaded not guilty and claims he fired through the bathroom door after mistaking her for an intruder.
The rate of... (GunPolicy.org)
Absentee Australian Landholders Warned About Securing Guns Against Theft
12 March 2014
ABC News (Australia)
People who have to leave rural properties for extended periods of time are being warned they could face prosecution for not taking reasonable precautions to secure guns.
It comes as police in the Walgett area investigate the theft of guns from a property at Burren Junction, that could have been stolen any time between late 2012 and when the owner returned last week.
The seven stolen firearms included Remington, Winchester, Erma, Eddystone and Swedish Mauser rifles and... (GunPolicy.org)
Italian Teen Kills Self After Learning to Load Father's Gun Online
11 March 2014
Local (Italy)
A 17-year-old girl from the Sicilian province of Trapani, committed suicide after learning how to load a gun on the internet.
The pistol, which was kept unassembled in a safe at the family home in the town of Marsala, belonged to her father, an officer with the financial police, the local news website Marsalaviva.it reported.
The girl, named by the website as Simona Giacalone, is reported to have gathered information on the internet on how to assemble and load a... (GunPolicy.org)
Irish Gun Control Review Sparks Calls for Compensation
1 March 2014
Journal (Dublin)
A review of firearm licensing in Ireland has prompted questions over how gun owners will be compensated if they lose currently legal guns.
The Department of Justice confirmed that a joint review of licensing is currently underway with An Garda Síochána, although no concrete proposals are yet in place.
Licenses can be sought for a number of different firearms from the age of 16.
Sport and hunting
It is thought that over 200,000 licenses have currently be issued,... (GunPolicy.org)
Angola Police Chief Wants Control of Police Guns to Prevent Diversion, Crime
28 February 2014
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
The Commander of National Police in central Bie province, commissioner Eduardo Fernando Cerqueira, advised Friday the police officers to leave their firearms in police stations to better control the material and avoid guns to be in the hands of unauthorized people.
The commissioner was speaking at the ceremony of 38th anniversary of National Police which is being marked on Friday, considered necessary for the police officers to avoid taking firearms to their houses, as... (GunPolicy.org)
Could Technology be the Gun Control of 2014?
25 February 2014
MSNBC News (USA)
Smart guns similar to James Bond's pistol are marching closer to reality as manufacturers expect to continue testing prototypes throughout 2014 and a few politicians push for new technology to make firearms safer.
Manufacturers design "smart" guns, also referred to as "personalized" or "owner-authorized" firearms, to prevent intentional and unintentional shootings by children and other unauthorized users. The idea of incorporating technology into guns took hold during... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian MP Under Pressure Over Unregistered Gun Charges
24 February 2014
Guardian (UK)
Pressure is building on the Victorian premier, Denis Napthine, to reveal when he knew a member of his government, Mildura MP Peter Crisp, was facing firearms charges.
Crisp confirmed on Saturday he had been charged with keeping unregistered guns at his farm in NSW but said he would be "strongly defending" himself.
"I reject charges relating to unlicenced possession of a prohibited firearm on my primary production land," he said. "All reasonable precaution was taken to... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Moldova,Austria,Bosnia & Herzegovina,Sweden,Canada,Switzerland
Experts Help Moldova Authorities Curb Gun Theft, Smuggling [DE]
17 February 2014
Österreich Journal
[Translated summary: Austria has sent experts to Moldova to advise on small arms and ammunition storage and management under the OSCE framework. Sweden, Canada, Germany and Switzerland will participate in the programme by 2017, which aims to prevent smuggling of stolen ammunition.]
WIEN (bmlvs) - Insgesamt zehn Experten des Bundesheeres unterstützen ab dem 05.03. die OSZE-Mission in der Republik Moldau. Dort werden vorerst vier Angehörige der Heereslogistikschule und... (GunPolicy.org)
28 People Killed in 44 US School Shootings Since Newtown, Study Finds
12 February 2014
Guardian (UK)
Gun violence is erupting in America's schools and colleges at a rate of more than three incidents a month, with 13 school shootings recorded in the first six weeks of 2014 alone, a new study on the impact of gun violence since the Newtown tragedy shows.
The analysis by groups campaigning for tighter gun controls in the US identifies at least 44 school and college shootings since Newtown in December 2012, when 20 children and six of their carers were killed in a... (GunPolicy.org)
Olympic Biathletes Meet Strict Gun Control in Russia
10 February 2014
Wall Street Journal
SOCHI, Russia — The most carefully guarded sporting equipment in the Winter Olympics lies behind the door of a sealed-off corridor in a stadium near the upper reaches of the Caucasus Mountains. It is monitored at all hours by security guards who open the door only for its owners. And even then, they need personalized keys to retrieve it from their lockers. For biathletes, the security measures are just one more reminder: It isn't easy getting your equipment around the... (GunPolicy.org)
Bosnia & Herzegovina,European Union
EU, BiH Join Forces to Combat Weapons Smuggling
3 February 2014
Southeast European Times
BANJA LUKA - By co-operating with EU member countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is reducing the amount of illegal weapons smuggling, but the Union is still concerned about the situation.
"The fight against illicit firearms trafficking is high on the EU's agenda, both within the territory of the EU and in our co-operation with third countries. EUROPOL's Serious and Organised Threat Assessment for 2013 shows that this is a key issue to tackle in the Western Balkans... (GunPolicy.org)
20 Young People a Day Hospitalized for Gun Injuries in America
27 January 2014
USA Today
Almost one child or teen an hour is injured by a firearm seriously enough to require hospitalization, a new analysis finds. Six percent of the 7,391 hospitalizations analyzed in 2009 resulted in a death, says the study in February's Pediatrics, released Monday.
The damage caused by gun-related injuries rarely gets the same attention as fatalities, "but that every day, 20 of our children are hospitalized for firearms injury, often suffering severe and costly injuries,... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,New Zealand,Europe
Guns Raise Risk of Suicide, Homicide, Shot Women: Global Meta-Analysis
21 January 2014
University of California, San Francisco, Media release
Someone with access to firearms is three times more likely to commit suicide and nearly twice as likely to be the victim of a homicide as someone who does not have access, according to a comprehensive review of the scientific literature conducted by researchers at UC San Francisco.
The meta-analysis, published online Jan. 20 in Annals of Internal Medicine, pools results from 15 investigations, slightly more than half of which were done after a 1996 federal law... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe,New Zealand,United States
Access to Guns Lifts Risk of Suicide, Homicide: Global Meta-Analysis
21 January 2014
Annals of Internal Medicine (Philadelphia)
Abstract
Background: Research suggests that access to firearms in the home increases the risk for violent death.
Purpose: To understand current estimates of the association between firearm availability and suicide or homicide.
Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were searched without limitations and a gray-literature search was performed on 23 August 2013.
Study Selection: All study types that assessed... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns + Impulsive Teenagers = Family Tragedy in America - MSNBC feature
19 January 2014
MSNBC News (USA)
Michael Graham killed himself a year ago. The 13-year-old was at home in Brewster, N.Y., and used one of his father's unsecured guns to shoot himself on Jan. 14, 2013. The boy "definitely" acted on impulse – "without a doubt," his aunt Maureen Hutchins told msnbc.
"Did he have a bad day at school? Fight with a girlfriend? Things that happen to a 13-year-old – when you're that age – can seem overwhelming, but two hours later, you know, you move on," said Hutchins.... (GunPolicy.org)
Five Recent Shooting Deaths in Namibia Linked to Failed Romances
8 January 2014
New Era (Namibia)
Keetmanshoop — Police Crime Investigations Coordinator in the //Karas Region, Deputy Commissioner Rudolf Isaaks, has called on people to seek counselling following failed relationships and not to resort to passion killing and suicide.
Isaaks' remarks come in the wake of a series of suicides and passion killings in the region over the festive season. Speaking to New Era, Isaaks says although very few crimes were reported in the region over the festive season, the... (GunPolicy.org)
When Will US Learn from Australia? Stricter Gun Control Saves Lives
14 December 2013
Guardian (UK), Opinion
The mass murder in Newtown Connecticut a year ago caused shock and sorrow all around the world. In Australia it also revived memories of our own horror on a similar scale, when dozens of people innocently going about their day were gunned down by a disturbed young man.
Our tragedy occurred in 1996 at the Port Arthur historic site in Tasmania, one of Australia's most popular tourist destinations. The dead numbered 35, with more than 20 others injured. The victims ranged... (GunPolicy.org)
In Year Since Newtown Massacre, US Tightens 39 Gun Laws, Loosens 70
10 December 2013
New York Times, Web page
In the 12 months since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., almost every state has enacted at least one new gun law.
Nearly two-thirds of the new laws ease restrictions and expand the rights of gun owners. Most of those bills were approved in states controlled by Republicans.
Those who support stricter regulations won some victories — mostly in states where the legislature and governorship are controlled by Democrats — to increase... (GunPolicy.org)
Real Cost of Youth Gun Deaths in America Unknown Due to Lack of Data
30 November 2013
Washington Post, Editorial
Lobbyists for the National Rifle Association (NRA) have spent considerable time and money to discourage the collection and sharing of information related to guns and gun violence. Keeping the public in the dark about the facts is helpful in advancing an extreme agenda. In particular, the gun lobby has used the under-counting of gun accidents involving children to oppose reasonable policies that could help prevent deaths and injuries caused by the careless handling and... (GunPolicy.org)
South Sudan Authorities Trained to Mark, Trace Guns
27 November 2013
Sudan Tribune (France)
JUBA — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, through it disarmament, demobilization and reintegration work is providing intensive training to the South Sudan security services in order to create a national Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms Control.
A composite group from South Sudan's army (SPLA), the South Sudanese Police Service, National Security, Wildlife and Prison Services have participated in an intensive 12-day training funded by the UNMISS... (GunPolicy.org)
New Gun Transport Laws Proposed in Russia to Attract Hunting Tourists
19 November 2013
Moscow Times
Aiming to lure tourists to Russia for hunting trips, the Interior Ministry has proposed new legislation that could make it easier to temporarily import sporting firearms and transport them within the country.
The amendments would allow foreign citizens to carry firearms across the Russian border without certification if the purpose of their visit is to hunt or participate in shooting related events, according to a draft posted Monday on the unified government... (GunPolicy.org)
Northern Tasmanians Have Gun Amnesty Target in Sights
17 November 2013
Examiner Newspaper
Northern Tasmanians are on track to meet the firearms amnesty target set in Hobart two months ago, after almost 80 firearms were surrendered to police yesterday.
People who visited the mobile police station at the Silverdome car park handed over 77 firearms and various amounts of ammunition.
Almost 50 firearms were counted within two-and-a-half hours of the collection point opening yesterday morning.
Launceston resident Leonie Gates could barely lift the firearm she... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Police Find 'Staggering Collection' of Guns After Customs Tip-Off
14 November 2013
Times-Colonist (British Columbia)
Police unveiled a "staggering collection" of firearms Wednesday, seized from a Prince George home following an investigation that began when border guards came across two suspicious packages.
Karl Haus, 53, now faces 17 charges in relation to the haul from a Prospect Point home in the Hart Highlands where police uncovered nine rifles — a fully-automatic M-16 and a fully-automatic AK-47 among them — as well as three handguns, two of which were loaded, and two... (GunPolicy.org)
How the Gun Lobby Made it Easier to Bring Guns into US Airports
3 November 2013
ThinkProgress (USA)
On Friday, a gunman "pulled a Smith & Wesson .223-caliber assault rifle from his duffel bag" and opened fire on an airport. Officials have arrested the alleged shooter, 23-year-old Paul Ciancia, who killed a TSA agent and wounded six others at a security checkpoint. The incident is the second airport shooting in six months.
The National Rifle Association has not yet said a word on the tragedy (the day before, the NRA tweeted a story about the so-called "exploitation"... (GunPolicy.org)
Child Gunshot Wounds Most Likely in Homes With Firearms, US Study
26 October 2013
Medical Daily (New York), Video
Even among rural Americans, parental attitudes run heterogenous on the topic of gun safety and children: Locked or unlocked, loaded or unloaded, and just how close should kids be to firearms? Whereas some parents in multiple-gun households teach firearm safety to toddlers, others forbid their children from playing with toy guns, or even pointing an index finger to mimic one.
Christi Parenteau Martin, a 36-year-old mother of four from Cabot, Vt., says she supports... (GunPolicy.org)
EU Survey Reveals Irish Gun Escalation Fears, Law Reform Considered
21 October 2013
Independent (Dublin)
Almost three-quarters of Irish people think gun crime is going to escalate, a report has found.
As the European Commission called for tighter controls on firearms including stricter licensing, it released findings of a survey which showed 71% of Irish people expect an increase in gun violence in the next five years, compared to an average of 58% across the continent.
Brussels said it wants to use new laws, including possible minimum sentencing, to tackle the threats... (GunPolicy.org)
Experts Suggest Law Reform to Address Illegal Gun Trade in Australia
18 October 2013
ABC News (Australia)
A national crime conference in Hobart has heard 70 per cent of illicit firearms seized by police had fallen into the hands of serious criminals and organised crime.
The Crime Stoppers conference was also told some of the firearms stolen in Tasmania in recent times are almost certainly destined for the black market interstate.
Dr Samantha Bricknell of the Australian Institute of Criminology says illegal firearms are increasingly being found on smaller-scale... (GunPolicy.org)
New Regulations Causing Controversy for German Sport Shooting
16 October 2013
NPR Berlin
Sonya Pfeilschifter marches onto the shooting range with her head down and a focused stride.
You wouldn't know it, but her heart is racing. She's about to compete in the German National championships for air rifle shooting in Munich.
In this sport, a fast pulse can be a problem. She's in fourth place, and if she's going to win, she has to have an absolutely steady hand.
She focuses on the target ten meters ahead. The eight women raise their guns. Pfeilschifter... (GunPolicy.org)
Creating a Gun-Safe Village in Somalia
14 October 2013
Alert Net / Thompson Reuters, Media release
"Thanks for taking photos in my shop as an example to tell others that we are living in danger," says Yasin Asyayr Gurase.
In his small store in Kalabyr, a village of about 1,500 people 100 kilometres south of Garowe in the Puntland State of Somalia, guns are stacked against shelves filled with shirts and shoes, and AK-47s rest against food products.
These weapons are not for sale. Rather, after a number of recent accidents in the village, they are being left in shops... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Police Sting Finds One in Five Owners Incorrectly Storing Guns
13 October 2013
Age (Melbourne)
Police have seized 14 firearms and a cross bow from people who have failed to uphold firearm storage requirements in Melbourne's inner north-west.
As part of an operation targeting breaches of firearm storage, police from the North West Metro region knocked on the doors of 62 houses in northern and western suburbs to check licensed owners were storing their guns correctly.
Detective Superintendent Alan Byrnes said that nearly one in five gun owners were found... (GunPolicy.org)
In Germany, Owning a Gun is a Privilege
9 October 2013
NPR Berlin, Series
Hardy Schober stops by the cemetery near his home in Winnenenden almost every day to visit the grave of his fifteen-year-old daughter. Jana was killed by a classmate four years ago in one of the most tragic school shootings in Germany's history.
"We don't live very far from the cemetery, and I stop there and talk with her," says Schober.
He visits Jana's grave to tell her about his day, or about what's going on with the rest of their family. When he talks about her,... (GunPolicy.org)
Namibian Man Accidentally Shoots and Kills Son, Allegedly While Drunk
30 September 2013
New Era (Namibia)
WALVIS BAY — An-eight-year-old boy was reportedly shot and killed by his father on Saturday in Walvis Bay, while he lay sleeping.
The incident occurred early on Saturday morning in Kuisebmund during a house party at the family home. Namibian Police (Nampol) acting Crime Investigations Coordinator in the Erongo Region Inspector Erastus Iikuyu yesterday confirmed the incident during a routine crime briefing. "According to the information we gathered the suspect was... (GunPolicy.org)
Children and Guns: The Hidden Toll of Unintentional Shootings in the US
28 September 2013
New York Times
The .45-caliber pistol that killed Lucas Heagren, 3, on Memorial Day last year at his Ohio home had been temporarily hidden under the couch by his father. But Lucas found it and shot himself through the right eye. "It's bad," his mother told the 911 dispatcher. "It's really bad."
A few days later in Georgia, Cassie Culpepper, 11, was riding in the back of a pickup with her 12-year-old brother and two other children. Her brother started playing with a pistol his father... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns and Suicide: Worse Than Just a Means
16 September 2013
Huffington Post (USA), Blog
Numerous articles by academics and in the general media have expressed a concern that access to guns contributes to the number of persons who succeed in killing themselves because they are so effective and easy to use. A famous study made in 2007 by the researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that high-gun states had a rate of firearm suicide 3-1/2 times that of low-gun states. At the same time the non-firearm suicide rate was almost the same in the two... (GunPolicy.org)
Tighter Gun Laws in Finland Halve Permits Granted, New Storage Rules Planned
6 September 2013
YLE (Finland)
Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen says she's satisfied with new proposals for even tighter restrictions on gun ownership in Finland. Räsänen told Yle that a previous raft of measures introduced in 20011 [sic] has already borne fruit, halving the number of gun permits granted.
According to Räsänen the number of firearms licenses issued has declined, partly because of age limits and in other cases due to a requirement to prove a reasonable case for owning a firearm,... (GunPolicy.org)
Panel Urges Tougher Gun Laws in Finland
5 September 2013
YLE (Finland)
A panel set up to reconsider Finland's gun laws is calling for tighter restrictions on the procurement, transport and storage of weapons.
The committee says that doctors should be required to inform police of individuals whom they consider unfit for gun ownership. This should take place, for instance, when someone is deemed to be a danger to him or herself by a forensic psychiatrist, or when a patient institutionalised against his or her will is considered to be... (GunPolicy.org)
South African Girl of Seven 'Shoots Friend Dead'
26 August 2013
BBC News
A seven-year-old South African girl has shot dead her friend, aged six, with her grandfather's revolver while playing at a farm, police say.
A murder case has been opened after the dead girl, a daughter of a farm worker, was shot in the face, reports say.
The alleged killer's grandfather has been charged with failure to safeguard a firearm, police added.
South Africa has tight gun ownership regulations but many people still possess firearms.
'Great shock'
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Push to Rid Jamaica Police Stations of Illegal Guns Stalls
18 August 2013
Gleaner (Jamaica)
The national security minister's push to eliminate the potentially dangerous practice of stockpiling seized guns at police stations has jammed.
The Sunday Gleaner has learnt that an islandwide audit, which is the first phase of moving the guns out of the stations, has stalled, leaving dozens of weapons close to the hands of cops, who have long been accused of planting illegal weapons to make cases against suspects.
In 2012, National Security Minister Peter Bunting... (GunPolicy.org)
Tougher Gun Laws for Australian State Three Years in the Making
14 August 2013
ABC News (Australia)
Tougher security requirements for Tasmanians storing guns at home are expected to feature in a raft of amendments to the state's gun laws.
It follows revelations from police that 250 firearms have been stolen in Tasmania in the past year, one sixth of the national total, despite the state having only 2 per cent of the population.
Police have also revealed they are investigating the state's firearms database and licensing process after the spike in gun crime.
It comes... (GunPolicy.org)
Irish Judge Asks for Evidence Before Issuing Semi-Auto Sports Gun Permit
11 August 2013
Limerick Leader
A Limerick judge says legislation governing firearm applications has not "bitten the bullet".
Judge Eugene O'Kelly was speaking during a lengthy district court sitting for a number of firearm application appeals.
The owners of guns, including two semi-automatic rifles and two 9mm pistols, appealed the decision by Chief Superintendent David Sheahan not to grant them firearm certificates.
The introduction of the Criminal Justice Miscellaneous Provisions Act imposed... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Homicides Rise 61% in Brazil Over a Decade [PT]
9 August 2013
Globo (Rio de Janeiro)
[Translated summary: Between 2000 and 2010, the rate of gun-related homicides in Brazil rose by 61.4% according to a new study. The research also showed the presence of guns in the home increased the risk of suicide or homicide. There was a total of 29,824 gun homicides during that time and gun suicides fell by 37% after 2003, when the Disarmament Statute came into force. Recent gun deaths have raised concerns about guns.]
RIO - Na última década, os casos de... (GunPolicy.org)
Queensland Gun, Drug Raids Net a Deadly Arms Haul
8 August 2013
Morning Bulletin
150 firearms seized in one of the biggest busts in Central Queensland's history
Bullet points
- Number of licensed gun owners in Queensland is reported to be 186,884.
- The rate of licensed firearm owners in Queensland is 5.151 per 100 people.
- There are reportedly 40,314 handguns in civilian possession in the state.
A routine traffic stop by Senior Constable David Schultz has resulted in one of the biggest weapons busts in Central Queensland's history, with 150... (GunPolicy.org)
Dementia Bulge Looms as Major Problem for Gun Owners, Public Health
7 August 2013
Calgary Herald (Alberta), Editorial
Last week's police standoff with 71-year-old Isidore Havis of Montreal may look like a one-off incident, but its ramifications stand poised to echo through the years.
Havis, 71, the owner of an estimated 180 guns, fired a handgun at police during the tense, 20-hour confrontation. He will likely be charged with uttering threats, as well as firearms offences.
The whole thing started when Havis mistook workers from Hydro-Quebec for intruders on his property and it... (GunPolicy.org)
Jamaica Police Hunt for Crime Guns Stolen from Licensed Owners
30 July 2013
Jamaica Gleaner
A military-police team was spurred into action in beleaguered communities in Annotto Bay, St Mary, after two licensed weapons reportedly owned by Robert Montague, who is chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party, were among four weapons being stored in a chest that fell into the wrong hands last week.
The four weapons - three shotguns and one revolver - were being stored in a chest that was stolen from a house that was burgled in the area, only days after Annotto Bay was... (GunPolicy.org)
Spate of Gun Thefts Reported in NZ, Police Warn Owners on Storage
25 July 2013
New Zealand Herald
Police are urging gun owners to be vigilant in locking up their weapons after a spate of firearm thefts in the Waikato.
District Firearms Officer Richard Plas said over the past three weeks three rural homes in the Eastern Waikato had been left unlocked while the owners were out and unsecured firearms stolen.
"The burglaries have occurred in the Paeroa, Karangahake and Whitianga areas and in each incident four firearms of various calibres have been taken with the most... (GunPolicy.org)
Hopes for Mandatory Insurance Law in US to Raise Cost of Gun Ownership
18 July 2013
Guardian (UK), Blog
When employees of American Family Insurance discovered earlier this year that Susie Salazar of Greeley, Colorado owned a pit bull, they did what company rules dictated: they cancelled her homeowner's policy. After all, they had done the same thing last year to Nebraska sheriff's deputy Andy Woodward, after they found out his police dog, a Belgian Malinois named Diezel, lived as his family pet when he wasn't on the job.
When it comes to dogs, American Family Insurance... (GunPolicy.org)
Brisbane Man Facing Jail After Cache of Unregistered Guns Seized
8 July 2013
Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
A Brisbane gun buff faces possible jail time over a secret cache of high-powered firearms he allegedly built up over two decades.
A raid on the 52-year-old family man's Alexandra Hills home has netted 23 firearms, including nine shotguns, 12 rifles, a concealable firearm and a slew of ammunition.
Detective Inspector Tony Parsons said it was a "significant seizure (that's) reflective of what firearms may be out in the community that haven't been appropriately... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Killing Children: An American Epidemic
6 July 2013
New York Daily News
The man breathed heavily and yelled at the 911 dispatcher as he pleaded for help.
"My boy just got shot, don't wait!" Travis Taylor bellowed into the telephone. "Hurry up, please don't wait, NO! Please hurry up, he's trying to live!"
But it was too late.
There was nothing medics could do for little Dalton Taylor, 10. He was a fourth-grader who loved to hunt. His dad — who made that frantic 911 call — was his hero.
Dalton and some young friends found the 12-gauge... (GunPolicy.org)
Kyrgyz Authorities Seize Guns in Crime Prevention Measure
27 June 2013
Central Asia Online / AKIpress
BATKEN OBLAST – Authorities in Bazar-Bashy, Batken Oblast, recently seized several firearms from local residents, AKIpress.org reported June 26.
Police seized one illegally stored firearm and temporarily confiscated seven legally registered firearms from one man, media reported.
Authorities in several Batken Oblast villages intend to prevent the storage of weapons and munitions by the general public as a crime prevention measure, Kyrgyz Interior Ministry spokesman... (GunPolicy.org)
Expert Panel Says Better US Data on Gun Issues Needed
5 June 2013
New York Times
WASHINGTON — A panel of experts convened in response to the school shooting last year in Newtown, Conn., gave the federal government an ambitious set of priorities on Wednesday for research on guns, ending what experts said has been a 17-year hiatus in the study of gun violence after Congress took away federal money for the topic in the 1990s.
President Obama has included $10 million for gun-related research in his 2014 budget, the first federal financing for the... (GunPolicy.org)
Bermuda's Strict Gun Laws to be Relaxed for Shooting Competition
29 May 2013
Bermuda Sun
Bermuda's strict gun laws are set to be temporarily relaxed to allow shooting competitions at July's international Island Games.
Minister for National Security Michael Dunkley said: "An amendment bill has been tabled which deals with putting everything in place to allow the Island Games to take place and have the shooting competitions take place."
Mr Dunkley added that he was also in talks over firearms legislation with the island's three gun clubs, who are seeking... (GunPolicy.org)
28 May 2013
Great Lakes Advocate
NSW Police have joined their interstate counterparts in launching Operation Unification, a unique hotline to allow authorities to further target and seize illegal firearms.
The two-week police operation will conclude on Friday June 7.
Anyone with information about the possession, supply or whereabouts of illegal firearms is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
NSW State Crime Commander, Mark Jenkins, has instructed his officers to follow up every piece of... (GunPolicy.org)
Massive Cache of Guns Seized in West Australia
27 May 2013
Australian (Sydney) / AAP
An anonymous tip-off has led to the seizure of a massive cache of guns and ammunition, including a Chinese assault rifle and a laser-sighted Magnum handgun, in Western Australia.
After last week's launch of the nationwide Operation Unification, designed to crack down on illicit firearms, WA detectives raided a hotel in Fremantle where they seized an unlicensed double-barrel shotgun.
Further inquiries then led to raids on three properties in Caversham, 14km northeast... (GunPolicy.org)
New Blitz on Gun Security in Australia After Firearm Thefts
27 May 2013
Warrnambool Standard (Australia)
Thieves in the south-west are using stolen firearms as a commodity and trading them in Melbourne and interstate for cash and drugs.
In response to a rising incidence of firearm thefts police will target south-west gun owners to ensure their weapons are securely stored.
Police investigation and response manager for the south-west, Mark Canavan, said thieves were targeting homes and properties where firearms were known to be stored. A police check of licensed firearm... (GunPolicy.org)
NSW Police Unite in New England Gun Amnesty
24 May 2013
Northern Daily Leader
Police across the New England North West will unite with their interstate counterparts as part of a crackdown to target and seize illegal firearms before they end up in the wrong hands.
Operation Unification was launched yesterday as a means to try and smash the illegal guns black market.
New England police are on board as part of the two-week operation, stepping up their operations especially on the New England Highway as part of the crackdown.
Armidale duty officer... (GunPolicy.org)
Each Year Tasmania Police Destroys Approximately 1,400 Firearms
24 May 2013
Tasmania Police, Media release
Police jurisdictions around the country are targeting illicit firearms as part of Operation Unification.
Illicit firearms are weapons that are illegally imported or manufactured in Australia, stolen from registered owners and/or may be used in criminal activities.
Operation Unification – Illicit Firearms will be conducted Australia-wide between Friday, 24 May and Friday, 7 June 2013, and aims to increase community awareness about the dangers of illicit... (GunPolicy.org)
Nationwide Gun Blitz Key to Australia Crime Crackdown
23 May 2013
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
Police will launch an unprecedented national crackdown on illegal firearms and their black-market supply lines in the first Australia-wide effort targeting gun violence.
In the same week a 12-year-old Minto girl had a gun pointed at her head and a man was taken to hospital after a shooting in Mascot, a two-week blitz on firearms will begin tomorrow, with hundreds of police around the nation on standby to respond to tips from the public.
NSW Police bosses will join... (GunPolicy.org)
One Third of Gun Thefts Take Place in West Australia
23 May 2013
WA Today (Australia)
Organised criminals have started manufacturing their own guns, while Western Australia becomes home to nearly one third of national firearm thefts, police have revealed as part of a national blitz.
There were 459 guns stolen in WA last year, compared to the national estimate of 1500 gun thefts yearly.
In May there were 57 gun thefts and last night alone seven guns were stolen from a home in the Perth hills, which included shotguns, rifles and a handgun.
"Quite a... (GunPolicy.org)
Israel Announces New Gun-Control Rules After Be'er Sheva Bank Shooting
22 May 2013
Ha'aretz (Tel Aviv)
One day after a Be'er Sheva man shot dead four people in a local bank before turning his gun on himself, the Public Security Ministry on Tuesday announced new rules to limit the number of guns in circulation. School security guards will have to turn in their weapons, which guarding firms will reissue at the start of the new school year. Licensed gun owners will have to store their weapon in a safe at home. Security companies must obtain special exemptions from being... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Plans Changes to Airgun Laws but Clubs Fight Back
21 May 2013
Courier (UK)
An airgun club chief has hit back in the row over proposed new licensing.
Kathleen Male, chairwoman of Tayside Airgun Club, said they don't have any problem with a fair licensing system but they do object to the Government's proposals.
She said: "We still do not agree there should be greater restrictions where airweapon owners can shoot as there are adequate laws, at present, in place, restricting where they may be used, and, on the street of a town or city is not one... (GunPolicy.org)
Tasmania Police Deny Gun Registry Breach Claims After Thefts
17 May 2013
Mercury (Hobart)
An East Coast woman robbed of thousands of dollars worth of guns from her remote property soon after the weapons were registered is calling for answers from Police Commissioner Darren Hine.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, said she had written to Mr Hine calling for an investigation into long-held community suspicions that the state's firearm registry and associated databases have been breached.
Tasmania Police has repeatedly denied that the firearms database... (GunPolicy.org)
86 Modified Replica Guns Seized from Japanese Businessman
14 May 2013
Japan Daily Press
The chairman of a food company in Kumamoto was arrested by police after it was discovered he was hiding 86 modified guns in his possession. 73 year old Motoo Kira was arrested on Monday for concealing these guns, as well as 62 bullets, in a storage facility.
Investigators believe that the guns were modified by Kira using his own tools. After testing the weapons, the authorities conclude that all of these guns were lethal. The police were also able to seize a handmade... (GunPolicy.org)
US Pediatricians Take on Gun Lobby – Carefully
13 May 2013
NBC News (USA)
To pediatricians, gun control is a public health issue, not a political one. But they're treading a fine line, and they know it.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has begun a renewed push to try to get Congress to pass gun control measures, sending more than 100 pediatricians to Capitol Hill earlier this month. But others who have taken on the issue over the past decade have a warning for them: they can run afoul of the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Ownership Rises to Record Post-Gun Law Levels in Brazil [PT]
11 May 2013
Globo (Rio de Janeiro)
[Translated summary: The number of Brazilians who have been granted permission to own guns has risen to record levels in 2012, with 60% of the 31,500 permits granted being issued to civilians for that year. Between 2002-2012, citizens in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina registered the most guns, with an estimated 8 million legal guns in Brazil overall despite the high cost of registering them. There are calls for stricter enforcement of... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Mexico,Guatemala
Report Traces Arms Trafficking from US to Guatemala
8 May 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
A new report sheds light on a little-studied subject: the trafficking of US weapons into Guatemala, a relatively limited phenomenon that could be far bigger than suggested by the available data and may play a role in the continuing violence and criminality in that Central American nation.
The report (pdf), from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, reviews an analysis that the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted of... (GunPolicy.org)
US Girl's Death by Gunshot is Rejected as Symbol
5 May 2013
New York Times
BURKESVILLE, Kentucky — Last Monday, Kristian Sparks and his sister, Caroline, visited a Fred's Super Dollar store here. A store manager recalled that it was an ordinary shopping trip, saying that the boy was outgoing and energetic, his little sister was cute and their grandmother was "like any grandmother — she bought them anything they wanted."
The next day Kristian, 5, shot and killed his 2-year-old sister with a gun marketed for children as "My First Rifle" in... (GunPolicy.org)
27 April 2013
Cairns Post
Simplifying the registration process has led to the most successful gun amnesty in recent memory according to a Cairns weapons dealer.
The general firearms and weapons amnesty ends on Tuesday after which strict penalties for unlicensed weapons will come into effect.
Owners are able to hand in weapons at either licensed dealers or police station and CRM Gunsports dealer nominee Shane Green said he'd been rushed off his feet this week as people tried to get in before... (GunPolicy.org)
Irish MP Suggests Relaxing Gun Laws for Rural Citizens to Fight Crime
26 April 2013
Irish Examiner (Dublin)
Michael Healy-Rae, who holds certificates for three different guns, said firearms were very restricted in Ireland. They are linked to pest control and game hunting or sports, and one had to be a member of a gun club, or own land, to be granted a licence, he said.
However, the Kerry South TD said changes in rural Ireland meant communities now have to police themselves against ever-more aggressive and armed criminals. He claimed that with whole swathes of the country... (GunPolicy.org)
GE Capital Joins Cerberus in Cutting Ties to Gun Industry in US
25 April 2013
Associated Press / NPR
NEW YORK — General Electric's finance arm is cutting ties with gun dealers, halting financing offers at about 75 gun shops across the U.S. in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., massacre that took the lives of 20 schoolchildren and six teachers and administrators.
The December school shooting ignited a national debate about gun laws and drove some companies to distance themselves from the gun industry. Private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management announced a few days... (GunPolicy.org)
Public Health Approach Promises Gun Violence Prevention - NEJM
12 April 2013
New England Journal of Medicine
Scientists, policymakers, and advocates are increasingly advised to use "the public health approach" to address myriad social issues, from alcoholism and arthritis to vision care and war. However, it is rarely clear what exactly is meant by "the public health approach."
Policymakers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe the public health approach as a four-step model: Define the problem, identify risk and protective factors, develop and test... (GunPolicy.org)
Public Health Approach Promising Path to Reducing Gun Violence - NEJM
12 April 2013
New England Journal of Medicine
Scientists, policymakers, and advocates are increasingly advised to use "the public health approach" to address myriad social issues, from alcoholism and arthritis to vision care and war. However, it is rarely clear what exactly is meant by "the public health approach."
Policymakers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe the public health approach as a four-step model: Define the problem, identify risk and protective factors, develop and test... (GunPolicy.org)
Queensland Firearm Amnesty Draws 500 Guns
5 April 2013
Morning Bulletin, APN Newsdesk
NUMBERS BY REGION
Central - Rockhampton, Mackay and Gladstone: 550 handed in.
South Eastern - Gold Coast and Logan: 625
North Coast - Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Maryborough, Gympie, Caboolture: 737
Southern Region - Ipswich, Toowoomba, Roma, Warwick: 562
North - Townsville: 493
Far North - Cairns: 508
POLICE stations and gun shops around Rockhampton have received more than 500 unregistered guns as the Queensland firearm amnesty enters its final... (GunPolicy.org)
Tasmania Gun Amnesty Nets Hundreds of Unlawful Firearms
5 April 2013
Daily Mercury
Central Queensland police stations and gun shops have been inundated with hundreds of weapons as the Queensland firearm amnesty enters its final month.
And a flash stun grenade was one of more than 4000 weapons handed in statewide.
In the central region, which covers Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone, about 550 guns have been handed in under the amnesty running until the end of this month.
After eight weeks of allowing unregistered gun owners to come forward to have... (GunPolicy.org)
Queensland Firearm Amnesty Triggers Call: Surrender Guns
4 April 2013
ABC News (Australia)
Police will today destroy some of the thousands of guns they have collected in a firearms amnesty.
More than 4,000 unregistered weapons have been surrendered in the past eight weeks, with a month on the amnesty still to go.
Crime Stoppers chief executive officer Trevor O'Hara says it is important illegal firearms are taken out of harm's way.
"There is just so much crime happening these days with illegal firearms and the community has had enough," he said.
"They are... (GunPolicy.org)
Clear Correlations Between Gun Laws and Gun Violence in the US
29 March 2013
New Yorker
Well, to paraphrase a great Republican, here we go again. The details of Adam Lanza's home environment — the armory of weapons there, the copy of the "NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting," there was a useful book kept close — are scarcely out before the insistence that there's nothing, absolutely nothing, to see or to do returns, at a higher volume. The President talks, in his calm and conciliatory tones, about minimal gun control — that there's no threat... (GunPolicy.org)
Kyrgyzstan Officials Consider Ban on Carrying Guns at Govt
26 March 2013
24 News Agency (Kyrgyzstan)
BISHKEK - At least 58 MPs have firearms in the amount of 164 units. Irina Karamushkina, member of SDPK faction stated today at a meeting of the Committee on Ethics and Regulations referring to the Interior Ministry's data.
According to her, four of them are women. "These are honorary and hunting weapons. But I think we should ban carrying of guns in the Parliament building. This object is guarded by officers of the 9th detachment of the State Committee for National... (GunPolicy.org)
New US Research Proves Guns in Homes are Health Hazard
25 March 2013
New York Daily News
According to a poll released this month by the Pew Research Center, nearly half of American gun owners report that their main reason for having a gun is protection; fewer than a third own a gun primarily for hunting. This is a striking change from 1999, when nearly half of gun owners kept firearms mainly for hunting and only about one quarter cited protection as their most important reason.
Pew's results might make sense if violent crime were surging. But it's not.... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada Police Seize Loaded Assault Weapon in Trafficking Bust
20 March 2013
Edmonton Journal (Alberta)
Calgary police were disturbed to find a loaded AK-47 assault rifle — the first weapon of its kind seized in the city in recent years — during a recent trafficking bust.
"It's shocking we found such a high-calibre weapon in the hands of criminals," said Staff Sgt. Steven Drennan with the Calgary Police Service's guns and gangs unit.
While the city has seen a growing weapons trade over the years, this is the first time in recent history a genuine high calibre AK-47... (GunPolicy.org)